chapter 16 chaos in the palace

"Men never do evil so thoroughly and cheerfully as when they do it for conscience's sake." - Blaise Pascal

...

"No... No... Your Majesty, I can explain," the prophetess pleaded with fear evident in her voice.

"Explain," the king ordered, his tone demanding answers.

"My king, her name is Adufé. She was born weak, and we thought she might not survive. But as she grew, her power surpassed her physical weakness. No heiress or prophetess in history has possessed the immense power that she has. Yet, whenever she utters a prophecy, she falls into a deep slumber for days. Recently, we realized that she might not survive one of these episodes, so she decided to transfer her power to her sister, Arẹwa. Adufé can still foresee the future, but the power is no longer as strong in her. Arẹwa now holds the majority of the seer's power." The prophetess explained as the archduke of the north murmured something to his personal bodyguard, who immediately left the assembly.

"Very well, let Arẹwa, the one blessed with beauty, predict the future," the king commanded.

A table was brought forward, and Arẹwa stood before it. Closing her eyes in deep concentration, she clasped her hands together and began reciting incantations in an ancient language. A soft, eerie light emerged from her joined hands, forming into a crystalline structure. The royal subjects and council members whispered among themselves, recognizing the Ida's clan's famed royal crystal, a symbol of their authority that had the power to declare decrees from the king. This information was relayed by the mother of the public (Iyalode), her words traveling to the head of the market women. The archduke signaled to a friend, one of the kingmakers.

Arẹwa's golden eyes, glowing like orbs of precious metal, projected a radiant light that fused with the crystal. A vast and intricate light engulfed her like a protective shade. Her voice echoed with an otherworldly presence as she spoke of visions.

"Here come the warriors, armored in blood-soaked armor... The jungle's lion roars as the neighing of horses fills the air. Swords clash, creating a symphony without a conductor... Arrows whisper through the air, striking fear into the hearts of the powerless, like ants beneath an unstoppable force. Blood flows like a river, staining the earth with its vivid hue... The towering mountain trembles and crumbles. The silver throne, a symbol of authority, tainted by the blood of many... The lion's..." A knife was suddenly hurled in her direction.

The protective shade around Arẹwa swiftly deflected the knife, sending it back to its sender. Though the sender managed to ward it off, the blade was caught by a vigilant guard. The radiant light that enveloped Arẹwa waned as quickly as it had emerged, disappearing entirely after the incident. In the aftermath of the attempt on her life, Arẹwa collapsed onto the ground, her body lifeless and still.