Chapter 3. Court and the Clown
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"Silence! Move out if you don't have anything useful to say." The king said with a calm tone, his heavy voice made bickering ministers fall silent. He couldn't lose his cool even if he felt like kicking each of them out himself.
'A king mustn't show his weakness.'
"There hadn't been any incidents in the past why all of a sudden? Has anyone thought that? Any of you have an answer to that." An old minister from the far left of the line said.
The royal advisor came forward to inform about the latest letter received from the Maythene commander. "It looks like they just want attention. We should wait it out. The villages captured by the army are outcast villages, the villagers are small farmers or daily laborers. The enemy can neither rob nor steal. "
"Why does the royal advisor think that?" A minister from the right side asked.
"What about villagers… they can die or get taken away as war prisoners.."
The Royal advisor answered. "Our guarding soldiers along the borders were set free and there hasn't been any news of massacre from those villages. I believe they don't have the means to push any further that's why they are keeping quiet even after capturing the villages."
"What if they win the villagers over and with their support move closer to the capital? What will the royal advisor suggest then?" The king said.
The royal advisor gritted his teeth as he discreetly glared at the king.
"There was news of an ambassador visiting the palace. The ambassador had arrived with carts and carts full of grains and gold. Was he the ambassador of Maythene?" someone from the leftist side said.
"An ambassador?" The king was puzzled. But it wasn't new to him that the details of daily affairs and crucial events like this were kept from him. The king scoffed inwardly. He was disappointed but not surprised.
"Your Highness!" a royal guard said as he entered the hall and bowed. A tall young man dressed in a royal blue uniform and a headband of the same color was tied around his forehead, a sword in one hand and a scroll in the other.
The king gestured for him to come over and he strode the long distance in a few steps to personally hand over the scroll to the king and took his place next to the king's throne.
The king read the scroll. It had information about the ambassador's visit and gifts as well as who received the gifts. "So this isn't an attack but a retaliation." The king concluded.
The original letter that the ambassador had delivered was still missing so the king had no other choice but to meet the commander of the Maythene army.
As expected the king's decision to meet with the commander didn't sit well with the ministers. The leftists, rightists, and neutralists were surprisingly together objecting to the king's decision.
"Quiet." The king once again said. His gaze was cold but he forced a smile to look gentle.
"What does the royal commander think?"
The tall man dressed in blue came forward bowed to the king and said, "Your Highness, I cannot add anything to that except that the royal army will always be there for our king's protection. the meeting can be risky but the royal army will make sure the king is safe at all costs. I request you highness to allow the royal army to accompany along with the national army."
The king was pleased to have at least one person at his side.
"You have my permission. Prepare for the departure." The king said and dismissed the meeting.
As soon as the king left the hall the ministers started arguing amongst themselves, attacking and counter-attacking each other with words and taunts. That was the reality of Hanna's royalty and nobility. They were at each other's neck in the name of duty and serving the nation.
There was a small section next to the king's throne that was hidden behind the curtain. Behind the curtain was sitting a woman, wearing a fine silk robe gown decorated with golden and silver threads, her grey hair pulled in a big bun and a jade headpiece adorned the top of her head. "The clown wants to play king now…" The queen's mother said as she threw the cup in her hand, breaking the ceramic into pieces.
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The village was functioning like any other day, the farmers were working in their fields, daily wagers leaving for work, small shops and food vendors were open, women were carrying out their daily duties and kids were roaming around freely.
It had been a week since the army took over the Hanna village; the Maythene soldiers were guarding the village entrance and keeping an eye on everyone who came in and out of the village. Some of them had even started to recognize the frequently visiting individuals.
Both the villagers and soldiers were slowly becoming part of each others' lives and building an understanding of their lives and beliefs.
Jwala was sitting under a big tree, watching some kids play in the field while eating wild berries.
"There is a commotion going around in the capital, my queen." Mitra said standing beside Jwala. "the king is mobilizing armies."
"I only want to talk but if he wants blood… Let's give him that too." Jwala said and offered some of her berries to Mitra.
Mitra accepted one and bowed to show gratitude.
"Aren't you going to eat it?" Jwala said. "It doesn't taste that bad. Just a bit sour."
"Yes, my queen." Mitra placed the berry inside her mouth and swallowed it.
"I didn't give it for you to swallow… it wasn't medicine," Jwala said with a pout.
"You could have just said no when I asked." She murmured to herself.
"Any of you would like berries?" Jwala said out loud to the kids playing.
They were suspicious at first but when they saw Jwala eating and approaching them, they hesitantly accepted the berries.
Jwala sat down to be face-to-face with them and asked them if they wanted more. A small boy laid out his hands and soon the others did too. Jwala happily shared all of her remaining berries with them as she side-eyed Mitra, who averted her eyes.
This kind of interaction was new to the children, the commoners and daily wagers were considered a low class and hence treated like outcasts. They weren't allowed to sit, eat or even share the same street with those considered high class or nobles. They had fewer rights and even less income, basically an outcast of the Hanna.
"Can I touch your horse?" A girl asked pointing at Bela, Jwala's mare (female horse).
"You can. But what's in it for me?" Jwala said picking up the girl in her lap.
"I will give you my favorite flower." The girl got off and ran away and came back with a few small yellow flowers and placed them in Jwala's hands. "Can I touch him now?"
"Yes, you can touch 'her'. It's a girl horse."
The kids were overjoyed and started cheering once Jwala took them to Bela and let them pet her.
"She likes flowers too?" Another girl asked as she caressed Bela's neck.
"Yes… she likes flowers. She likes to eat them," Jwala said making the kids giggle. The commotion caught a few of the villagers' attention, mostly women.
Jwala noticed that the villagers were watching her. To make them feel at ease and win their trust she said, "Who wants a ride?"
The kids got excited. She then made two of them ride the horse and take a round of the field while she carefully held onto them so they wouldn't fall. She did the same with the rest of them before sending them off.
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Hanna :-
Queen Mother's chamber-
"What do you think you are doing?" the queen-mother said as she sat comfortably on her soft throne-like couch that was just a foot above the ground.
"Queen mother, the villagers' safety is at risk…" said the king who was sitting in front of her, straight and alert.
"and what does his highness plan to do if the Maythene commander captures him?" the royal advisor, who was also queen mother's half-brother said.
"the letter said that they want to talk…"
"…people don't always do as they say, your highness." Royal advisor interrupted.
"Like your mother vowed to be loyal to the late king but ended up running away," the queen-mother said.
Maan Ji Rei's fingers curled up in a fist and his jaws clenched to hear such remarks about his late mother. "Grandma, If the Maythene army starts taking over the outer villages the capital will suffer due to a lack of laborers and servants. If the migrant workers learn the palace isn't doing anything to protect their villages they might start to protest… maybe even start a rebellion."
Both the queen-mother and the royal advisor were quiet. They thought it over for a moment and decided to go with the king's decision, for now.
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"The armies are ready, your highness." The royal commander said.
"What is it, Kinn Son? You look displeased with something." Maan Ji Rei said as he adjusted his golden armor and shoulder plates.
Kinn Son, the royal commander was hesitant with the servants around. The King dismissed the servants after he was all dressed up for the departure.
"Queen Mother is going to come after you for this." Kinn Son said.
"That has been taken care of for now. This is a good opportunity to breathe fresh air… away from her spies and her prying eyes." Maan took a deep breath.
"I know you are doing this to prove that you are not a traitor." Kinn placed a hand on Maan Ji's shoulder. "You don't have to feel guilty about something that isn't your fault. Trying to fight a rumor is pointless."
"I am not trying to fight it, I will kill it." Maan Ji said with determination. "I will kill this rumor with another rumor, a rumor that favors me over them."
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