Must Save Her!

That very evening, after the princes had delivered the king's foreboding message, Asha received scant food and water while she continued to lament her fate. How had she fallen victim to the schemes of the malevolent royal household? And now, they were determined to frame her for a crime she didn't commit. Should she betray the man she had seen in the forest and disclose his whereabouts? No, she couldn't bring herself to do that to him, and besides, would they even believe she wasn't still collaborating with him? Prince Mayo was resolute in his mission to destroy her for what she had witnessed. 

Trembling uncontrollably, she only ceased when the prison gate creaked open, and guards seized her, dragging her forcefully outside. 

"Where are you taking me?" she asked, fearing they were about to carry out the princes' threats of beating her publicly.

"To the palace! The king wants to question you!" A guard answered gruffly. 

The moment she was dragged into the palace, she knew whatever the king had in mind for her wouldn't go well for her. She tried not to look at the faces of chiefs and the princes who watched her while she shivered in her filthy wrapper and mud-streaked face. The prisoner was so disgusting, just one night in it and she was looking like a pig. She didn't want to look at any of the chiefs but her eyes caught her father's gaze. He had his head bowed so he wouldn't see her in such a devastating state. The sight of his sorrow brought tears to her eyes, and she couldn't help but worry about her sisters, especially Nena, and how they would be affected by her plight.

She was jolted out of her thought when they king jumped down from his seat like he was about to attack her. He circled round her like he was weighing her and about to pounce on her at any moment and he looked so much like Denna at that moment. He must have been just as evil as his son when he was his age. Asha turned then to observe the quiet queen and she was suddenly curious about her ever silent nature despite the dire situation she was in at that moment. 

"So, tell me little girl, did you plan it all alone or was there an invincible hand who helped you?" The king interrogated as he halted in front of her. 

Asha swallowed hard and turned to her father who gave her a subtle sign not to say anything. 

"Look at me! Young girl! I am your king! Get down on your knees!" The king bellowed and Asha fell to her knees, trying to avoid the mocking faces jeering at her at that moment. 

"I've heard your extreme hatred for the royal house, and I have reason to suspect you're capable of plotting my assassination!" the king accused.

Asha turned sharply towards the king, ready to defend herself, but remembered her father's advice to remain silent.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself? Didn't you recently slander the royal house? Didn't you have a confrontation with my son, calling him names? He's a prince of Maribah!" the king continued, causing gasps from the onlookers at Asha's audacity. She realized she wouldn't escape condemnation, but she hadn't expected any fairness from the king and his family. Yet, when she glanced at the queen, she sensed a hint of sympathy in her eyes as if she wanted to weep for her... for her? Asha wondered. 

"Are you even listening? Young girl! Just give me the names of the killer and your accomplices, and I'll release you! I promise!"

But I am innocent, Your Majesty!" Asha retorted angrily.

"That's what she keeps claiming, but these individuals will prove otherwise!" Mayo countered, shocking Asha as he brought forward Nemere, her mistress, and several other women.

"Let them testify!" the king commanded, returning to his seat to hear their accusations.

One by one, the people Mayo presented lied against Asha, falsely recounting how they had witnessed her moving around early in the morning and engaging in private conversations with a mysterious man. Asha couldn't believe her ears and she wanted to protest their lies but she knew it would only result in more punishment for her. However, what stunned her the most was when Nemere stepped forward to speak.

"We have seen her with this servant on numerous occasions. Therefore, her words should be considered truth!" Mayo declared before a nervous Nemere was brought forward to address the king.

Nemere opened her mouth but no words came out. She knew Asha was staring and so was the king and she had to speak even if it were lies! 

"Out with it or I shall have your tongue!

"My king! She's responsible for the attack on you that very night. On many occasions she had expressed how much she hated the royal family and she promised to ruin all of them especially since Prince Denna tried to force himself on her."

People gasped while Denna grunted and Japthan was truly ashamed of himself for not protecting his daughter better. 

"Yes my king! She was my close friend until she started plotting for your death and I washed my hands off her. But still I watched her and I saw on many occasions speaking with a strange man in dark places and I thought she was just flirting in her usual manner. But that night, I was on duty and I saw her in the palace speaking to a man before handing him a sword and guiding him to your room… I have no idea how she smuggled in…"

"Enough! I have heard enough! Get out all your witnesses! Out! The king's voice thundered. "Asha, by my decree, you're found guilty, and you will face the consequences!"

"No! I'm innocent! Nemere, you can't betray me like this!" Asha's desperate cries echoed as the guards dragged her away to her cell.

Japthan leaped to his feet, eager to console his daughter, but the king's guards intercepted him. Though his heart raced with fury, he restrained himself out of respect for the king.

"You should consider yourself lucky I didn't choose to execute her before your very eyes!" the king spat with venomous rage, as Asha's anguished screams reverberated down the hallway.

——

Elim was at a loss, unsure of his next move. The Palace was swarming with guards, making it impossible for him to carry out his mission of killing the king without getting caught. He couldn't risk it. Frustrated, he absentmindedly jingled the coins he'd been paid by the wealthy man who'd hired him. He had failed in his attempt to avenge himself. He had failed and has disappointed not only himself but also the rich man who had enlisted his help.

As guilt weighed heavily on him, Elim overheard some maidens chatting by the river. He listened from his usual hiding spot where he could hear about what was happening in Maribah.

"Can you believe it? I never thought little Asha had it in her to plot something so evil! She was seen in the palace the same night the king was almost killed," one of the maidens exclaimed.

"Killing the king! Why? Just after her family had been announced as the king's in-law! Little Asha! It's unbelievable. Are you sure it isn't a set-up?"

"If you are saying that, that means you are calling Prince Mayo a liar and you will be punished for that if anyone from the royal house hears that! "

"Shhh, don't go saying what I didn't say."

"Why would I do that? Asha isn't the only one who wishes the king dead. He's so evil" the maiden whispered in a lower voice. 

"Just stop saying that! Or you may face the same fate as Asha! You know tomorrow morning she will be flogged publicly after the guards have been executed and then nobody knows what would happen to her then!"

Elim had heard enough. He hurried through the bush to find his guard uniform while he made a quick and careful on how to save the young girl Asha. She had begged him in his dreams to save her and somehow he had landed her in trouble. He must save her!