CHAPTER 7

Queen Lisha was held with the dagger, hidden it behind her back while the beast was still groaning. It was still looking at her. 

In haste the beast jumped in high speed, so also queen lisha jumped down the horse. As she moved to her attempt of stabbing it with the digger and out of turn, the beast runs through her back in a blink of an eye. And it landed in one place. Queen Lisha has lost control as she fall down unconscious. The deep pain of the animal's hit stroke through her back and in her nerves. The beast run swiftly, trying to attack again. Despite queen lisha's condition, she still took the sword, trying to fight the beast. At that instance, it was a few steps to where queen lisha lain. Unexpectedly, a sword flashes in the sunlight as it smashed the beast deeply in its left shoulder. The animal felt aside, groaning in pain. Ixan strongly held her sword, looking at it as it breaths and soon it dead.

Ixan carefully cleaned the sword with a white cloth and put it back to its scabbard. Then she ran to queen lisha who was still unconscious. She really empathized her condition.

"Sorry, Ma'am!" Sounded Ixan in worried, trying to raise her up. She placed her hand on her shoulder and carefully took her to the tint. "You are safe here Ma'am. Mujhe apane logon ko bachaane do (let me save your people)" she sounded and walked out. In a while, ixan brought the soldiers and the servants in the tint. "Please wait for me for some seconds. I will be back with the first aid" she said again and went out.

One of the army looked at his colleagues and uttered, "ham kaun se gaanv hain (which village are we)?"

"Heoro" answered the other soldier.

"It's our lucky being here. But who's this great lady? She's the strongest woman l have ever seen in my life".

"This is a miracle. Whosoever she's, she will be of influence to us and our Kingdom" responded Queen Lisha.

"You're right your highness. Having her in keswick kingdom will be a great pleasure to us and if ..." The commander held his tongue, seeing Ixan and Fanat coming towards the tint.

Fanat stood behind, collecting the herbs from the baskets and Ixan came inside the tint. Ixan was carrying a calabash contained with some leaves, barks of trees, powdered shrubs and some seeds for relief of pain. "Sorry for taking so long. Fanat, krpaya meree madad karen (please help me)" she uttered. 

And Fanat entered as she bow to Queen Lisha respectively. She carefully collect the calabash from Ixan and kept it on the ground. "I am sorry for the troubles you had gone through in our village your highness. We hopefully wish you're fine?" She sounded.

Queen Lisha smiled and answered, "thanks for your help and assistance. You really save our lives. I am Queen Lisha of Keswick kingdom". Then she looked at her people and uttered, "And these are some of our servants and soldiers".

Both Fanat and Ixan bow to them respectively. And Ixan utter, "forgive me your highness. I addressed you wrong. How are you feeling now?"

"I am feeling okay child. And thanks to you. A reward must be repay" said Queen Lisha.

And Ixan sounded, "That's not necessary your highness".

"Now it's the right time to take care of the patients. Please come Ixan" responded fanat and they moved on.

"Please sir ..." Ixan sounded, carefully held his hands to treat the wounds.

"Call me William" answered the soldier.

"Please don't tell us you are feeling hurt of wounds sir William" sounded Ixan.

And William laughed, "that's unlike me. I am a strong soldier. For my bravery and courage l got my dignity as one of keswick soldier. The thing is, today my wife cast me of going out for a long training. And that's my bad luck, we met the beast".

And they all laughed.

Then queen lisha sounded funnily, "now we know who's responsible for risking our lives today".

"Not me your highness. Obviously not" sounded William.

Then she asked Ixan, "have you been with the beast for a long time?"

"Not sure your highness. Even if it's been here for a long time, it never appeared before anyone. Oh! I forgot. How silly l am. My name is Ixan, and she's my childhood friend or sister-like, Fanat" sounded Ixan excitedly.

"You're most welcome girls. And truly we're happy for your help" uttered Queen Lisha again.

Ixan came and sat close to her before she utter, "apane haath de mahaaraaj, saavadhaan rahen (give your hands your highness, be careful). Look how worse your wound looks your highness. Keep still please" and she continues to treat her.

While Fanat continue to look after the others.

 Prince pial was sitting in a room. He was busy reading a newspapers while taking a green tea in a glass cup. The room was quite and silence with the brightness light of the sun that reflects the mirror of the room.

'Knock! Knock'

Someone knocked on the door and prince pial sounded, "come in".

Lihan entered with a smile on his face. "Shubh dopahar sar (good afternoon Sir)!" He sounded funnily.

And prince pial laughed. "Lihan, you're a wonder. I don't even think you'll have time for visiting today" he sounded.

"I am not only visiting my friend. Ek achchhee khabar hai (there's a good news)" he said, and he moved to sit in a chair that's opposite to prince pial's.

Prince pial dropped the newspapers on the table and turned, trying to face him. "Kya kah rahe ho mere dost (what are you saying my friend)?" He asked.

"I was thinking about your issue since yesterday and with good luck I found the ailment to your sickness. Usase milane ka sabase aasaan tareeka hai ... use ek pyaara sa patr likhana (the easiest way to get to her ... is to write her a lovely letter). And that letter must be sign by you".

Prince pial turned his head in frisk. "Main aisa nahin kar sakata ... (I cannot do that ...)" he sounded.

And Lihan stops him before he finish talking, "chup raho tum kar sakate ho (shut up you can)".

"Lihan!" Prince pial tried to decline his opinion.

"Come on, take it and write down the message" suggested lihan, giving him a white piece of paper and a blue pen.

Prince pial collect the paper, looking at it and thinking of what to write.

"It's easy. Just think from your heart and write it down. Tell her how you feel. She can understand, l know that. I went to their village few hours ago and I discovered that her highness has fall in a big trouble of a dangerous creature".

Prince pial looked up in terrified. "What happens to her?" He asked in shocked.

"Calm yourself prince. There's no harm or lost. And the queen is absolutely fine. Ixan and her friend were still giving them first aid. And I am sure they'll be fine".

Prince pial stood up, looking at him dubiously. "So you have followed behind the queen. Is that not a treason, betraying the family" he said, held both his hands in his arms.

And Lihan uttered, "I should be, I am her bodyguard since I was a child. And i took the realm of being the knight of keswick". 

Prince pial held lihan's neck in his arm.

And Lihan cried out "Ouch! Please release the neck ... please".

Then prince pial released him and Lihan continue breathing hard. "Gambheerata se, mujhe jaana chaahie aur ... (seriously, l should go and ...)".

"Aur ky... kya karen (And do wh... what)?" Asked Lihan, still breathing.

"Kuchh nahin (nothing). Are you sure there are all fine?" Asked prince pial in concerned.

"I am certain, relax my friend".

"With her also?"

"Of course, with Miss Ixan, her friends, relatives and ..." Lihan swallowed his saliva by seeing prince pial looking at him in rage. 

Prince pial sat close to him and held his shoulder friendly, trying to have a chat with him. "Please tell me the story. I am little confused. Who killed the beast? How did the thing goes? Please explain to me everything".

"First of all give me something to drink. You pulled this head so hard, l couldn't think sharp now".

Prince pial kindly punched him before he stood. Instantly, they heard a sound of footsteps outside the door as prince pial went to look through. And he saw his servant, trying to enter "Oh, it's you. Come in!" He called the servant and ordered, "get us a healthy snacks and drinks in a big tray".

"Right away Sir. I am sorry to disturb you. Prince Yoon sent me to look after you" said the servant.

And prince pial responded, "I am fine and tell him that lihan is with me. So there's no need to worry about".

"Yes my Lord" said the servant with a bow and he left.

Then prince pial turned, looking at Lihan and laughing. "God saved you my friend. You should have cook the food for us. Well, tell me now".

"I can tell you now since our order is fixed. You cannot believe it. All blessings to her highness, Miss Ixan".

"She is?"

"Of course, don't you think she can. From the beginning, you should calm down and I will tell you everything" said Lihan.

And prince pial kept silence, paying attention to his words.

 After fanat finished providing the first aid to queen lisha and her people, she kept the basket and walked out of the tent. She walked a little far from the tent before she looked around, whispering in her mind, "I hopefully wish you will send it sir Lihan". She was in that notion she sense Ixan behind her and she turned back.

"Kya baat hai Fanat (what's wrong Fanat)?" Asked Ixan.

And Fanat responded, "it's not a problem. I am waiting for a message. Don't wait for me, you can attend the guests. After I finish l will return. And please be careful Ixan. They're royalty people. Apana dhyaan rakhana (take care)".

And Ixan held her hand, "chinta mat karo, main karoonga. Aur tum bhee (don't worry, l will. And you too). Please don't take long, l will be outside the tent". And she went away, leaving Fanat waiting.

 Prince pial was in thought as he didn't realize the end of the story. Lihan smiled as he looked at him calmness. And he carefully beats his hand on the table that's at prince pial's front.

Prince pial smiled and looked up. "My thoughts are not so deep idiot. You want to frighten me" he sounded.

"Are you okay?" Asked Lihan again.

"Okay and not absolutely fine" answered prince pial worriedly.

Lihan kindly placed his hands on his shoulder. "Please tell me" he kindly sounded, paying attention to his statement.

Prince pial took a hard breath hard and utter, "I don't understand Lihan. I always thank God for given me everything l need in my life. It's been seventeen years since my father's death and I still didn't lacked for anything while I was with my uncle. I don't know what's in our life to be scared of".

Lihan kindly breath before he uttered, "we were raised together, how should I not know pial. If l should understand your fact, your heart hurts for Ixan's refusal. You know my friend, the problem is that she's not worried for the kingdom but for your mother. I understand, the Queen is not your real mother perhaps no one knows that as it's part of the kingdom family secret. Girls require affection and accurate nobility. Treat her with patience. Yadi aap bura na maanen to main ek vichaar soch raha hoon mahaaraaj (I think of one idea if you don't mind your highness)".

As prince pial continue looking at him.