CHAPTER 28

Ding kindly held her hand before he spoke, "I don't doubt your words Ixan but barrel is not up to us now. Let's wait and see what tomorrow shall bring. I assured you that prayers never seizes. Keep on praying and we'll be safe, everywhere we found ourselves. So stop stressing yourself. Go and get some rest okay".

And Ixan nodded her head, said "yes father. You're really right of course. Let me go to my bed. Good night father. I will keep an eye on you, to make sure you're safe throughout the night".

And Ding smiled, "Ixan, you too. I told you not to stress yourself. You have been on duty since morning".

"Don't worry father, nothing is going to happen", as she tried to go.

Although Ding called her again. "My child! Come here".

As Ixan returned and sat. "Yes father?"

"I am always encouraging you to become a warrior because of time. Our lives is different from the way of peace living. Even though you're a girl, you need strength to hold yourself, your dignity and your family. This is the only gift I will give to you being my daughter. But I thought I forget to tell you something".

"Yes father!" And she sat, trying to hear him out.

"Learn to keep yourself at rest. That's what's called skillful and control".

Ixan laughed and held his hands into hers before she speaks, "I got the point father. And I will keep control. Let me get back to the princess".

"God bless you my child", sounded Ding in excitement.

And Ixan left. As she walked to princess Nar.

"I hope everyone is comfortable here Ixan?" Asked princess Nar as she was arranging a showel.

And Ixan responds, "yes my lady. Everyone was happy. And they said I should thank you for saving their lives".

"And your father?" Asked princess Nar again.

"He said the better", answered Ixan, still looking wired.

Princess Nar has strictly doubt her words. So she kept the showel of her hand, trying to face her before she sounds, "Ixan! I can understand people by their affective state. I know that we have not spent much time together but I could differentiate between your happiness and your sorrow. So tell me, what's worrying you ixan?"

Ixan bent down her head silently, not wanting to speak.

As princess Nar added, "you have to tell me now Ixan. Tomorrow will be a new day. And deep worried can kill a person instantly. Do not let your heart weakens you ixan. You're brave".

But no response as Ixan was still dwelling upon.

Then princess Nar added, "or are you worried about tomorrow?"

And Ixan looked up at princess Nar.

 "Brother Swed! I have answered your call with respect", sounded Jes as she bow to him.

And Swed looked at her in thrash before he speaks, "and you think it's the right time for you to answer my call? When have I summoned you?"

"Forgive me. I am with the queen. Even now I have to lie to her that I wanted to go check my house, that's why I only get the chance to come".

"As if you're the only servant in charge", said Swed in worried.

"You know how our work is Sir ...", Sounded Jes in elicit.

"Silence!" He shouted. Then he added, "your talk is making me confused. Heard me out, the princes has returned to Keswick as I spoke to you".

"Really?" Asked Jes in excitement.

And Swed frowned his face again. 

As Jes quit her words.

"I didn't want childishness. Do as I say. These people have skipped my wisdom. They have killed my men and destroy all my plans. I won't forget and I won't forgive for any inconveniences".

"On my words, they did it just as I thought", sounded Jes again.

And Swed looked at her, "what have you thought?"

Thereby Jes changed her statement, "forget about my thought and inform me about your arrangements".

Swed walked to her in rage. As he was still looking at her. There's hatred in her eyes as he faced her, "You will have to obey my commands. And if I find out that you batray me in any matter, I will kill you".

Jes halt in one place, looking at him. And waiting to hear from him.

 While Ixan responds, "What could happen tomorrow princess?"

"It's something special. And don't worry if it is. I know how to control the queen by her actions".

From her words, Ixan understood her intent and she utter, "Am! My lady!".

"Yes Ixan?"

"It's not something serious. Please I need your favor for something".

"Okay", answered princess Nar, waiting attentive to hear her out.

"My lady! Please I beg of you, agree to marry the prince. You are so generous and thoughtful my lady but if destiny stroll, no matter how strong we act, we can never change it. So instead of fighting with destiny and at the end grief sorrow. It's better I shed my tears now, then tomorrow I will be happy. I don't know the secret of royalty and the kingdom but in these days I really felt scared my lady. I really do. I accept the outcomes. Please... Just agree to marry the prince", Ixan sounded as tears was dropping from her eyes.

Princess Nar has really sympathize with her condition. She smiled and kindly make her sit down. And she also sat next to her, facing her. Then she utter in kind speech, "Ixan my friend. I didn't just called you my friend. Do you know the strong bound that makes friendship in just a minutes. So if you can understand that bound, you can say that I am so not worthy of being a princess's friend. But look at us and see how we become, can you ever imagine that? It's not my power or my wisdom but God has made it that you'll be my friend. So the same thing with the prince for you. I don't how or where you met, but I thought I am not the one who connect you with each other right. Then, after the queen invited me here and I realized the whole situation, how do you think a grateful lady ease with a mere matter like this? I can never break anyone's heart or destroy any relationship. That's not my wisdom. But to see that you too succeed in your mission of love, that's my power and I wield to use it for you. Forget about me and also say that you don't care about the prince but have you forgotten his illness or you never know about it. Then if you don't know, let me tell you. The prince you're seeing as a strong warrior and handsome man, that's just from the appearance. Prince pial was having a mania. You didn't know that this illness can cause to his death. Please have mercy in you ixan and think like a human, not just like a sword woman. Apart from this sword we're taking, we're also fighting each day and night with our heart. Because a leader that only rule with his sword is not worthy of royally until he knows how to rule his heart. So I give you from now till morning to think because in the morning we're going to the queen. And after that follows the celebrations". Then princess Nar stood up and walked away, leaving Ixan in deep thought.

As Fanat was behind, looking at Ixan and she whispered in her heart, "the princess was right Ixan. If there's anything you are left to do is to fulfill yours and the prince's dream. Even if the world will turned back on you, one day the world will change to you. That's when the new light of tommorow appears". And she shed the little tears of her eyes before she also walked away.

Ixan couldn't sleep until the morning started to rise. She heard a voice from the tent and she swiftly closed her face with a rug. As she bent down her head on her lap, pretending like she's sleeping. 

It was Lihan's voice she heard behind her, "there's no need my lady, I caught you. And don't worry it's not him but me. Tea for your breakfast".

Ixan quietly opened the rug from her head and look back as she saw Lihan standing behind her with a cup of tea in his hand. She kindly smiled and collect the cup, "thank you very much sir Lihan". And she took a sip of it, looking at the door of the house.

And Lihan sat down with her. "I hope you have thought well?" he asked while looking at her.

"Of what?"

"About the matter of yesterday. Do not forget that today is the engagement day of prince pial and princess Nar".

Ixan took a hard breath before she spoke, "there's nothing left then. I don't have to decide anything. God's decision is everything to me so I should wait for His command".

"Then if you believe in God this fervid, what keeps you awake that you didn't sleep yesterday?"

Ixan smiled and utter, "it's not a fret that stops me. Even if I was scared, it didn't exceed the life I and my father and the prince will find ourselves after the queen discovered. You will never understand. I never had my life in royal families but how I see my mother suffered, I don't want anything to do with kingdom. She has really suffered and also die in suffering, although she never tell me her story. I just grown up and see my father taking good care of me. And he says that he would like me to be with him. This worried is what keeps me awake yesterday that I couldn't be able to sleep because I know the power of the devilish in royal home. If that strikes on me, forget about my sword, I cannot be able to hold my heart. And that's the basis. For a girl like me, I don't deserve to always be in strike. If I should try and defend myself and my people, I am scared of the time that i couldn't. My father is my only hope, I don't want ... I don't want ...", as tears broken from her eyes. "I will not bare to see him away from me. I don't", and she continues to cry.

Lihan tried to console her with his words. As he said, "It's alright Ixan, it's okay. Nothing bad is going to happen, I promise you this. Since the prince solemnly swear to you, I also have faith in him that he will safeguard you and your people. Please calm down".