40

40
JAMAL.

Today is the council meeting, I have decided to attend it, though I don't know if I have ever taken part in the past but yet something keeps telling me to attend this one.

I wasn't able to talk to Ammi yesterday but I will make sure I do today because I can't loose Sarafina. I shrugged on my clothes and opened my door, surprisingly I found mother standing at the front.

"Ammi, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm coming in" she said and closed the door behind her, she finally looked at me and a look of surprise crossed her face. "You are attending the council meeting?" She asked.

"Of course" I nodded. "Or is there a reason why I shouldn't?"

"No, not at all" she answered immediately. "Actually I came to check up on you, I didn't know you would be going for the meeting"

"As long as I agreed to help father then I should know some things about running the kingdom"

"You've really changed" she muttered inaudibly that I almost did not hear but I did and I didn't comment instead I sat on my bed and faced her. I still have enough time on my hands so I could still probe her about Sarafina.

"Mother, who is Sarafina" I asked, her head snapped to me and she took a step back.. I noticed that her fingers were shaking, what could be so worse to make mother as disoriented like this.

"Or rather who was she to me?" I asked again.

Mother clasped her shaky hands together and placed it on her lap. "Why are you suddenly asking about Sarafina, where did you meet her? Did you have a flash of your memories"

"I asked a question but you are replying me with a question, are you hiding something?"

Mother immediately stood up. "You have Ditya, so please leave Sarafina alone" she stated with a note of finality before storming out of my room without waiting for my reply. She didn't give me a straight reply, she is definitely hiding something.



Forbes thought the council meeting was going on smoothly until Elder Chopra raised the question about Jamal's health. "With all due respect my king.." Chopra started. "Right from the start we have all been faithful to you, always with you in every step you take" the council members murmured in agreement.

"But I think you are cutting us out of some things, as at of last week I heard that the Prince was on his sick bed,unconscious for a day and a half because of some unseen circumstances beyond your control but unfortunately we the elders didn't hear from you, so we all demand an explanation.. Right my people?"

"Yes" the other elders affirmed. Forbes sighed glancing at Jamal who was sitting beside him but Jamal only stated ahead not even sparing him a glance. As Forbes started to speak Abu the diviner walked in, everyone gasped as he entered.. The diviner never attends the council meeting except on special occasions.

Abu studied the whole room and smiled wryly. "Traitors, your highness... Beware" he said.

Forbes stared at him confused, while the whole room was quiet. "What do you mean Abu?"

Abu laughed and turned to Jamal. "A sacrifice has to be made for the completion of the rites.. Or else he will remain this way forever, tied to the present with nothing from the past"

"You speak in parables Abu, enlighten us more" one of the elders said.

"Go on" Abu said to Forbes.

"Jamal was cursed right from birth.." Forbes started, murmurs arose and Jamal stood up in shock.

"I was cursed?" Jamal asked shakily.

"Sit down back and stay silent till he finishes" Abu ordered.

Jamal slowly sank back into his seat while Forbes continued. "He was cursed by Naja a winter witch because of his mother and my wrongdoings to the witch, he was cursed to be emotionless" Forbes paused, trying not to break down before the council.

"We searched endlessly for a cure but could not find one until now, unfortunately the cure happened to be A Sheba, the witch's daughter"

"Say no .more your highness" Abu said and stepped forward. "The prince and this same maiden was entangled in an affair before he went unconscious, because of her love for him she performed part of the rites to heal him except one and so now the prince lost his memories and it can only be retrieved by the final rites" Abu concluded.

"This maiden, is her name Sarafina?" Jamal asked.

"Yes , Sarafina daughter of Naja and Salmar"

"Salmar.. The same Salmar we know?" An Elder asked.

"Yes..."

"So what is the final rites, the prince can't rule the province without his memories intact" Maximus who has been quiet since the beginning of the meeting asked.

Abu faced Maximus who had a sly smile playing on his lips. "Even our enemies are dining with us, yet we smile and laugh with them.. We are humans" Abu said directly to Maximus, he then turned back to the council. "Like I said earlier, a sacrifice has to be made before or on the festival of the rain which is in two days time"

"By sacrifice do you mean the Sheba" Maximus asked again.

Abu shook his head inwardly, they were all slow witted that they couldn't even understand a simple sentence yet he nodded, let them think what they want, Ashra knows it all. "Yes the Sheba" he affirmed and vanished before their very eyes.

"Does this mean we have to sacrifice the Sheba?" Elder Vikel asked.

"Obviously" Maximus replied, he didn't have to do anything she would be sacrificed after all.

"Then let us start making preparations for the sacrifice, isn't that right my king" another Elder asked Forbes who was just sitting transfixed, why would he have to sacrifice her after everything that she had passed through, yet he has no choice.

"Yes, we would have the palace guards retrieve her from her home she would be brought and kept Iin the sacred room till the day after tomorrow where she would be sacrificed to appease Ashra on behalf of the prince" Forbes stated.

"Very well the....." Maximus started to say but Jamal stood up immediately.

"Nobody is Sacrificing Sarafina, and anybody that takes her against her own will, I swear on behalf of my forefathers I won't hesitate to have a dagger rooted deep into his heart" Jamal yelled and stormed our of the palace furiously.

The elders stared at the entrance in shock. "What are we doing now"

"Go after the prince!!" Forbes yelled to the guards.

"We have to sacrifice her no matter what or else Jamal won't be fit to be king" Maximus stated.

The other elders nodded in agreement, Maximus grinned widely, with Sarafina out of the picture.. He could get the throne very easily.