Legend Of The Young Warlock

The Agreement

On a Path. The Next Day.

~Malisa and Samantha~

"It's rather contemplative how His Greatness looked away from the nuances of that insolent hostler."

Samantha took a stray off the topic, taking a slight gaze at the princess who was riding beside her on a horse. They were taking the early morning stroll as usual, and the path to which they were headed led to the final hut at the outskirt of the village, Kie's Hut.

"What say do we have over the wills of the gods?"

Malisa came on, taking a quick glance at her. Then looked to the front,

"My father, the king, could seem harsh and tough and ruthless. Which all best suit him. But he does have regards for the gods. And he wouldn't go out of his way to insult or ridicule their words."

Samantha was quiet for a while, but responded eventually,

"But what would you do with the hostler. He sure is so dumb not to acknowledge the feelings of the only and the most beautiful princess in all the world."

Malisa chuckled at the compliment, taking Samantha in her gaze for a long while. The gentle hoofs of the horses tapping continuously at the damp earth of the track which had been wet by the salient drizzle earlier the morning. The hoofs leaving conspicuous prints.

"If prince Manor had gotten that opportunity, he would be crawling at the feet of His Greatness at the moment."

Samantha had added. Malisa spoke,

"Aren't you tired of being a slave?"

Samantha's eyes held a certain degree of confusion as she looked at her mistress. She hesitated firstly but then nodded, muttering,

"Every slave thirsts for freedom, tired of the continuous bickers of their masters and mistresses. They want to do what they want whenever they want it."

Malisa smiled,

"Same goes to a princess. I'll tell you, Samantha. I'm tired of this constant attention I get for no reason. And that was when I knew I would be responsible for a change."

She paused a little and continued,

"The first day I laid my eyes on Kie, few months ago, even though I lied that it's been years. I saw how firm he was in argument and choices. Since that day, have I decided to use him."

"Use him, my lady?"

Samantha didn't hide her confusion. The Princess bailed her,

"That was what I thought at first. To tame him and use him. As a puppet to getting what I want. But then my feelings began to jilt me till I had no strength left in me to withstand his charm. And I fell head over heels for him."

She chuckled suddenly, hurling Samantha into another rill of confusion. She added,

"But it is rather obvious that he doesn't want me. I guess he have such hate I have for arranged marriage for me. And it's understandable."

She sighed,

"But what's more disheartening is that I don't want to lose him, neither do I want to force my love on him or vice versa."

Samantha sighed too. She looked to her left, and the Princess made her horse stop. Samantha had no choice but to take suit.

"I'll need your help Samantha."

The Princess urged and Samantha's excitement took a stance,

"Whatever you want, my lady. I'm at your service. All you have to do is say it."

Malisa led on,

"Kie likes you. He fancies you. And I'm sure that he wants you. I've asked around, with words from my spies. And they found no lady he had ever found an interest in. You're his first. And it's pretty obvious, the gods favor you in beauty compared to me."

Samantha shook her head raggedly,

"Never, my princess. You're the most beautiful. Even a blind man would agree with me. And about Kie, he's only playing a trick. He doesn't like him. And why, of all men would I like such a rude hamster?!"

Malisa face changed at that and Sam corrected,

"I spoke out of turn, my lady. I'm sorry."

Malisa climbed off her horse and Sam did too. She led Sam to the base of a tree and they stood beneath it.

She tapped at the bark of the large tree and said,

"Nobody hates a Cedar because it doesn't provide an edible fruit. But everyone loves it because its woods are strong and beautiful, lasting over centuries, yet firm and stanced."

She turned to Samantha,

"You don't have to like him, Samantha. And I do not want you to take this as though I'm using you. You know too well, that of all the female attendants I have, you're my only friend and what I can't discuss with father, I do with you. Poor me, mother was lost too early."

Malisa sighed and Sam moved closer to her, touching her cheek gently, forgetting that there was a hierarchy separating them.

Malisa added,

"Throw yourself on him. Today. Make him come to the palace because of you. Make him believe that you love him. Make him come to the palace believing that he had come for you. Tell him to come for you in the palace but pretend to be into me. And somehow, we'll make him mine. And when I get him to lay with me and become pregnant with his baby, he'd be bound. And gradually, even if he doesn't love me for me, he would for our baby."

Samantha's hand dropped from the cheek of the princess. She thought for a long while. Then she walked back to her horse. She climbed on it and called at the Princess,

"Come my lady, we might miss our first try."

Malisa ran to Sam's horse and hugged Sam by the waist on the horse. They both chuckled and resumed the journey after Malisa had mounted her horse.

"I had a dream, my lady."

Sam severed the silence as they went on.

"The dreamer girl."

Malisa mocked but Sam became all serious,

"Believe me, my lady. This recent dream is like a vision. I've tried kicking it away, but it kept coming to mind."

Malisa nodded, looking at her,

"Let's hear it. Maybe speaking it will make it go away. But let's hope it's not about a snake swallowing an eagle this time."

Sam chuckled, dismissing the scorn. Then narrated,

"I saw a giant. With a melanin skin. Broke into Agranah and trampled on the king, people and crushed the city, turning it into chaos by the tongue of the fire. But when I looked closely, the man on the throne of Agranah wasn't His Greatness, nor anyone I'd ever seen. It was a strange man from the future. Your son."

Malisa chuckled,

"Did you hear all that in your dream?"

Sam shook her head,

"Not the son part. But while speaking, I just felt it within me that it's your son from the future."

Malisa wanted to laugh again but restrained herself, of course not because she would be flogged or anything close to that. She said instead,

"You know what you'd do, Sam? By tomorrow evening, go to Bathias, the palace poet and narrate the story. It'll make a good poem. But don't add Agranah to the story if you want to keep your head. After all, in two days' time is the gathering of the Kings! What a nice presentation it would be on such occasion!"

Samantha glared at her mistress and looked away, grumbling. She made her horse walk faster than Malisa's, but the latter called playfully,

"Come on girl, don't make an enemy of a poor lover."

Samantha looked back, fighting to soften her glare.

And then suddenly, Malisa kicked her horse and shot,

"Catch up!"

Malisa's horse raced past Sam's and the latter was forced to call,

"Is that your little trick, huh?"

But Malisa whooped instead, keeping up her pace.

"Bighead."

Sam cussed and took off, but then she had horse whinnying in distance behind her.

"Jaith."

She grunted. The king had sent him again to keep an eye on them. But she had no time to waste, she must catch up with the princess. And Jaith knew too well that he dared not be caught by the Princess, even though he was running the king's errand.