"I knew we were doomed the moment your mother died. The rumors were right. You will never be as good as her," Kovu yelled the last part at my face and was just about to spit at my feet when someone sped past me in a blur.
"You will accord the High Priestess of this land the respect she deserves," my personal guard and best friend, Kaizen, growled furiously as he held Kovu's neck tightly.
"Argh," Kovu grunted, heaving with a loathsome look at Kaizen who only smirked at him.
"Careful now, Chief Kovu," he said to the Chief like he was saying brat. "Anything other than an apology to the Priestess this minute might result in me snapping your neck. And Iām not sure I wonāt enjoy doing that."
I had listened long enough. "Thatās enough, Kaizen. Let him go."
"Kia-" He looked around and coughed. "Your Highness. His insolence has stretched too far."
"Kaizen," I gave him a pleading look. "Let him go." He must have seen the plea in my eyes as he dropped Kovu to the ground like a filthy rag. Kovu only huffed as he walked briskly away. No doubt scared of Kaizen, which wasnāt a surprise. Kaizen easily towered most of the people of Khaelonia at his height of 6ā7.
He turned to me the moment he confirmed that Kovu was out of earshot. "You shouldnāt be letting them talk to you like that, Kiara."
I let out a wistful sigh. "But they are not wrong, Kaizen. Iām a failure. Iāll never be like the Great Kora of Khaelonia. Iāll never be half as good as my mother. I should have stood my grounds of not being anointed Pries-"
Kaizen clutched my hands tightly. "Donāt say that, Kiara." I didnāt even realize that they had been trembling. And just like that my racing heart slowed down. He had that effect on me. "You are a great Priestess, and I have no doubt that youāll even be better than-"
I tore my hands from his grasp and gave him a sharp look. One thing I wouldnāt tolerate was him coddling me, or lying to me for that matter. "Canāt you see the drought??! Iām supposed to be the Priestess of this land and I donāt even know why thereās drought in the land, let alone have the solution to it. The people are dying. We are dying. And I donāt know what to do." I broke down then.
Kaizen pulled me into a tight hug. "Speak to your heart, Kiara," he whispered. "It has never lied to you. "Speak to it and wait for an answer." I knew he was only trying to make me feel better so I doubted the validity of what he said. My heart, more than ever, had never been more silent since the drought started. But I was going to try. I was out of options at this point.
I took the back of the Priestess hut and fled to the woods. There was an easier way to the stream, at least where the stream had once been, but I knew the path would be filled with the villagers, empty clay bowls in their hands and wailing to the heavens. I knew I wouldnāt be able to bear their impoverished looks or the disdainful gazes they would no doubt direct my way. So it was better to use the bushy path.
When I reached the stream, tears that I hadnāt let fall since my mother died flowed down my cheeks. The great stream of Khaelonia was bare. A stream that once flowed with the purest of waters was now so dry that long, deep cracks ran the length of the stream. I fell to the hard, crusty ground and clawed at it, breaking my fingernails and watching blood begin to coat the torn outer layer of my hands.
"Have mercy on us," I cried to the heavens, my tears flowing freely till they mixed with the blood pooled at my feet. I gasped as the mixture swirled into each other, and then I heard a familiar voice rumble deep in my chest.
"Youāre stronger than you think, Kiara."
"Mother?"
The voice carried on like I hadnāt spoken. "Every element that is you is more powerful than I will ever be. You are saved this time but I shall be silent on your next hurdle."
Wait. Had it been a test?
"Mother, please come back!" But her voice was already fading. Almost immediately the once dried stream began to fill up, flowers blossoming at its bank. I was already beginning to hear screams of joy in the distance. The people must have already noticed what was happening. Tears filled my eyes as the water grew deep under me. But even as I laughed in gratitude, Motherās voice rumbled again in my chest.
"This is only the beginning."
Jhymiš¤
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