Chapter eighteen.

Manøvie.

This was my first ride to the tribe of Levi and I'd remember it as the worst time of my life!

My mind was heavily hazed and frantic, I sat at the edge of the carriage,squeezing myself more into the leathered walls in hope of extinguishing my tremor into it.

I twiddled my fingers, clenching at every bump the car tyres hit as we travelled. I was growing more tense and aggravated, my body couldn't stand the convulsions much longer without snapping in spurts. My knuckles numbed against my scarlet shawl as I tried so dearly to calm my self and find a suitable consolation.

The sound of other wagons screeching against the few rocks on the ground attracted my attention; I sat forth and examined what was outside my miniature window.

The rest of the guests also travelled with us towards the same direction. I could notice the other women, seated and excited as they rode past us, immersed in fantasized conversation.

A niggle of jealousy approached my throat as I reclined back into position. I wish I could be like them- normal and unworried ladies. Living a life that was free and less peculiar- a life where I'd sit with my friends and chat away through time.

A life where I didn't have to feel self conscious and alone, where I didn't feel left out, a burden and just a mere possession.

But who I am kidding, there was no way I could change all that or swap my current life with another. This is who I am and who I will be.

The carriage started to slow down- we had arrived. My moment of dread was nearing its peak and I was still heedless of what was to come.

We came to a steady halt and from my window, I could see the side of a tall building with plant molds against the impediments. My valet appeared at the door and held out his hand for me.

Gently taking it, I stepped out and met the apocryphal domain standing in full majesty. The valet led me all the way to the main entrance with all the other guests trickling in.

"Lady Manøvie," a firm gentleman came to where my valet and I stood,waiting in line. "Right this way," he offered his hand

I looked over at Charlen in perplexity, he simply bobbed his head in approval and extended my hand over to the other man then left.

I was led into the medieval mansion through another door that came to an out parlour; the grass was flat and neat, with small hexagonal polished rocks built into the ground. There were miscellaneous white tables all around with two seats each underneath.

At both sides of the out compound were high uniquely curved Capital poles that ran up front to a raised and open gazebo with few seats and an altar in between.

The fine gentleman brought me to the first row of the middle column and helped me into my seat as the rest of the guests were led in as well.

"Can I get you anything,my lady?" He asked

"No, no thank you." I shook my head.

The adrenaline I had constantly coursing through my veins couldn't let me have anything.He nodded in respectful regard and walked away.

The tables behind me begun to fill up quickly but no one took the seat beside me. I stifled myself from looking about but each time I stared at the gazebo,my body spasmed horribly.

"My lady," I snapped my eyes up in anticipation

"Lady Dihané, how nice to see you," I smiled as she occupied the vacant seat.

"I wish the circumstance was joyful." she grimaced

Her words made my situation even worse. I had thought that keeping in her company would sway the loneliness and worry away but all she did was drown me more into my trepidation. The small smile I wore faded as I looked away from her sadly.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that to you,"

The soft music that started just outside the gazebo interrupted her apology. The minstrels rose their voices to match the musical instruments simultaneously, bringing out sensational melodies to calm the awaiting audience.

Soon, the song lowered and the singers fell silent. I tensed. The Levite elders came from a distant threshold and into the gazebo. Two elderly men approached first ;they were the two former former high priests before Lord Lucaí.

LeoNaidus and Malachi followed suit and they all sat around the altar. Where was Lord Lucaí and Sobêiski? Where they together? What were they doing together?

I jumped when a hand gripped mine, looking up I caught Dihané's gaze. She didn't look bothered or worried at all like before.

"I have a plan, don't worry." She whispered to me

"You do?..."

"Citizens, kings and queens, Lords and ladies- welcome to yet another season of extended leadership. This year, our youngest and only male descendant of the first daughter will be crowned as high priest of Modëus; Levi Maritús Sobêiski, son of Levi Maritús Dihané." Lord Malachi cut me off, waving his hand to the back where Sobêiski was to come forth from.

The active audience burst into loud cheering and applause,along with the fast played music to welcome him.

My heart beat fast, excruciatingly unrelenting as I stared at the door in itchy premonition. The minstrels broke out into a new song when the door behind the gazebo opened, my fingers solely grabbing a fistful of the shawl over my shoulders.

Sobêiski emerged out, wearing a new set of priestly robes. A linen turban with a gold plate around his head,his shoulders were wrapped into a thick layer of ephod robes with golden shoulder straps that his new breathe plate was tapped to. 

At the hem of this robe were tiny pomegranates and gold bells as it's fringes with linen breeches, This very distinct attire was fastened with an embroidered sash.

Sobêiski was wearing a new breast plate as well, it had four columns of stone; Carnelian, chalcedony,topaz and an empty cell. Why was it empty?

Wait! That was the breast plate Lord Lucaí had made! I snapped my gaze over at Dihané, she had noticed the same thing. I held onto her hand for support as my worry escalated. We both held out eyes at the door, waiting for Lord Lucaí to come out as well but he didn't.

The loud music quieted down with a last ring from cymbals as Sobêiski knelt before the altar with the priests and elders standing around him.

"Where's Lord Lucaí?" I heard people whispering from the back

"This is so rude of him not to attend his successor's coronation," another woman murmured

The lead priests didn't seem to mind his absence or rather, they didn't notice it. Malachi stood a few steps from the rest of them, immersing a hyssop brush into holy water and sprinkling over the altar and Sobêiski while he chanted distinct words to himself.

Sobêiski then rose to his feet, one of the elders unfastened his embroidered sash and pulled his ephod robe off as LeoNaidus brought the gold robe forth. He shrugged into it, holding his hands open as another sash was tied around his waist then slowly, he turned around to face the audience.

Our eyes met, I ossified- lingering deeply into his charming blue eyes in speculation of how things would be if we had fallen in love under different circumstances; where we were free to be together.

I averted his gaze, pulling onto my shawl more as my smothering congitations rekindled the pains of my heart and soul. He was now High priest of Modëus, there was no turning back. Lord Lucaí hadn't appeared in opposition.

The last part of the ceremony was the signet- ring of office. It was brought on a cushioned gold plate and handed to the eldest priest.

"We now consecrate our very own, Levi Maritús Sobêiski as Lord and guide of Modëus. As we place this signet of power into his hand, we trust him to protect and serve us and appease the goddess with a whole heart....

"Stop! Just stop this right now!!"

No! No, this couldn't be. Why?

Lord Lucaí burst out from the back, racing on his feet to the front with two Solorato boys behind him.

"Lord Lucaí, what is the meaning of this?" the eldest priest snapped in frenzy

"You can not make him High priest!" Lucaí pointed at Sobêiski who stood there silently and un bothered by the invasion.

"And why not?"

"Sobêiski here is a traitor!" He announced and everyone gasped in shock and disbelief.

"Lucaí! How dare you? First you're late for the ceremony and now you're bringing up allegations!" Malachi snarled

"This is no allegation,Malachi
because Sobêiski has been emotionally involved with the lady Manøvie," he exposed, pointing straight at me

I sat becalmed, feeling my skin blemish with embarrassment. Even without looking about I knew everyone had their wide eyes pinned at me. Whispers and murmurs of disbelief pervaded the air behind me as Dihané squeezed my hand,trying to calm me.

"Nonsense!" the eldest priest clamoured "Lucaí this is outrageous, how can you say say things?"

"What I say is true, why don't you ask him- ask him!!" Lucaí pressed

"Sobêiski, is what Lord Lucaí says true?"

I rose my eyes to him again, meeting his stone gaze. His jaw clenched as he contemplated the question in his mind. All I prayed was he said No because Lord Lucaí had no official proof against us,

However, Sobêiski's eyes spoke different..

"Yes, it is. I'm in love with Manøvie. I won't deny it!"

My heart fell.

Not in sadness though as I thought. Just hearing him confess his feelings for me again mitigated my heart as we still held our gaze.

I wanted to reach out to him, to throw myself in his arms and waft us away to a distant place where no one would ever find us but strangely, I kept sitting there- knuckles numbed against my shawl.

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