Chapter Two.

Manøvie

My dress was a soft piece of flax plant fabric,crushed into the finest linen and mingled with specially made dyes. It was a shimmering beige dress;a thin lined strap covering my breasts then to my lower back,making a small V line under my navel. It hugged my hips in all the right places giving me an almost too perfect appearance.

Modëus female dress codes were always revealing but I didn't think it would go this far. The cloth was too thin that the shape of my breasts and nipples were openly visible. My fingers travelled down to my waist,brushing over my peeking hips as I stood speechless Infront of the full length bronze mirror,examining my reflection.

My hair was wound tight to the back of my head in tangles of tiny braids. A gold chain placed around my head with a small diamond at the front centre. One of the servant girls cupped a snake shaped bangle on my bicep then stood back to consider her decor.

"Are you sure this is an appropriate outfit? I take it's rather too...indecent." I asked her,looking down at myself.

"Oh,no no no!" She laughed,adjusting the strap over my breasts,tugging it alittle lower that my cleavage was too tempting. "This is very appropriate for Ashdônite festivals,"

"Festivals?" I frowned. I thought this was only going to be a meeting between the king and I,nothing more.

"Yes,didn't Lord Sobêiski tell you? King Ashdôn is celebrating your existence with the village and since your the main guest,he sent this attire himself."

"Oh,o-okay," was all I said to her.

I took in heaved breathes as we approached the door exiting the washing chambers. I held the skirt of my dress up as I climbed the marble steps,the servant girl going out first then keeping the door open for me. I stepped back into the warmth of my room,sighing against the fresh air.

I froze, when I caught sight of Sobêiski who was now changed into formal attire. He was donned in white from head to toe with tinges of gold here and there;his priest robes gripping his body heavenly.

Although he was a priest and not  subjected to muscle rippling work at all, Sobêiski was blessed with a breath taking body. His biceps bulging fiercely from his throw on gold cotted robe,his chest barricaded by a lustre filled gold priest breast plate.

He looked like a Solorato in the wrong tribe.

Sobêiski never uttered a single word as he stood afew meters from me,holding his priest cap on his side. He gave me a smile,the cleft on his chiseled chin twitching as his lips curled gleefully. I returned his smile coyly,dropping my eyes from his searing blue ones.

He gently placed his cap down and wended towards me. The slowness of his footsteps channeled me with great intensity. The excited organ beneath my ribcage thumping from within my chest rapidly,I was afraid he would be able to see it trying to annihilate me internally.

My skin jumped when Sobêiski touched my chin, delicately brushing the pad of his thumb on the side of my face.

"You look very,very beautiful," he whispered.

Up until now I hadn't realized that I had stopped breathing until I laughed,catching both a sigh and my breath in the act. I averted his gaze,trying to deal with the heat from his proximity before replying to his compliment.

"Tha-thank you," I stuttered,feeling the pit of my stomach churn with many vibrations of adrenaline.

"We should probably head out and meet Lord Lucaí in the chapel before we leave,"

I nodded in acceptance. I expected him to lead the way as I followed but he instead took my hand in his,bringing me out of my room. He did not rush as always,his strides were calmer and slower as we travelled through the course of the long corridors.

Again, the words and strange warning of the high priest pressed themselves back into my mind when I saw the black colossal gate leading into the chapel. I quickly yanked my hand out of Sobêiski's as he started to unlock the gates.

He didn't question my actions,he led us in quietly-taking the left side of the aisle. I stood back,not wanting to face Lord Lucaí the second time today. He would probably read the incoherent expressions on my face and know something was wrong.

"Aren't you coming?" Sobêiski asked. I nodded a no to him and kept my current position.

I watched him reach Lord Lucaí who was kneeling at the alter with his arms to his chest. Sobêiski waited a moment before interrupting the high priest in prayer. They talked,each of them looking back to where I stood. Shortly Sobêiski left the high priest,striding back swiftly.

"Lord Lucaí wishes us a happy time," Sobêiski said when he returned to me.

"Is he not coming?"

"No,he says he has to worship tonight,"

I inhaled and let out calmly as I inwardly invoked with thanks that he was not coming with us.

Sobêiski didn't take my hand this time as we left the chapel gates. I presumed he knew my fear of Lord Lucaí and his precepts. Besides that,i didn't want to be an impediment to Sobêiski and his way to becoming the next high priest of Modëus. I will do all it takes to see to that even if it meant burying my feelings at the bottom of my soul.  

The journey out of Temple to the land of Ashdôn was long and tiring,taking most of the night as we travelled. Sobêiski sat beside me in the coach that we rode in. I was anxious about this festival,but with no tinge of excitement.

This was the day I would show out to the villagers and it would be then when they saw who and what I was. It was like a great reveal for me. Sobêiski had lectured me about how everything would go down;the king would precede me to the people,i was to bow for two seconds or so then I'd be asked to show my powers Infront of all.

I gasped when I felt a hand touch me. I looked to my left and caught Sobêiski's eyes-they were laced with concern and worry for me.

"It's going to be alright,Manøvie. I'm going to be with you so you don't feel alone," he took my hand in his.

My eyes dropped to where our fingers interlocked. How was I supposed to conceal my sentiment for him when all he did was evoke my heart all the time he made me feel exquisitely special?

My heart bled every second I dwelt in this predicament. It was getting much more difficult and drastic by the day. I didn't want him to think that I would ever distance myself because of what Lord Lucaí had told me so I let him hold me,letting myself linger in the chaste of his solace for the rest of the trip.

Sobêiski nudged me from my siesta as our coach neared the felspar stone gates of Ashdôn. I sat close to the window,staring outside in awe of the rich scene around.

"The gates are made of glass stone!!" I looked back at Sobêiski,a big smile on my face.

We exited the coach that had stopped at the floor of the gradient steps leading into the palace. There were other coaches and gold carts at the distance,parked together. This quickly reminded me of the other people present at this festival.

Sobêiski took my hand in his and brought me to a calm gait;with every step that I ascended,my stomach grew tight,my skin was galvanized with heat of itching anticipation. I held onto his arm as we erased the breadth between us and the large doors ahead.

"Just take a deep breath," Sobêiski proclaimed when we stopped. He let go of my hand and put on his priest cap,it blinded view from his dirty blonde hair,leaving only the strands at the front of his head to peek out.

I did as he advised but the minute those doors rumbled loudly-gaping largely to reveal those that hid behind it's barricade, large surges of trepidation nipped at my nerves while we walked in slowly.

"... Levi Maritús Sobêiski and our main guest tonight,The Lady Manøvie both from the tribe of Levi," the master of ceremonies announced.

I kept my eyes low,avoiding the looks of wonder and amaze when they saw me. Sobêiski waved to the applauding crowd briefly before leading me to a flight of stairs, where the king was based. The festival preceding perpetuated as I followed him up the carpet blanketed stairs to the top balcony.

"Lady Manøvie!!" a man abruptly held my hand gleefully.

His eyes were very dark with wrinkles germinating around them,he was the same height as me but rather fatter maybe because he was covered by large drapes of  clothing.

"Manøvie,this is his Highness, King Ashdôn-Ricar Frank[xxi]," Sobêiski said.

I quickly pulled my lips into a smile. How embarrassing,i had failed to recognize the king!

"Your Majesty," I curtseyed.

The king snaked my hand through his and led me to his table where some of the other royals were seated. I craned my head back to see if Sobêiski was still with me as he had pledged. I met his smile of reassurance as the king led me on,leaving me with the feeling of longing for him and the comfort of his embrace.

The king offered me a seat next to his and Sobêiski took the one Infront of me.

"My lady,meet my sons; Prince Asoùlt my first born son, heir to the Ashdôn throne and Prince Ronen." I nodded towards his sons with a simple smile before he turned to the girl next to Sobêiski.

"Then this is Princess Armioné,my only daughter. Children,this is The Lady Manøvie,"

The gala was excruciatingly long. All I wanted now was to get to my unveiling then go home,sink myself beneath my comforter and forget about everything.

The king had talked so much about the tale of the first daughter and her parents. He thought it would have been nice if tribal intermarriages still held their sense in Modëus history.

I was at the eve of a break down mingled with insanity, frenzy and exhaustion and yet I still managed to grip myself inwardly, retarding any hints of boredom and anguish.

"Father,don't you think it is time for Lady Manøvie's unveil," Armioné interupted his interminable speech.

"Oh,yes it is." He agreed "Come with me,my lady," he held his hand out

The loud music relaxed when the king rose his hand from the top.

Announcing that the moment they had all been awaiting had finally come. He gave a few remarks,giving clarity to the people down below that I was not Härshänoäh but I was close to her and tonight,i would be showing them all my phenomenal abilities.

There was a thunderous roar of cheering and applause when the king called me out to face his people.

I was close to hyperventilating,i wanted to scream and run out of the room but someone held me. I quickly recognized that soft touch,it calmed me and I instantly believed I was fine.

Sobêiski nodded to me before i stepped abreast of the King,catching sight of the numerous faces sheering with lights at the floor.

I took a deep breath then lowered to bow,inwardly counting the seconds passed before coming to my original stature.

I stepped back to the larger space as the spotlight touched me, letting my hands fall to my sides as I channeled the flame within.

I took a small hiatus,impeding everything out until I could feel my body tremble. The crowd went silent in anticipation of what I was about to do-yet,I was not even sure myself. All I could do was follow my intuition.

I had never done this before and I knew not what this crowd bursting with anticipation expected to see tonight but they were up for a show, so I had to give them one...

Following the rythmn of my heartbeat, I conjured up flashes of green flames that blemished the entire balcony,blinding all those behind me.

The forces of light spread out like a pair of wings,washing out to feed each of the torch bulbs in the hall. I could feel my body tremble with every second I held my arms out but I had to persist long enough to feed the people's excitement.

Everyone below burst into robust shrieks of zeal while I seceded the green flames pervading all round. I stepped back,holding my hands to my chest as the king urged the people to perpetuate their cheers.

"Are you okay?" Sobêiski inquired

"Yes,I'm fine,"

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Dedicated to @riaunque777. Thanks for reading ria.
Love,
Applesfire💖