by Rai Aren
The thought lifted his spirits. He opened the doors.
Mindara looked up, her light green eyes growing wide as she saw him. She beamed at her husband. He was a tall, handsome man. Tramen and Setar saw him as well. Big smiles broke across their faces. Mindara scooped little Alaj up in her arms. He squealed with delight at seeing his father.
“Hi, Father!” Tramen called out.
Setar echoed his big brother, “Hi, Father!”
“Well hello there, my handsome young sons,” Traeus walked over to his family and gave them all a great big hug. “Are you enjoying the lovely afternoon we are having?”
“Yes,” Tramen answered first. “Setar and I were watching the birds and trying to name them all.”
“I named four of them!” Setar proudly declared, his slate grey eyes sparkling with delight.
“Wonderful,” his father said, playfully stroking Setar’s hair.
“I am teaching him the names of the others,” Tramen added authoritatively.
“You are a terrific big brother,” his father smiled at him. “Would you both mind if I stole your mother for awhile? I need to speak with her in private.”
Tramen looked at his father curiously for a long moment, “Father, I feel something. Do you need to talk me, too?”
Traeus looked at him for a moment, startled by the question. “Why yes, I will speak with both you and Setar, but first I must speak with your mother. She and I will come find you later. You can play outside for a few more minutes, then come in and wash up. Wait for us in your rooms.”
“Yes, Father,” Tramen answered.
“Look over there!” Setar happily called out as he spotted another bird. He and his big brother returned to their bird watching activities.
As they did, Tramen looked back at his father, a question clearly etched on his face. Traeus waved at him.
Mindara looked at him, her light green eyes searching his, “What is it, my love?”
He looked at her, hesitant at first. “I must speak with you alone. You can bring Alaj along.”
He led her to their private chambers. He closed the heavy double doors behind him and Mindara put Alaj on the floor on a soft green blanket with some toys. Traeus watched him for a moment, smiling at the innocent joy on his youngest son’s face.
Traeus motioned his wife to sit down next to him. They sat on the blanket with Alaj, who played happily. “Assan came to me today, he had news,” he said quietly. He took Mindara’s hand in his own. “I can scarcely believe it myself.”
Mindara quietly waited for him to continue, sensing something important was at hand. She saw the emotion well up on his face.
“I do not know how to begin,” he started. He looked at his wife, his heart now letting go of its anger for the moment as elation took hold. “You remember the day of the accident on the river? How Anjia was lost?”
Mindara, stunned by the unexpected questions, nodded.
“She was never recovered…and now I know why,” Traeus said as he squeezed her hand.
Her eyes went wide. “Are you saying they found her remains? After all these years?” she asked in a hushed tone.
“I am saying much more than that.” He looked at her intently. “Mindara, she is alive,” the last words he spoke were barely a whisper.
“Alive?” Mindara repeated as her face flushed. She was shocked. She could not believe her ears.
“Yes,” Traeus said as he nodded. “Assan…” he choked on his words as the pain of separation flared up again. “Assan hid her after Axiana was killed, he feared for her safety. He thought it was the only way to protect her, that they would try to kill her again.” Traeus tasted the bitter sting of Assan’s explanation.
“He purposely took your daughter from you?” Mindara replied, as the weight of this confession sunk in. “Telling you nothing? Letting you believe she perished that day? How could he…”
Traeus cut in, “There is something else.”
Mindara just looked at him.
“Assan says she is the Child of the Prophecy. The circumstances of her life, the way she was saved that day.”
“What?” she asked, truly stunned at the claim.
Traeus told her about Amsara. “Anjia knows this about herself. I cannot even begin to think of what this all means, or what we should do.” He watched his youngest child playing with his assortment of favorite toys, oblivious to what was going on, perfectly carefree.
Mindara sat up on her knees. “And Assan chose all these years to say nothing of this? I cannot believe he would presume to make such decisions for you, to hide this truth and…”
Traeus held up his hand, “I know Mindara, I know. He will answer for what he has done.” He stared at the floor for a moment, thinking on many things, both light and dark. “But not today…Anjia is coming back, she will be here by nightfall. We have much to do, and I need your help.”
“The boys…” she started to say.
“Yes, I would like to speak with them, but we have not much time and there is still so much else to prepare. We must address one thing at a time. I was thinking perhaps you could speak with Setar, while I talk to Tramen.”
Mindara looked at her husband, she understood why he wanted to do this alone. “Of course.”
He leaned in to kiss her. “I love you, Mindara,” he said, as he pressed his forehead to hers. “Our family, my daughter…our daughter now, Anjia, she is coming home.”
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Traeus and Mindara had gone to the older boys’ rooms to speak with them. Mindara went to speak with Setar, while Traeus sought out Tramen.
As he closed the door to Tramen’s room, Traeus looked at his young son, and thought about how handsome he was, how smart and kind and compassionate. It was not fair that he had to grow up all these years without his twin sister, whom he loved and for whom he had never given up hope that she was alive. Although Tramen had not mentioned this belief often in the last few years, nor the dreams he would have where he would claim she spoke to him, his father knew better. ‘All those times I told him to let go of his hope, let go of his sister – he sensed the truth. Why did I not also know? Why did I fall for the lies?’
“Father? What is it?” his son asked.
Traeus pushed back the painful questions. He could not possibly hope to make sense of this all at once.
“My son, I need to speak with you about something very, very important.” Traeus sat down on the bed beside Tramen. He smiled and brushed his hair from his son’s face. “The years have passed by so quickly. You are growing up so fast.”
“I know,” Tramen said, grinning self-consciously..
“Do you still think of your sister?” Traeus asked. He had been uncertain how to broach this subject, so he just said the first thing that came to mind.
Tramen looked up at his father searchingly. “All the time.”
“You have not spoken of her for some time,” Traeus commented.
Tramen looked down at his hands, “I know, it is just…”
“What son?”
“Well,” he said, shrugging his shoulders, “you never want to listen. You think I imagine things, that I have false beliefs.”
Traeus’ heart felt like it was going to explode. He was crushed at what was done to his oldest son, and he could hardly contain his emotion at the news he was about to deliver, but he knew he must do it gently, properly. He would say nothing of the Prophecy at this time. “I am sorry for that, Tramen, it was just hard for me to hear. I have missed your sister so much.”
“Me too,” he said wistfully.
“Tell me now, son, have you had dreams or thoughts recently…of Anjia?”
Tramen was surprised at the question. Not since his father had first informed him of his sister’s disappearance and presumed death had
he ever wanted to hear what Tramen had to say about this. He looked at his father, wide-eyed. “Why now, Father? You have never…”
“Just tell me, son, I need to hear it.”
Tramen hesitated, but he sensed something, the need to be truthful with his father about this. “I dream of her often, I see her, just her face mostly. Sometimes I will be walking outside, there will be a soft breeze, and I will hear her voice on the wind, calling my name.” He paused, he felt himself getting emotional.
“Please go on, Tramen. I am listening.”
“She tells me things, like she never forgets me, that she and I are forever linked. She says she is safe and that someday…”
“What, Tramen? Someday what?” his father gently encouraged him. He was amazed at what he was hearing, what he had turned his back on so long ago in disbelief and misery.
“That someday, she will see me again. That our family will be together again.” He inwardly cringed, waiting for his father to dismiss these things as mere imaginings and wishful thinking. His gaze was downcast.
Traeus paused, his heart in his throat. He knew the moment had come. “She was right, son.”
Tramen’s face shot up to look at his father.
Traeus nodded. He touched Tramen’s cheek. “I owe you a great apology for not believing in you about your sister all these years. You were right, Tramen. She did not die that day, the day we lost your mother. I only found out today, she is alive and well. She is coming home son. Tonight, she is coming home.”
Tramen jumped up and yelled out with joy. He was shaking with joy, as a huge smile broke out across his face. He laughed and cried all at once. “Anjia? She is alive? I knew it! I have always known! She is coming home?”
“Yes son,” his father answered, “she is coming home.” Father and son embraced, and their tears flowed freely, tears of pain long pent up, long suffered, poured out of them, as healing waters washing away darkness and sorrow.
Chapter 8
Forward
LATER, Traeus met up with Mindara again, back in their private chambers. Setar had been told about Anjia. He was excited at the prospect of suddenly having a sister. Traeus filled Mindara in on how relatively easily Tramen had accepted Assan’s decision and actions, as though it was some kind of immutable truth. Destiny he had said. He had marveled at his reaction, but he knew Tramen had never accepted her death. Unlike him. He felt like a fool. Traeus’ own bitterness still burned within him, though this he tried to hide from his son.
Traeus was quiet.
“What is it, my husband?” Mindara asked. “What is troubling you?”
“Assan.”
She nodded her understanding.
“I cannot fathom how I can deal with his presence any longer. I should throw him in prison to live out his days.” He clenched his jaw.
She did not know what the right decision was, but she knew the days ahead would be difficult for all of them. She thought for a moment. “Let us focus on Anjia first,” she said, placing a gentle hand on her husband’s arm.
He placed his hand over hers. “You are right, my wife. She is the only thing I should think of now.” But he knew that would not be as easy to do.
She kissed his hand.
He was grateful for her. She was his anchor. “We must inform everyone in the Palace, then our people must be told. There is much to decide. How much do we tell the people? Do we reveal that she is the Child of the Prophecy? There will be many questions.” He walked away from her, feeling his anger boil up within him again. He looked out the window. “I have many questions myself. How in the name of the stars can I possibly hope to deliver this message? I myself am stunned and shocked.”
Mindara understood perfectly what her husband was feeling. “You said she knows she is the Chosen One. If that is so, then perhaps we do need to tell the people. They will have questions as to why such drastic measures were taken to protect her.”
“But that will put so much more pressure on her,” he said looking back at his wife. “I do not want to do that to her.”
“Then, do not,” Mindara replied. “Let her decide.”
Traeus thought for a moment. “You are right. So many decisions were made for her. She should make this one.” He looked away. “All my life I have heard that prophecy. I just never imagined it would be my own daughter who fulfilled it.”
Chapter 9
Returning Home
THE day’s light was fading. Nightfall would soon be upon them. The night when Princess Anjia would finally return home. Something the King had never imagined possible.
The Palace staff had been informed of the Princess’ imminent return and instructed to keep this information in the strictest of confidence. They were given only a cursory explanation, with the promise of more answers to come.
The King would not be taking any chances this time around. He had placed Commander Maraeven, the leader of the Royal Army, in charge of instituting new and very strict Palace security measures. He had instructed the Commander to make Princess Anjia’s safety his top priority. She was to have guards around her at all times, no exceptions.
Though the Commander was relatively young, he had proven himself in battle during the tragic events of the past. Many older, more experienced soldiers, including Commander Koronius, had died during the attempted coup on the Royal Family and in the destruction that followed. Maraeven was now the King’s most trusted guard and security advisor.
The Princess’ room had been prepared for her. All of her favorite childhood toys were there. A new, special blanket had been knitted for her and the room was filled with fresh flowers picked from the Royal gardens.
In the Palace library, the King, Queen and their sons nervously awaited word of her arrival. Assan, along with a contingent of Royal guards, led by Commander Maraeven, who had been placed on standby, waited near them. Alaj was sitting comfortably in his mother’s lap. Tramen was nearly beside himself with anticipation, while Setar sat quietly watching everyone, excited about gaining a sister. Traeus carefully avoided eye contact with Assan. He had initially opposed his being present, but Mindara had convinced him it was the right thing to do. Odai and Senarra would want to see him and most importantly, she believed, Anjia trusted him. He was the only one here she had had contact with all of these years.
The library, Traeus recalled sadly and ironically, was the same room where the family had been informed that the Queen had died and that the Princess was presumed dead. Now here they waited again, but for very different reasons. He thought back to that terrible day, so many years ago, and remembered others who were not with them today, Amoni, Alaj…Zazmaria. His blood boiled at the thought of the woman who had betrayed their family, killed his wife, Queen Axiana, and effectively took his only daughter from him. However, he pushed those thoughts out of his mind. She had paid the ultimate price for her treachery. He did not want his mood tainted by dark thoughts. This was a happy day, a day of rejoicing and reunion. He would let nothing stand in the way of that.
