Shield of Fire

Crini couldn’t recall whether it was real or fantasy. Something was shaking her with force. Is it a dream that gives you the sensation of reality or is it an earthquake? The shaking was persistent and she couldn’t hear any noise from something else following the shaking tempo.

Crini’s eyes jolt open and find the girl she met yesterday in the kitchen, right next to her bed.

“Finally!” the girl speaks, sounding annoyed it took Crini so long to wake up.

The latter tossed the girl’s hand away from her shoulder and sat up on the bed. “What’s wrong with you?” Crini snapped back to her, but it didn’t seem to affect the girl.

“I’ve been trying to wake you up for almost ten minutes. Gods, you’re sleeping so heavily!” the girl remarks. “The boss wants to see you.” She adds.

Crini jolted up from the bed like she’s been struck by a lightning bolt. Immediately she run to the place where a new bowl of water is placed, and a new cube of soap was next to it. “Tell her I’ll be there in two minutes.” She said to the girl, grabbing the soap and starting to wash her hands and face.

The girl rolled her eyes and walked out of the room, leaving Crini in a state of panic. Thankfully, her uniform had enough time to dry, and she put it on hurriedly. Coming out of the bathroom, she took out her worn-out shoes from under the bed and put them on. She tried to comb her hair, passing her fingers through them, trying to make them somewhat presentable.

After checking everything she went out of her room, running. She headed left through the large cobblestone corridor with numerous wooden doors on each side. The end of it lead to the throne room, where she presumed the boss will be waiting for her.

Two guards stand on each side of the entrance to the throne room. Their shining armours make the room brighter as the dim light strikes them through the large arched windows. Their spears – that are crossed in front of the door – part as they see her approaching and they push the door open.

It was the second time Crini was walking into this room. If the kitchen was considered big, it was nothing compared to the throne room.

A massive rectangular room spread in front of her as the doors opened. The stone walls are carved to perfection and the large stones on the floor are so clear, they slightly shine as the sun gets into the room through the large windows that reach up the ceiling. At the far end, two large rock-carved seats are placed. The walls are decorated with huge banners with the coat of arms of Anive, a basilisk wrapped around a golden spear, and paintings depicting scenes from glorious battles of the past.

Crini hurried to the end where the thrones were placed and kneeled before her boss, that had already taken a sit on one of them. “My Queen” she states – paying her respects – with a trembling voice.

“Stand up Crini,” the queen’s voice resonates into the room from above her. She slowly lifts herself, obeying her queen’s order.

Today the queen’s dressed in a long-sleeve navy blue dress. The end of her skirt around the ankles was embroidered with golden thread, forming the outline of waves. The same pattern was found also at the end of her sleeves. A long golden chain with only one big blue shiny rock –the size of Crini’s fist – rested on her neck, balancing the low cleavage of her dress. The earrings matched the ring on her left hand and instead of the crown – that usually prefers – she was wearing a golden tiara.

“I have some reports against you once more. Some claimed that you’ve reported late for duty in the kitchen yesterday.”

Shit, not again.

I’m confused with your case, Crini.” The queen stood up from her throne, taking two steps towards her. “You are hard-working, and you learn quickly. But punctuality is a trait I value the most.”

“I apologise, your majesty,” Crini responded with a drop of her head. “I’ll be forever grateful for your kindness to work under your employment, and I promise not to do that again.” She said the poem by heart, keeping her head down. She couldn’t remember how many times she said it, but it kept working so far.

The silence suddenly fell to the room was nerve-wracking. She must be annoyed. Shit.

“I’m aware that you have your best intentions, but I can’t go easy on you every time. People will start complaining more about my treatment of you and this may have implications. I want to have order around here, not chaos.”

Crini’s heart sank. She will be punished; the poem is not effective anymore. “Then I dispose myself to your judgement, your majesty.”

Queen Tesfira taps her heel on the stone floor repeatedly for a few agonizing seconds and then stops letting out an elegant sigh.

“As you all know, yesterday was my son’s eighteenth birthday, Prince Tadal. And if I recall correctly, it was your birthday too.” The queen comments and Crini gives a short nod. “As he is about to set himself a candidate for the Tournament, I cannot let him go there by himself, completely unprotected! I need someone to keep an eye on him, at all times.”

A knot forms on Crini’s stomach. She had an idea of where the subject goes. Her hands start trembling, dropping to her sides.

“That is why I’ve decided to let you be my son’s guard. I will issue a special permit for you to participate in the tournament as well. But be cautious. Do not let anyone of the candidates believe I’ve sent you to protect my son. It is of imperative importance that even himself is not aware of it either.”

How he won’t know? He must have seen me around here, he knows that I’m a slave and not a citizen. Crini’s thoughts run.

She opened her mouth to protest but no voice came out so she closed it again. And what to say? She had no word in this discussion. It was a monologue actually, with the decision already taken before it started. It was the order of the queen and as much as she wanted to protest, the words wouldn’t even touch her ears.

The large doors behind her open again and the heavy steps of boots fill the room. Crini gets a shadow of a large form passing from her side, standing in front of the queen, taking a deep bow. “Your majesty” a rough voice resonates from the man standing between Crini and Queen Tesfira. “At your service.” He added.

Crini lifted her eyes taking a short glimpse of the man standing in front of her. Tall, well for her everyone was tall but this one was taller. Broad form, standing straight as the spears of the guards outside. His black uniform was clean and pristine with a yellow line on the side of his trousers. His boots were cleaned to perfection, and Crini was sure she could see her reflection in them. A sword was hanging from his belt, the handle decorated with a red stone at the edge.

Queen Tesfira parted her lips to give space to a bright wide smile. “General Kra’ko, I’m so happy to see you responding so quickly to my request.” She extends a hand, and the general takes it immediately with an elegant move, bringing it in front of his face, and giving a kiss on it with a short bow.

“It’s a pleasure.” He responds letting her hands gently back down.

“I want you to train Crini, here,” the queen says melodically, pointing at Crini. “My son’s new guard for the tournament.”