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Chapter 21: A Subtle Confrontation
In the guise of a military mission, Darina chooses to not take her rest at the palace. With Rowen, she went outside the amusement place to find a place to stay. They decided to go to an inn which is situated half a farsang away. While they are standing at the wide-open double doors of the inn, they noticed how the workers are busy preparing the grand hall. There are dancers in their fine dresses assisting each other to keep their fashion intact.
Darina walks in while observing the people around her. A dancer whose gaze met hers stood in awe.
“Dilruba?” Darina called her as she steps closer. “How can a court dancer be in this place?”
“We will perform for a court official, Your Highness,” Dilruba replied while keeping her hands upon the embroidered kerchief that covers the lower half of her face.
Darina felt her eyes quiver involuntarily at such aggravating thought that the court dancers who are meant exclusively for the internal court are performing at
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Jewels of The Crown Chapter 22: Filial Respect
Indeed, Darina saw herself in Ardeshir when he asked for a chance to prove every candid portion of his service. When Robert the chiliarch secretly told her that she is summoned to the internal courts, her stance did not perturb. She can receive the thing that she did not forbear, and that is mercy. Darina believes that there is no trouble even though the chiliarch is covered in sweat and dread. The king's voice brought the chiliarch to apprehension on behalf of Darina. While gasping for air, the chiliarch hopes that Darina will not receive great indignation. "How can I not dread when he has not poured his anger in me? I'm afraid that His Majesty reserves all his rage against your highness." "Resign your fears, chiliarch," Darina replied. "All is well."
Jewels of The Crown Chapter 23: Calm Waters
The very first thing Darina and her company noticed about Shahin was his character, timid and reserved. While they observe him from afar, Darina’s company cannot help themselves but talk about him. “I did not expect that he was Prince Ozroes’ half-brother. I can barely see any resemblance of Chief Marcus in him,” Marsden commented. He noticed that the chief Amyrgians there have aspen-red hair. But Shahin has a brown one. “It is because he is a stepson to Chief Marcus. Chief Marcus took Shahin’s mother after the former chief wife died. Shahin is older than Ozroes but Ozroes is the chief prince,” Ardeshir explained. Hearing their conversation in this manner, Darina was enraged. “Both of you must cut your comments. What is it anyway if he bears no resemblance to Chief Marcus or has no blood relation with the chief Amyrgian line? Isn’t it enough that Shahin must be known as a brother of Ozroes? You are indirectly rejecting him. You seem to not care of your master
Jewels of The Crown Chapter 24: Hoax War and Honor
At night, Rowen beckoned Ardeshir because of Darina’s silence after the question about the practice war. They proceeded to the palace library for their secret conversation. “Don’t you think it unnecessary to ask that, Prince Ardeshir?” Rowen confronted. “It is necessary. We must see them prepared.” “Why?” “What if Minister Hazper will raise unto King Rashal about making the practice war as the criterion of the royal knight decision? I just don’t want Darina to count the practice war trivial. It is her chance to secure her title. If she wins the title, I by myself will usher it to the king to consider the winner as the only royal knight of Clapestris.” “Why not suggest this to the king before the event?” “It is a mind game, Cavalry Captain. Minister Hazper was the one who suggested the necessity of the royal knights to participate. He did not suggest this as the basis yet. He wants to make sure that his desired royal knight will win fir
Jewels of The Crown Chapter 25: Vicissitudes
No man yet was able to compare how fast could be the time is for one person and slow to another. One thing to Clapestris is for sure, that the fastest of all was all the vicissitudes that happened, in her capital and outside her palaces.While Darina and Prince Thariem are away, the warfare game prevailed. There are many red dyes slashed through from both sides that almost every one of them seemed defeated on their own. Many were serious about taking the combat and a few made it for entertainment. The same few soldiers were the first to notice the lone traveler heading towards them, and a trail of thick dust is following him. These soldiers called the deputy leaders to look at the coming person.Rowen received the letter from him. As he reads it, his hands clutched the paper. King Rashal requires reinforcement from those who are participating in the practice war for his campaign against the Egeans.“We need to help His Majesty,” the deputy leader for
Jewels of The Crown Chapter 26: The Falcon
Before the troubles of the capital and her woes pounded the land, Darina had lost all her time in trying to find Prince Thariem. The reckoning of her subconscious demands to get the search done. Taking familiar routes, breaking abandoned barriers, and racing with the unknown, Darina got nothing to think at all but to see Prince Thariem. There, at the higher place of Zagros Mountains, that she saw him pouring his grief. She kept on calling the prince, pleading him to return. “For what Darina? To be your laughingstock? Why are you enthusiastic about the game? To get your desires against me done?” Prince Thariem retorted. He laid back as he met Darina’s terrified gaze. The prince gathered all his guilt to be sorry right away to Darina. “Forgive me. If only I can plead for the game to not happen and it would be better.” “Even if it has to happen, I will do something for your sake. So do not think that I forgot you in my works,” Darina simply replied as she gets n
Jewels of The Crown Chapter 27: Myth of the Scythian Ghosts
Fear succumbs the kingdom and the plea for escape remains undeniable even for the heroic Marsden. He could play retreat to save himself. But how can he resist the heroic call when both women before him are vulnerable? Marsden cannot help but enfold his hand on Dilruba’s arm. He let Dilruba assist the Queen Dowager to run against the futility of their exit. The Queen Dowager can only recall a few of the secret passages of the palace. As she enters with her heroes to the path behind the chamber walls, she cannot guarantee any safety either. They only have a torch to light the path, and they can follow the available path towards the most of freedom they can attain. Struggling on their way, and their steps against cobwebs and rodents, that they found the best clue for the exit, that is the passage that can deliver them straight out the gates. There is a few drops of water from the ceiling of the passage, hinting to them that they are beneath the moats of the city. So the
Jewels of The Crown Chapter 28: Beyond Zagros
How must fleeting moments pose as eternity for Clapestris to weep a heavy one without the care that her voice reaches her neighbors? Each of her laments seems to account for a thousand-year travail, and each of her sighs brings all manners of agony to shame. Among these moments where refuge could only be seen is when Clapestris has her people in rendezvous. Yet, among her valiant men is the imperative to make no noise. Prince Thariem and Darina had to be still in the presence of two treachery soldiers who are conversing among themselves. Ardeshir was dubbed as a sure strategist. But from the same soldiers are the doubts on his skills. “Truth be told, I do not think that he already excels on being a strategist,” the soldier said. He cited that Darina is the finest strategist of Clapestris next to General Daylam. “What if Darina only lets Ardeshir execute his plan to meet his own trouble?” The other soldier agreed. “Together wi
Jewels of The Crown Chapter 29: Serenading Gandaria
The three fugitives joined Prince Thariem and Darina’s company en route to Gandaria. Their company has encamped first in a mountainous place to wait for the dawn. They were discussing among themselves how to find a place for Queen Dowager and Dilruba to stay. Dilruba felt uneasy about their discussion. She does not want to be a burden among the soldiers. Seeing that a mighty woman like Darina can easily join the troop, she thought of volunteering herself. “No, Dilruba. You must stay with Queen Dowager,” Prince Thariem replied to her secret appeal. “She needs someone with her, too.” Darina heard their conversation and added herself to it. “We do not think of burdens on accompanying you with us. However, some things must be executed wise,” Darina tried explaining gently. “In that case, Your Highness can join us with the Queen Dowager at our stay in Gandaria. We can assure each other’s safety while our soldiers retake the capital,” Dilruba sugges
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