The King and His Sea

Princess Avila stood looking up to the small window in her castle. Something she normally does whenever she's in thought, she had a feeling, a very weird one that something was going to happen today, something no one expected.

It is a very important day for the people of the Magadha kingdom, a day when a crown princess, the ruler of the kingdom, would be chosen. Being the first daughter of king Williams III, normally many would expect her to be the chosen one but the people of the kingdom didn't think so, she was born blind from birth, and not the people wanted a blind ruler.

The door of her room opened and her maid, Saria walked in.

"My princess…it is time," Saria said, watching her back. She carried with her a basket containing fine linen.

Avila slowly turned around, Saria dropped the basket on the floor and went to offer her a hand, and walked her to the mirror.

"I think it's not going to rain today, Saria," Avila stated as Saria's hand went around her shoulder pulling down her white dress.

Saria's eyes widened, "Rain? Don't say that to the hearing of your father, he will have my head." Saria spoke fearfully, wondering why she would predict such. She knew that whatever the princess says always comes to pass.

She made her sit in front of the mirror and began working on her hair, "The people wouldn't like to hear such either." Saria added.

Avila smiled and said, "I'm telling you what's going to happen, I'm not wishing the kingdom bad luck, I would say something was going to happen."

For two years, the kingdom had suffered a great drought, today everyone expected it to rain because lifting the staff of authority comes with many blessings. The people believed that the heaven would finally pity them and bless them with rain. They expected the keeper of the staff to help beg the gods of heaven.

"My princess, people had been deliberating on why it took so long to rain, some said the gods wanted it to be on this special day, while some said the crown princess would make it rain, but you're telling me it's never going to happen, my fears are the chaos that it will bring if it comes to past today."

Saria was still speaking when the door opened which made the both of them turn. Saria's heart skipped when the priestess walked in.

"Who's that, Saria?." Avila asked, feeling cold instantly. Before Saria could reply, the priestess began coming closer.

Saria bowed to her and stepped back.

"My princess." The priestess called and bowed.

Avila knew who it was without being answered, she struggled to stand but the priestess stopped her from doing so. Immediately her hand touched Avila, it was as if everything stopped, her silver eyes turned stoned as she felt herself slipping down to her vision.

"I can't see. The gods leave me no choice but to find a successor." The priestess said to her maid. Avila suddenly saw herself back to her room, with the priestess looking down at her.

"Give us a minute." The priestess ordered, Saria bowed and rushed out of the room.

There was silence.

The priestess cleared her throat and asked, "You saw it, didn't you?."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Avila looked away.

"I can see through you, princess. When you were born, I knew your gifts." Avila tilted her head back to her, she thought only her mother knew this, how does she know?

"I never visited all these years because it will arise suspicion, the king will get to know and you'll be in danger."

"Why are you here, priestess?." Avila asked impatiently.

"Because I want you to tell me what you've seen today. What is it that the gods can't show me?."

There was another silence between them. Avila was reluctant to say a word because any word she says right now will determine if the priestess was right about her visions.

"You have to help me, my princess." She held her tender hands, looking into her eyes.

"It will not rain today." Avila blurted.

"What?." A worried look went to the priestess's face.

"If it does not rain today, it only means that the successor of the throne can't be her." She thought outwardly forgetting that Avila was there.

"What do you mean by that? what do you mean that my sister can't become the crown princess?."

"I will be on my way." The priestess bowed and walked out.

Saria ran in, breathing heavily, "The event has started, my princess."

….