Lord Jesah Enslaves a King and a Queen

Asha agreed with Renali’s observation. She wiped tears from her eyes as they made their way back to the main hallway. They were lucky no one was around when they left the secret passage. The secret door sealed and restored the mountain wall. No one would know how to reach the fig tree.

Renali held Asha as they walked slowly along the hallway.

Then, Renali stopped, pulling Asha close.

Asha looked up and felt her heart drop at the sight of Jesah of the Bura Clan walking toward them. He was flanked by ten burly warriors dressed in the black armor of their clan. Their blades were stained with blood from their Airi Clan warriors. Their faces filled with triumph at the sight of Renali and Asha at a disadvantage.

“Surrender, and you shall live,” Jesah said in greeting. His voice booming in their halls.

“The Bura will rule Airi lands as the lion rules the jungles,” Jesah declared. “All must obey our will. We shall reform this realm into a new world, Queen Asha. No more ruling from the heart as you have done. These lands will be ruled by skill.”

Jesah laughed when Asha only stared at him with anger burning in her eyes. His amusement triggered his soldiers into holding Renali and Asha prisoner. They dragged them out to the great room and the open doors that led to the front courtyard of their home.

Hours later, Asha watched her people walk in chains out of House Kezana. Her husband was wrapped in chains too, and she cried as she watched Bura soldiers drag him out with their people.

“You shall stay with me,” Jesah said, holding an intricate wrist cuff in his hand. He took Asha’s left arm and slipped the cuff on her wrist.

“You shall follow my orders if you want your people to live. Queen Asha, you are now a slave to Jesah of the Bura. All that you own is mine including your offspring. Speaking of children, where is your child?”

Asha chuckled and faced Jesah.

“You may have my body, you may have enslaved my soul in chains, but you will never see my child. She shall be your downfall, Jesah of Bura. Mark my words, it shall be so,” Asha said with the confidence born of months of planning for this very moment.

Jesah slapped her right cheek but she made no sound as she met his gaze with defiance. She would never tell him where her daughter was even if he threatened to kill her. She would die first.

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Prologue (iv) | Table of Contents | Prologue (vi)