THE UNKNOWN MANP
rincess Kamara hadn’t been able to sleep. She stood by her window and stared out in the dark night. The image of Callan occupied her mind.
Every night, she dreaded the king’s eventual summons for her duties in his bed. While she wasn’t untouched, she wasn’t a loose woman either.
And now, she had fallen in love, which made the thought of another man putting his hands on her fill her with dread.
Ordinarily, she should have gone to the king and demanded her right to be in his bed during this season. But she felt relief as time passed and the king did not summon her.
She worried about Princess Danika too. The beatings she got were brutal. Danika had always been brave for a princess, which was why she could withstand such pain. Kamara couldn’t think about that. It sent shivers down her spine.
She had tried to visit Danika countless times, but always found her asleep. The potions she was on must be strong.
A bird flew across the window, forcing Kamara’s attention to it. Memories of the day she’d written to Callan on a messenger bird filled her mind. She closed her eyes tight and reveled in the memory. He’d written back, which had surprised her. Callan was a peasant, and peasants did not know how to read and write. But apparently, Callan was different because he wrote back to her in short, concise words and very masculine handwriting.
She smiled at the recollection. He’d thanked her politely for taking care of him and his injuries. Thanked her for sending Henna to care for a peasant like him.
He had always been very polite with her, and he did not know the feelings she harbored for him.
Following the memory came the sting at the back of her eyes. The difference between them was too painful. Even if she didn’t marry King Lucien, ending up with her Callan was impossible.
She stood at the window for a long time.
Finally, she wiped the tears from her eyes and walked away from the window. As she strode towards the bed, she wondered…
Does Callan think of me, too?
Madam Baski was still shocked about the revelations that afternoon. The new things she learned earlier in the day. Danika had been pregnant by the king. That child was the king’s baby.
At night, she sat on the chair in her bedroom and relived the events of the day. Danika was a different light shining on their people. She’d gotten pregnant by the king, something that no other woman had done.
Baski’s biggest pain came from the fact that she wasn’t so sure if the baby was still there.
Heavens, let that baby be in there. Let that be alright.
She wouldn’t know for a few weeks, for sure. She couldn’t check the natural way again without harming the mother and the baby. They were both so vulnerable now; she couldn’t afford to further harm them.
Baski had been so overjoyed that she’d practically run to the king and given him the shocking news, but she knew it was out of the question until they knew Danika was still pregnant.
It would hurt the king immeasurably if he found out that he’d been able to impregnate a woman, but the child had died. It would be an incomprehensible pain.
So, yes, she’d have to keep it to herself for now. Creator, let that baby be alright!
Baski was about to prepare for bed when the bed rustled, and Remeta shifted sleepily beside Sally. She’d made Sally sleep with Remeta because she’d planned to sleep in Danika’s bedroom and keep watch over her.
Remeta shifted again on the bed and rose slowly. She rubbed her sleepy eyes. “Mama?”
At the murmured words, Baski got up from the chair and strode towards her daughter, where Remeta could see her clearly. “Remeta? Sweetie, I’m right here. Go back to sleep.”
Remeta rubbed her eyes sleepily, “I’m worried, Mama.”
“Why, my dear?”
Silence descended as Remeta kept rubbing her eyes. “I’m really worried, Mama.”
“About what?”
“My Queen. The Prince. I—” she paused as if trying to sort through herself. “I really feel so much pity for King Lucien.”
Baski kept quiet as she tried to understand what Remeta was saying. Her Queen… Prince… King Lucien…
The Prince… The Prince?
The Prince!?
“Oh, my heavens!” Baski exclaimed when it all suddenly made sense to her. “Oh… creeps!” Her eyes were wide like saucers as she stared at her daughter as if she were seeing her for the first time.
“This was what you meant all along! That was exactly what you meant all along! And I thought you were losing your mind! Oh, Creator! I should have seen this all along!”
Remeta watched her mother without saying a word. Baski was trying to put two and two together. She remembered yesterday they were picking herbs in the bush. Her daughter had felt Danika’s pain even from afar. She remembered how Remeta dropped everything she was doing and ran out to where Danika was.
Did that mean that her daughter had some special ability or something? Baski filed it away as she realized Remeta said she was worried.
Baski held Remeta’s hand in reassurance. “Tell me, dear. Tell me why you’re so worried.”
“It’s the prince. The future---” she cut off suddenly. “I still don’t know if he will stay,” she whispered.