Adventure of kadura episode 21
ADVENTURE OF KADURA
(The Chosen Bride)
Episode 21
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Written by Author Nath
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FLASH BACK
To be pregnant is to be vitally alive, thoroughly woman, and distressingly inhabited. Soul and spirit are stretched along with body, making pregnancy a time of transition, growth, and profound beginnings of a new life. A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years, and in your heart until the day you die.
Elena, king Corbatt’s wife was heavily pregnant and was due for delivery during an on-going war between Ukra and Tiras. Therefore, Corbatt wasn’t around when she was taken to a delivery chamber. He was at the war front, protecting his kingdom territory.
Elena laid on a bed with her legs spread when she began to push. Only a woman, Aarav, was with her.
“My queen, you need to push harder.” Aarav urged her.
The woman took a deep breath and pushed with limited strength. Oxytocin, an important hormone in labour and birth helped the labouring woman’s uterus to contract and birth her baby safely. Aarav carried the baby out. “There is still another coming, my queen.” she dropped the first child.
Elena screamed with tears when she pushed again to birth the last child. Unfortunately, she was losing a lot of blood. Nevertheless, she tried to stabilize her breathing rate as she asked, “Aarav, is any of them a male child?”
Stunned, Aarav answered, “No, my queen. They are both females. What’s the problem?”
“Listen to what I want to tell you; Corbatt hasn’t been a good husband. Before we got married, I heard of a woman named Abigail he must have been having affair with. The issue here is that he swore to kill the baby if not an heir to the throne. Thanks goodness he’s not around now. Please, promise me you’ll smuggle one out of the kingdom where she will be raised. At least, if he kills one, another will be alive.”
With the last baby in Aarav’s hand, she said, “I promise, my queen. At least, give them a name.” she handed the babies to their mother. Meanwhile, the chamber had been filled with the cry of babies. In a quivering low voice, Elena asked, “Which came out first?” Aarav showed her and she named her ‘Celestina’ while the second child she named ‘Adriana’. Sadly, she gave off the ghost in her….
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CONTINUITY
Julius stood at a window of a chamber, listening to the story told by Kate, Celestina’s only known mother. However, Celestina also stood at the door with tears in her eyes, knowing that she is a royalty. Just as they waited, Kate concluded by saying, “Aarav smuggled you to me. Before she passed away, I promised her to take you back to Ukra on your sixteenth birthday.”
“Then why haven’t you done as you promised?” Julius asked her.
Kate’s voice pitifully broke down. “I’ve grown to love her so much that I do no want her to leave especially when I discovered I’m barren.” She looked at Celestina with those tears. “I’m so sorry I’ve kept this from you.” she pleaded.
Without a word, Celestina embraced her thereby rising not just their emotions but also their perturbations while Julius thoughtfully watched them. All of a sudden, Kate looked at him. “I guess you’ll help me take Celestina back to her kingdom.”
“Of course, I will. But it needs much preparation because it will be days journey.” Julius answered.
“Who are you by the way?”
“I’m Julius, son of Bruce.”
“But I heard the men call you Aliento. Moreover, a common man cannot exhibit the power you exhibited earlier.”
Julius kept quiet thereby giving the two women reason to suspect him. Though he never cared. He just walked out from the chamber to the exterior. One could see the white horse tied at a distant and some villagers drawing water from a well and repairing broken thatches as a result of the fight between them and the slave traders. Julius began, walking towards the horse. His footsteps had the shelf of his sword dangle on his waist, so he supported it with a hand.
The village was located beside the sea. Celestina walked to the seashore with a bow and fetched some water. Returning back, the wind of the sea had her gown and hair flying backward, hence exposing her beauty the more. Julius could see her from the tree where he stood beside the horse. Sooner did Celestina approached with the bow of water and kept it for the horse to drink.
“Thank you.” Julius appreciated her.
Celestina walked around the other side of the horse in a way she was directly facing Julius who was at the opposite side, knotting a belt on the horse while the animal consumed the water. “Just want to thank you again for saving me and my people” Celestina’s voice was no different from Adriana’s in Julius’ ears. “I hope you tell me about my twin sister.”
Julius didn’t say anything.
“You look worried and distressed. Tell me, what’s the matter?” Celestina asked.
“I’m only worried about the people I left behind; my father and my friends.” Julius replied without looking at her.
“Then why did you leave at the first place?”
“There is always a reason for something knowingly or unknowingly. I wouldn’t have discovered my strength if I hadn’t left. The very essence of instinct is that it’s followed independently of reason.” Julius completed the knot and looked at her.
“How did you then discover your strength?” Celestina was still inquisitive.
Julius swallowed hard. He really didn’t want to let her know that she was his strength and also weakness as Icarus told him. He also didn’t want to reveal his true identity to her. He just needed time to understand his decision among the three women in his life especially now Adriana has a twin sister. Which would he choose was the only confusing question in his mind. Just as he wallowed in that thought, Celestina’s voice came to his ears.
“What are you thinking? Is the question difficult to answer? Well, remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” she began walking out of the place.
“Celestina!” Julius called her, so she looked back, having the force of the wind blow back her hair. “What did you mean by that?” Julius asked her.
The young girl said nothing but smiled before leaving…..
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Back to Ukra kingdom, one could see Albat and Maximus walking side by side on the street. Chattering of traders, bleating of goats and hammering of metals tried to subdue their voices. Maximus was pissed when he disappointedly narrated to Albat:
“I can’t believe Julius kept his true identity from me. Like i am his best friend for crying out loud!”
“Best friend?” Albat chuckled bitterly. “I was his woman but he never mentioned that to me.”
“Was?” Maximus intensively stared at her. “Does that mean you’re no longer his woman?”
“If had known, I wouldn’t have given him my time, love and heart. Kadura is meant for Adriana alone.” she concluded.
“How I wish Avera will see the truth”
“That’s your problem ” Albat left him to the royal castle where she met Adriana in her chamber. She walked to the bathroom to prepare water for her princess. All of a sudden, Adriana called her. She came out, standing before the princess.
“You’re avoiding me.” Adriana told her. “I get it. I overreacted by meeting Julius in his chamber…”
“My lady!” Albat interrupted her. “You’ve don’t absolutely nothing wrong. Moreover, Julius and I were not together anymore.”
Surprised, Adriana stepped forward. “Why? What happened?” she asked enthusiastically.
“Well, I… his father isn’t in support of it. So I broke up with him.” she replied, exchanging a stare with the princess who suddenly turned away from her, thinking critically.
“What about what I told you to find out?” she looked at Albat. “I told you to find out from Bruce why my father wants Julius dead. Did you find out?” she clarified.
“Umm.. not really. He didn’t tell me. He said he doesn’t know” Albat swallowed hard for the lie.
Adriana, for the second time turned away from her. “I just hope wherever he is, he’s okay.” she prayed to the hearing of her maid. Quickly, she hurried out of the chamber to meet her father. At the door of the father’s chamber, she stopped, listening to the voices she was hearing:
“While the search for Julius continues, I think we should plan on my wedding with Adriana for my arrival as Kadura to be authentic and reliable.” Damon sipped his wine.
“That’s a good idea, son.” the king drank his wine too. “Nobody will ever believed my own cup bearer is Kadura.” he added. Just then, Adriana barged inside to the men’s amazement.
“I’ve heard your evil plans and I know why you so much want Julius dead!” she furiously said.
“Adriana..” the king wanted to say but began to cough and choked at the same time. The chalice in his hand fell from him while he stared at Damon. “You poisoned me, son?” he said.
“He did what?!!” Adriana glared at Damon. As she was about to help her father, Nero stepped in and dragged her out as she continued screaming.
“Put her in the dungeon, she and everyone who knows the truth must die and I shall rule the kingdom with Avera.” Damon concluded, watching the king fall on the floor with blood gushing out from his mouth…….
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TO BE CONTINUED