Chapter 8 My Identity

Ivy grabbed a child's arm angrily, "How dare you to touch me with those filthy hands of yours?."

The child's mother ran to her quickly, "My princess, I'm sorry, please forgive her."

Ivy pushed the child and she fell and began crying, everyone gasped.

"Guards.." She yelled and two guards ran to her quickly, "Take her away." She commanded.

"Enough, Ivy," Avila shouted from where she stood, Ivy turned.

"Avila, i.."

"Just go home," Avila ordered in anger, it was the first time seeing Avila so angry. There was a moment of silence between them, "Now." Avila yelled and Ivy turned around and climbed into the carriage with Diana, and four men took them out of the vicinity.

"I'm so sorry," Avila apologized.

"My princess, I should be the one apologizing, please.." The woman pleaded with her head low.

"No. It's okay. Is she fine? please make sure she's fine." She said to her guard who bowed and led the child away.

....

"Stop," Ivy yelled from the carriage and the men stopped immediately.

"Calm down, Ivy," Diana said quickly.

"I can't believe she talked to me like that in front of those things. Avila is showing who she is now."

"Calm down, what you have to do now is to think about what the king said, you have to endure.."

"For how long, Diana? I can't find myself enduring the insults, can't..can't we just kill her?." She yelled.

"Ssh.." Diana shushed her and peeped out of the carriage's opening, she closed it back instantly.

"People are outside, let's just go."

"I'm really happy Princess Ivy didn't become the heir, that means we still have hope in this kingdom." They heard someone say outside.

"You think she's not going to take over the throne?You and I know that the king will see to it that she becomes the queen," Another said.

"What does that make it? it doesn't matter who sits on the throne now, what matters is the keeper of the staff." The same woman said and they chuckled and walked away.

Diana looked at Ivy, "Did you hear that?"

Diana opened the window, "Get us out of here." She ordered the men.

......

Avila sat down on a stone with her stick as she watched the kids play, an old woman walked to her from behind.

"My princess," The woman called and she turned. The woman sat beside her.

"After the war, this is the only thing that kept us alive." The woman said.

"Do you sometimes wish to unite with your people?." Avila questioned calmly. Her eyes were filled with pity.

"It's a fruitless wish. My people are scattered over other nations, some live as slaves, some living in fear of other people, there's no hope especially after our princess died."

"I wish I have the power to set you free. Just look at how hard y'all are suffering, and I like that even with that, you still live for your children."

The old lady smiled, " It's not in your hands, princess. We are already used to living this way. We eat the little we get so we can live and we've given up already on coming together."

There was silence for a while.

The old lady held her hand and Avila turned her head to her, "I've been meaning to ask, do you have your mother's cremains?"

"Why do you ask, old lady? Do you know my mother?." Avila asked quickly.

"Mena is..."

"My princess.." Saria called and their attention was turned to her.

"Saria..when did you come?."

"Just now, the rain ritual is about to begin and you are needed in the palace right now."

Avila sighed, "Oh my god! I forgot about it." She stood up, "I'll come by later, I wish to stay behind but I've got to go now." Avila stated with a smile and Saria came to lead her away.

****

Princess Ivy stepped down from the carriage and looked up to see Ramus, a smile crept to her face and she began walking towards him. Ramus was only interested in the carriage as he waited to see Avila but Diana came down instead.

He sighed disappointedly and bowed to Ivy before turning to leave.

"Looking for Avila?." She asked with a frown. He turned and replied, "Yes. I came to see her, my princess."

"Why do you wish to see her? am I not your betrothed?." She asked in a hurry.

"That's part of the reason I'm here."

Her eyes rose.

"I wish to speak to you privately." He said and looked at Diana who only smiled and walked away.

"Let's go to the lounge." She said,

"There's no need for that. I want to call off the engagement. I don't wish to marry you." He said and her heart dropped. Tears clouded her eyes, "What do you mean? we hadn't even known each other yet. Why do you want to quit?."

"My princess. We don't need to know each other. I think I don't wish to marry you, this decision was made without my knowledge and I didn't want to lead you on."

"Is it.." She blinked, "Is it because of Avila?."

"She has nothing to do with this, I wasn't forced to."

"Because you love Avila, why do you love her? she's blind and won't offer anything to you."

"I love her, I don't care about what she has to offer,"

She held his hand, "Please don't do this to me, please.."

Ramus looked around, seeing the maids stealing glances at them as they walked, "I'm sorry." He removed her hand from his and walked away.

Ivy stood there, staring at him until he was out of sight, Diana quickly came to her and led her away hurriedly.

......

Avila opened her room and saw the priestess on her bed. She turned to Saria, "Please excuse us."

Saria bowed and closed the room.

"We have talks to finish. I feel like you know me more than I know myself." Avila said.

Irani smiled, "Yes. You don't know anything."

Avila came further, "I want to know all now. Who am I? Tell me about my mother, who is she? Is there anything else I can do apart from my visions?."

Irani smiled even more, "That's why I'm here. It's time you know who you are because the battle line has been drawn."