When the murmurs had died down, Aveedah cleared her throat and continued her speech.
"I am still mourning for my father but the living should come first."
"I have received your petitions and I understand your concern however, I believe we have a more disturbing issue at hand."
The murmurs began again and one of the kings stood up.
"Aveedah, I do not doubt your abilities but such abilities are not enough to govern a large Kingdom like Vedarah talk more of the affairs of other kingdoms. It will be wise to allow your Prime minister take over the affairs while you continue training." He explained, his tone sounding like he was pleading but his expression held something more.
Aveedah nodded and smiled politely.
"Has he projected your thoughts or do any of you have something more to say?" She asked calmly.
They consulted each other for a while before another stood up and said.
"Your highness, that is all."
'At least, he still had his manners.'
"Simon, I appreciate your concern and I will forever remember your empathy."
"Before we discuss my impeachment, I think we should discuss your safety and that of your kingdom. Do you know the conflux was attacked a fortnight ago? " She asked and suddenly, all etiquettes were lost as the room erupted in confused murmurs or more accurately noise.
Aveedah said no more as she nodded to Eric who excused himself and walked out.
She scanned the arena and saw Velaine sitting calmly in his couch, his eyes were still on hers but a certain twinkle in them spoke to her.
'How good are you in chess?' She could almost hear him say.
'Just watch Velaine, watch attentively.' She thought.
Simon stood up, all his poise lost.
"Av... Your highness, you should explain what you mean by the conflux was attacked. How can the sacred conflux be attacked?"
"Whose doing is this and why are we only knowing now?" He asked, while the others murmured in response.
"King Simon, I heard of it immediately it happened."
"A day after the forbidden occurrence." She continued.
The kings gasped and another suddenly asked.
"Who dares to attack the conflux?"
"Is that not a threat to our security system?" Another chipped in.
"Your highness, you should not keep us anxious. This is about a possible invader and who knows what intentions are behind such brazenness." The first one asked, standing up from where he sat.
"How?" A quiet whisper asked.
'And here comes the wise one.' She thought.
"How did you find out about an attack on the conflux that is two days journey away from your palace the next day after the occurrence?"
Aveedah almost smiled at the question.
And now is the time I make my move.
"I apologize your highness for my crude way of speaking but this is a matter of national security. Were you expecting the attack or do you know the perpetrator?"
The place went dead silent as their piercing gazes almost made her ticklish.
She allowed herself to look at Kebarah and the satisfaction that came with his obvious unrest made her almost laugh out in glee.
He could not even seat properly in his chair as he kept on throwing fruit after fruit in his mouth.
'Was he swallowing them at all?' She thought.
"Keep your questions for he who I suppose has those answers." She informed and right then, Eric entered the hall behind a trembling prime minister and Aveedah got her answer to the previous question.
She could see the bulge of the whole grape in Kebarah's throat as he choked on it.
'Yes, he is not chewing them.'
All eyes were on the prime minister and he looked like he would run out anytime soon.
"Your highness." He managed to say bowing so deep Aveedah thought he would tumble over.
"Prime minister, give a detailed account on the event at the conflux a fortnight ago." Aveedah ordered, a small smile on her lips.
"Yyyour highgness, I was also informed and I told you all i know about it and as it is I cannot recall a lot of it all thanks to my age. You might not understand till you are my age. We forget what we are told even an hour back talk more of an insignificant event a fortnight ago." His rant was cut short by an annoyed man.
Just as she expected, it was the very temperamental king of Alka, a fire wielding state.
"What exactly do you mean by an insignificant event?"
"Invasion of the conflux?"
"Did your old age also make you forget that the conflux is not only a forbidden area but also contains state secrets and bypass to each one of the region without being detected?"
"Let me spell it out for you old man, whoever tries to invade the conflux has no other motive than to cause disruption in our peace or God forbid may be even trying to start a rebellion and overthrow us from our seats. We have been trying our best to stay in peace and we cannot stand by and watch our efforts go in vain. So old man you better speak out or we are forced to believe you have a hand in it not that we do not think so already." He had barely finished his rant when another chipped in.
"Of course, he has a hand in it. If not, how does he know of an event that happened a night before at the conflux when he lives in the capital city of Vedarah, it is a pain staking two days journey without hiatus!!!"
Aveedah almost burst out laughing at the turn of events.
The whole place was in a chaos after all, nobody can at the very least accommodate the thought of an invasion.
Simon for the first time looked at Kebarah who was sitting one seat away from him.
'Why was he doing nothing when their arm is about to be cut off.'
As if reading his thoughts, Kebarah leaned toward him and whispered hurriedly.
"We have to abandon him."
'But he is valuable.' He tried to argue but caught himself.
If the arm is rotten, it is better to cut it off before it contaminates the head.
He looked at his daughter who was by his side. Her expression aloof as if she had not heard anything.
He was doing this for her.
She should be the one on that seat next to Kebarah's son Dunni not that wretched Aveedah.
"Enough!" Eric ordered.
"Do not forget, you are in the presence of her highness. If you have something to say, please endeavor to say it in an orderly manner or hold your peace." He ordered and the hall went silent before angry murmurs erupted.
Before things would get out of hand Aveedah interfered.
"Eric, they are my guests and kings of other nations, next time you speak to them with the respect they deserve." She cautioned sternly.
"Apologize to them." She ordered
The tension in the room dissipated as the stoic man stepped down from the podium and bowed before them.
"I apologize for my behavior. I deserve whatever punishment you wish to bestow on me." He said.
"He who deserves punishment is standing right beside you. Your highness, please pass a judgement on this traitor. Make him rat out his accomplices." One of the kings yelled and the others agreed in unison.
"What do you think uncle Kebarah?" Aveedah asked, a polite smile on her face.
Velaine almost choked on the grape he was chewing.
' Impressive!! She is managing to entertain even the devil.'