LOVE ME AGAIN PRIM

CHAPTER TWELVE

The contestants of the music competition were hosted by the royals once again in a private ceremony, and the Prem as promised was rewarded by both kings in with their weights in gold.

She thanked both kings for their generousity but requested that her prize be shared equally amongst the families of soldiers who had died in battle. King Dyrai was pleased at her words and granted her request but in addition he also granted her lands with a title and gifted the other contestants with jewellery and beautiful fabrics.

Queen Freja says bows to her husband and King Dyrai and requests to also present a gift to Prem who is bowing before the kings in front of the great throne in gratitude. Her request is granted and she walks towards Prem removing a gold hair pin from her head. The hair pin is shaped in form of a tigers head with tiny green emerald stones placed in its eyes. The queen places the pin in Prems hair and says 'You will always be welcome among our people. Whenever you find yourself in Cudan, simply give this to my people, they will serve you.'

'Thank you for the honour, your majesty.' Prem responds bowing to her.

'All she did was sing and they all honour her like she won a war, the old hag has never given me a gift before' , thought Peka to herself fuming in anger as she looked at Prem and the queen both return to their respective seats.

Queen Elona asked princess Vasha about the preparations for the new moon festival and Vasha responded that preparations were going well.

'I have ordered for the best wine and the cooking materials to be delivered to your home.'

'We thank her majesty for her generosity.' Vasha said bowing together with Ulpe.

'Think nothing of it princess', the queen responded smiling.

'Prince Arin, please ensure that the items are safely delivered t Lord Birons abode.' ii

'I will ensure its safe delivery myself.' Arin says with confidence looking at his mother.

'You will be required to stay here, let the servants do their jobs.'

'Yes father' replies the prince looking down cast.

'I am informed that you have been invited by Lord Biron himself to celebrate the festival with him and his family. I can think of no better or safer place besides my palace for you to truly enjoy the festival. If you choose to honour the invitation, I will have protected by my personal guards to lead you there.'

' I thank your majesty for his graciousness, as a host, my daughter and I with my sisters will honour the lords invitation.'

'Very good', replied the king

'If it pleases your majesty, I would like for my grand children to also join the commanders family for the celebrations.'

' Granted my queen ', the king replies

Three days later, an entourage consisting of the Cudanian and Ravian royal guards, the children and grand child of the Cudanian king with six grand children of king Dyrai arrive at lord Birons house and are received by his entire family at the doorway.

'Welcome your highness', Biron says as the prince comes down from his horse and his sisters with Cidara are helped down from their carriage.

'Thank you lord Biron' Razan responded as the princes and princesses were helped down from their carriages.

'Please come in your highness', Vasha said as several female servants came out to attend to the royal children.

Biron's home was situated in a little distant from the kings palace within the royal city. Unlike the other buildings Razan had visited in the few days of his arrival, it wasn't built with excessive grandeur, it was quite simple but still it was unique. The entire house was an intricate connection of buildings joined by open passage ways which maximized the natural light and allowed it to flow around the entire building, but what struck Razan the most was the peaceful atmosphere within the household. Every person wore a genuine smile without fear, including the servants making the entire atmosphere serene.

Vasha and Ulpe had joined Cidara by his side and were all chatting with on how much they missed each other.

'Cidara will you dance with us tonight? We are honouring grandpa and our father for being brave soldiers.', Ulpe asked.

'I don't know how', replied Cidara

'We'll teach you C ftan we please,Prince Razan?' Ulpe asked tugging his garment as she looked up at him.

'How can I refuse those beautiful brown eyes?' Razan responded, and the girls scurried away followed by their nannies.

'They remind me of you both when you were young', Razan said to his sisters who smiled watching the girls scamper away. They were led through the corridors into a beautiful garden where several stone carved stools were placed around a small pond filled with fish.

'Wow' said Malroy as she walked in with her sister.

'Your garden is very beautiful my Lord', said Melrib to Biron as they walked past the garden into the entertainment room which was an open area with the floor made from coloured pave stones, covered with the softest rug, with various shaped and sized pillows stacked together besides low beautifully carved wooden stools. Birons shoes were unbuckled and taken off by Ulpe, while Vasha gently cleaned his feet to Razan's surprise, who was raised to believe such work was meant for servants, as his own feet were been cleaned by a female servant, he felt such a sense of loneliness that he asked her to stop and took the cloth himself. The maid fearing she had upset him bowed in apology.

'I hope we have not offended his highness in anyway,' asked Vasha who was sitting beside her husband.

'No my lady, quite the contrary. Today, I have been honoured to witness humility though it has always been taught to me., I simply wish to act upon it as you have shown me' Razan responded making Birons wives to smile at him. Fusha walks in and bows before Biron saying, 'Princess Vasha, the guest rooms are all prepared as instructed.'

'Thank you Fusha' Vasha responds and says to the royals sitting, 'Your rooms have been prepared. If you wish to bathe and rest now, you may follow Fusha', said Vasha. Razan nodded and the sisters followed Fusha, exiting the room.

Vasha and Ulpe also exit the room to continue with preparations for the nights festivities, leaving only the men.

'Yukon tells me you are talented with a spear. I hope before you leave, you will honour me with a demonstration of your skills' , Biron says to Razan.

'It would be my homour Lord Biron', Razan responded.

'Don't be so smug about it, I only said you showed promise', Yukon said.

'Which is something, given that you rarely compliment anyone', Biron responded making his brothers laugh.

'Name your three greatest warriors in order of last to first and state the reason why they are placed so', Razan said to Yukon.

'First would be my brother Padario.'

'What?' said his brothers including Padario

'Why?' said Razan

'Because the wisest general knows how to avoid a war. Padario has never lost a battle because he knows when and how to avoid conflict. He is the only warrior in the history of Ravia to conquer lands without casualties on either side, some would call it cowardly but yet you cannot deny the success of his approach to battle. It is a skill I hope to hone one day'

Padario fell on his knees and bowed to his eldest brother saying, 'All of my successes I lay before feet of my father and my brothers who taught me all that I know. Every time I am faced with conflict I simply ask myself what you, father or Kultar would do?'

'And then do the exact opposite' Ladiff teased causing Razan to burst out on laughter, while Goron and Kultar slapped him at the back of his head.'

'Who is second?' Razan asked

'Both of our fathers' Yukon replied,

'Why?' Razan asked feeling curious yet proud

'No one can deny the military genius of King Ceryes. He is the first person to defeat my father in battle. I still study his war tactics and battle formations in my spare time. I choose my father because he rose from nothing to become the first and only man to claim the title of Commander of the Ravian armed forces through shear hard work, character, loyalty, bravery and perseverance even in the face of death. When successful, he shares the glory, when defeated, he never falls to despair and he never loses to same enemy twice. His name alone causes armies to flee, because when he arrives on the battle field, men gladly lay down their lives to follow him. No other soldier on Ravian history before him has achieved as many victories as him. The only soldier to come close is Goron, who now controls our entire Ravian naval fleet. Yet you would find him content, cooking with my mothers in the kitchen or rocking Prem to sleep. If I can be recognized as even half the man my father is, I would die content.'

Every man in the room stood up and raised their drinking bowls to Biron in respect, he raised his bowl back at they all drank before sitting back down.

'Third' Razan asked

'Myself' Yukon replied, causing his brothers to laugh.

'Why?' Razan questions, surprised that his name was not mentioned despite his numerous successes as a soldier.

'Because I have only lost one battle on my career. You are the only blot in my record.'

'Then what would you have said if you defeated me?' Razan askeed making Yukon chuckle before responding, 'I would place myself above all our fathers, my brother and every other soldier in history.'