Across the palace, inside the priests' residence, a candle burned in the darkness.
Grand Priest Tarula, a frail old man, sat at a low table covered with parchment scrolls and ceremonial tools.
The door opened quietly.
King Bazi stepped inside.
Tarula bowed his head.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty."
The king closed the door behind him. "Yes."
He moved closer to the table.
"Have you seen the girl yet?" Bazi asked.
"Not yet."
"You must."
Tarula folded his hands. "I hear you believe she resembles Stara."
"I know she does."
The old priest studied the king's face. "Stara died twenty seven years ago."
"I remember." Bazi replied, bitten by the excruciating memory of that painful period.
"She and her child both perished-"
"Believe me when I say I know. For I was there."
Tarula leaned back slowly, "Then what are you suggesting?"
The king's voice dropped to a whisper. "What if the blood survived?"
The priest stiffened. "That is impossible."
"Nothing is impossible."
Tarula stared at the candle flame, "If that girl carries even a trace of that bloodline…" His voice faded, "It could destroy everything."
The king's eyes hardened, "Or save it."
Silence filled the room.
Finally, Tarula sighed. "I will investigate." He bowed deeply. "But if the gods confirm your suspicion…"
He looked up again.
"…we may have awakened something far more dangerous than the ritual itself."
...
In her chambers, Princess Arasinta poured herself a glass of wine.
Tanaya stood beside the window.
"You were correct," Tanaya said quietly. "The king visited the grand priest tonight."
Arasinta's eyes glittered. "And?"
"They spoke about the girl. Kharivanpa."
Arasinta smiled slowly. "I knew it."
The princess had this thing: A thing that made everyone, apart from the queen, seem like toys. And the palace, except for the queen's chambers, seemed like her playground. She enjoyed controlling everyone and everything. She found it very amusing.
But for some time, she had been very bored, not until Kharivanpa arrived. For the first time in a while, Arasinta was glad to discard the old toys and finally gain a new one.
"What will you do?" Tanaya questioned. She knew the princess well.
The princess lifted the wine glass to her lips. "Nothing yet."
She stared out the window toward the southern residences.
"First," she said softly, "I want to see what she does."
Tanaya frowned, "And if she becomes a problem?"
Arasinta finished the wine. "Then we break her."
She set the glass down.
"But something tells me…" Her smile widened slightly. "…Kharivanpa will be far more interesting than that."
***