Chapter Sixty Nine: Ana
Kiya noticed that despite being no longer prisoners but guests, the four of them were escorted to their quarters by armed guards. The room they were shown into was huge and opened to a balcony. On either side were doors and in the middle was a low table surrounded by padded couches.
Huy lay on a couch and helped himself from the bowls of figs and little cakes that were upon the table. “This is the life that suits me,” he said.
“You! You are always eating,” said Laylos. She started to open doors. “I am going to have this bedroom,” she announced.
“So am I,” said Huy.
“But it is a single bed,” protested Laylos.
“Then I will have to sleep on top of you,” said Huy. “Actually, that is not a bad idea. The sight of those legs is enough to inflame any man.” He gave a lecherous wink that sent Laylos scurrying to open more doors in the hopes of finding a wider bed.
Massui went out onto the balcony and stood staring at the view. Kiya joined him. She could see right down to the harbour and beyond, to where the blue of the sea merged into the blue of the sky. The road up which they had travelled was almost invisible beneath the spreading branches of olive trees.
“How are you, Massui?” Kiya asked.
He ignored her question but continued to gaze into the distance. “Crete is beautiful,” he sighed.
“Come and eat something,” said Kiya.
“In a while.”
She left him to his thoughts and joined Huy and Laylos at the table.
“At least the beds seem comfortable,” said Laylos. “I’ve hardly slept a wink since we left the Bedouin. First a night on the floor of my hut, scared that at any moment we might be discovered by swamp men. Then a night on that dreadful boat. Then a sleepless night worrying about what was happening to you, Kiya.”
Massui came and joined them, brushing away traces of tears from his cheeks. He surveyed the table and picked up a wine jug. “Anyone else for wine? I reckon we deserve a celebration after all we have been through.” They all held up goblets and he filled them. “Here is to a better future,” he said.
Kiya drank and was amazed at the change in the priest. A jovial Massui? It seemed inconceivable. He took a bite from one of the little cakes and waved the rest in the air. “This is delicious. It reminds me of the picnics Zahra and I used to enjoy. She liked these little cinnamon cakes.”
“I hear that she was very beautiful,” said Kiya.
Massui’s eyes misted over as he remembered his wife. “Zahra was the most beautiful creature ever seen. Her waist was so slender I could almost clasp it between my hands. Her hair shone like moonbeams. I only had to see her and the cares of state vanished filling my soul with happiness.”
“Those were good days,” said Laylos.
Massui nodded. “When Dennu was born our happiness was complete. We both loved him so much. The birth had been easy and we had no fears when Zahra became pregnant again. But when the time of birthing came, the baby would not leave her womb. For days she was in childbirth, gradually becoming weaker. On the final day she raised her splendid eyes and said, ‘Please save me, Massui. I don’t want to leave you.’ Those were her last words.”
Carefully he put the goblet back on the table and then he buried his head in his hands. “I could not save her.” His voice was muffled. “I could not even grieve when she died, I was a coward and closed my mind to the pain.”
They waited while he composed himself. Kiya wanted to offer words of sympathy but anything she could say seemed inadequate against the enormity of his sorrow.
Massui looked up again. “I filled in the lake, I dismissed the orchestra, I turned my back on my friends. I banished everything that would bring back memories of her. Only Dennu remained and I shut my heart to him. Poor boy, my treatment of him is my deepest regret.”
There was a knock on the door and a guard entered. “The Queen commands an audience with you,” he said, pointing to Massui.
“With me?” Massui got to his feet and turned to the others. “Wish me luck,” he said and was escorted from the room.
They ate and drank and discussed what the queen might want with Massui, then Kiya yawned. “All the excitement has exhausted me,” she said and stretched out on one of the couches.
“Me too,” said Laylos.
“Why don’t you come and take a nap on that comfortable bed you found for us,” said Huy.
Vaguely, Kiya heard her aunt trying to find excuses to rest on a couch and then she drifted into unconsciousness.
Kiya must have slept deeply for it was dusk when she was woken by a knock on the door. She sat up, expecting the return of Massui but, when the door opened, a girl entered followed by three servants bearing laden trays.
“I have brought you dinner,” she said.
“Had we better wait for Massui?” asked Huy, emerging from a bedroom.
“That will not be necessary,” said the girl. “Your companion is dining with my mother.”
Laylos followed Huy into the main room. “Your mother is the Queen?” she asked.
“Yes,” said the girl. She indicated to servants to lay the trays on the table. “I am Princess Ana. I hope you enjoy your meal.”
Kiya looked at the girl with keener interest. She was about fifteen years old and had a tall, athletic figure. Her face was autocratic, with a straight Grecian nose and a mouth that was too thin for beauty. She looked more formidable than Vitane.
Unusual scents rose from the tray in front of Kiya and she bent to study the different dishes. There was soup, salad with onion rings, fish and curled pink creatures with many legs.
“These look strange,” said Huy. He picked up one of the pink creatures, popped it into his mouth and chewed. Seconds later he was spluttering and spitting out legs and bits of shell. “The horrible thing tried to choke me,” he cried and reached for his goblet.
Princess Ana hurried to his side. “Don’t put shrimps whole into your mouth. You have to peel them first.” Nimbly she tore the head off and put it in the tray, then she split the body in two and pulled out a morsel of flesh.
“Is that maggot all you get for your trouble?” said Huy. “It is not worth the effort.” He brushed it aside and reached for the fish. “I am grateful for your hospitality but I would rather it was proper meat.”
“There will be plenty of steak tomorrow when we kill one of the sacred bulls for the crowning ceremony,” said Ana.
Huy brightened. “What crowning ceremony?”
“Your friend, Massui has been honoured,” said the girl. “The Queen has chosen him to be her consort. Tomorrow he will be crowned.”
“That is wonderful,” said Kiya. She could hardly comprehend the change in Massui’s fortunes, from half-crazed fugitive to King.
“He is a fortunate man indeed,” said Ana. “My father was the first King to be chosen by my mother. He was a hero from Greece, who came to Crete hoping to slay the Minotaur. His name was Cromar and he was very handsome. My mother was a young queen of about my age. She fell in love with him and they married. For three years they were very happy and then there was a poor harvest and my father was sacrificed.”
“What?” Kiya stared at her in shocked surprise. “Is that what will happen to Massui?”
“Eventually,” said the girl.
“How is the King sacrificed?” asked Huy.
“He jumps from the tall cliffs,” said Ana. “They say my father leapt high and spread out his arms as if he was flying. Although his body could be seen on the rocks below, some believe they saw him fly away into the sun. He is revered as a demigod and his name is carved into the marble of the hall of fame.” She spoke with pride and showed not a hint of grief at the death of her father.
“But if your mother loved him, how could she let him kill himself?” said Laylos.
“There have been other Kings since my father,” said the girl. “My mother grieves bitterly at the loss of each one. But her duty is to the peop
le and so she recovers, takes another husband and when the time comes she faces her bereavement bravely.”
“What about you?” said Kiya. “Surely you must miss your father?”
The girl shrugged. “I have had many fathers and when I am Queen I will have many husbands.” She clapped her hands and the servants, who had been waiting quietly in the corner of the room, came forwards and removed the trays. “I wish you a comfortable night,”
“Wait,” said Kiya. “What is going to happen to Vitane?”
Ana frowned. “Princess Vitane is the Queen’s problem and does not concern you.” She led the servants out of the room and the door closed with finality.