Seek First the Kingdom

The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished. Just like she said it would.

“Someday,” she had whispered one night as I combed her long silver hair, “I will disappear, and the river will run away from our kingdom and into another. You must be ready, Skylet.”

“What?” I’d pulled away so abruptly, the comb yanked her head back, but she smiled.

“Do not be afraid.” She touched my cheek. “When the time comes, you’ll know what to do. In fact, you’ll be the only person in my court who will do what’s right.”

In response, I’d blushed and pushed her strange words out of my mind. I wrote her off as drunk on pine wine, and we never spoke about it again.

But nine moons later, when she actually did disappear, the sanctity of our castle did too.

King Egor wailed when he saw her nightgown sprawled across the bed. It was as if her body had dematerialized and left the silken dress behind. Her untouched cup of tea was still on the bedside table, filling the room with an aroma of cinnamon.

“Witchcraft!” he spat, tears streaming and hiding in his ashy beard. “She’s been kidnapped! The stars damn whoever did this!”

I leaned against the wall and held my breath. My whole being echoed with shock as her warning rang loud and clear: You must be ready, Skylet.

Ready for what, my Queen? I thought, fighting back tears. You told me you would leave, but where have you gone? And what about… I gasped. The river!

While the King continued to curse and wail, punching the mattress in fury, I lunged out the door.

The corridor was bitter cold, but I warmed up quickly as I sped down the hall, my skirts sweeping over marble. When I reached the end, I realized why it was so chilled. The balcony doors were wide open, letting in gusts of early morning wind.

The other servants stood on the balcony to get a better look at the phenomenon outside. The Chit River, which usually ran from outside our kingdom and into its center, now rushed in the opposite direction, sending our water supply back toward the outskirts. Within a few days, all of our water would be gone.

“That’s the Kingdom’s whole water supply!” a maid exclaimed, clutching her apron and standing tip-toe. “What if the basin dries out, and the towns run dry?”

“I don’t understand,” a young butler called Thomas broke the silence. “How in the stars did this happen? Where is it going to flow?”

Another kingdom, I thought, remembering my Lady’s words again. But what kingdom? We are the only one…

“Miss Skylet,” the old cook pressed when she saw my face. “You know something about this, don’t you? Please, have pity and tell us what’s going on.”

“I only know this, Sylvia...” I shook my head, tears welling. “That my Lady is gone, and I am left with no one to serve.”

Each servant wore their own garment of grief; some gasped and started to cry, while others froze and turned pale. Were they worried that they would lose their jobs with the Queen gone, or were they genuinely concerned for her wellbeing? I couldn’t see through my own feelings clearly enough to discern theirs.

“LIES!” The King roared from inside, causing many of us to jump. He stormed out of his wife’s bedchamber and down the hall, stumbling over his azure robes when he reached the balcony. “Trickery! Deceit! She would never leave me of her own accord!” He held a crumpled letter that bore the Queen’s wax seal and spiral handwriting.

“Is that from Queen Tsadi?” Sylvia asked, her chin trembling. “May we see it, my Lord?”

King Egor looked as though she had asked him to lop off his own leg.

“How dare you,” he snarled, his umber eyes getting darker by the minute. “This letter was penned to me, from my wife, and only I shall read it. Besides… it’s written in some kind of cryptic riddle. If I can’t understand it, then there’s no hope that any of you could.”

Then why did you come out here as if begging for help? I pondered.

“But, my King, you haven’t visited her in many moons,” Thomas pointed out, his olive eyes shining with naive pride. “We have seen her more recently than you. Perhaps, if we all put our minds together, we could solve the riddle and decipher her whereabouts.”

A broad-shouldered butler snaked his arm around the boy protectively, for the King looked like he would draw blood.

Gathering a deep breath, I stood between them.

“Your Majesty, I beseech you.” I curtsied, gazing at his bare hairy feet. Underneath the fine robes, he was still just a man who only woke up a few moments ago to find his wife’s bed empty. My heart ached for him. “Forgive young Thomas’ rudeness. He is still learning proper etiquette.” I glanced back at the boy, who winced in embarrassment.

I dared to look up into the King’s bloodshot eyes. They were like a pair of storm clouds about to break. “Please don’t punish your loyal manservants for my neglect. If I had been more attentive to Her Majesty, perhaps she would still be here. If anyone is to blame, it is I.”

Despite how hard my heart hammered, I remembered Tsadi’s words: You’ll be the only person in my court who will do what’s right.

The wind whipped through our group, churning skirts, robes, and hair. All we could smell was the muddy rushing river. At first, he said nothing and wiped his face with a sleeve. Then, he reached out to hand me the letter.

“You’re right,” he yielded, but his voice dripped with vitriol. “If anyone is to blame, it is you. If anyone knows where my wife went, you do. Perhaps you can solve this bloody riddle. You are, after all, Tsadi’s right-hand maiden.”

I went to take the letter, but he snatched my wrist with his other hand. I flinched at his vice-like grip, but made no protest.

It took me a moment to look him in the eyes again, and when I did, they were on fire. The sun rose behind us, casting a blood orange glow over his face. Every line stood out like ash against snow. Each hair, white and black, lit up like lightning. Although I wanted to, I couldn’t look away.

“Your Majesty, wait–” Sylvia pleaded, but Egor barked at her.

“I do not know where my wife is! But mark my words: I will find out. Miss Skylet and I shall decipher this accursed letter today, before the sun sets. We are not to be interrupted, not even for tea. Do you understand?”

Some of the servants shivered and nodded grimly.

Unsatisfied, he bellowed, “DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”

This time, all the servants nodded, and some of them squeaked, “Yes, my Lord!” Thomas dropped to his knees, begging silently for forgiveness.

The King nodded in approval before yanking me with him into the hall. He did not let go of my wrist, even when we approached his bedchamber. Instead, he stuffed the letter into his pocket and exchanged it for a key. But he fumbled when he aimed it for the lock, and the key clattered onto the floor.

I caught his gaze again, and this time I saw a frightened child.

“Let me, my King,” I insisted, bending my knees to reach the key.

He allowed it, but his grip tightened so much, my wrist popped. Ignoring the dull pain, I retrieved the key and unlocked the door. It opened without much effort, and we entered peacefully.

Egor shut the door behind us, casting the room in darkness. His curtains were still shut, rejecting most of the sunlight that poured over the castle.

I shivered. The icy room smelled of herbs and sour mead.

He let go of my wrist, but I couldn’t see him clearly. “Your Majesty, may I let some light in?”

From the shadows, he slapped me so hard I cried out and fell to the floor. My face stung, my eyes watered, and my chin trembled. Any ounce of decorum I had been carrying was demolished in an instant.

“I’ll be the one asking questions, woman,” Egor said scathingly, striking a match and lighting his crystal candelabra. The flickering yellow light made him look like a dragon. “This is, after all, your interrogation.”