- Laith Taher 63
an increasingly louder voice, “Has anything happened to
Queen Heather?”
The messenger lied again, “I swear I do not know,
My Lord.”
The king became nervous, and his heart started
beating faster. He thought that the queen might have fallen
off her horse breaking a bone or sustaining some injury, or
perhaps some of the staff of the palace, a guard or someone
else, had offended her. He had never guessed what really
happened to her. He ordered a squad of his personal guards
to assemble and await his arrival. Then he led it to Mazara
Palace personally.
The usher was aware of how much the king loved
Queen Heather and knew that as soon as he told the king
what happened, there would be great bloodshed. The usher
did not want to be part of it. Therefore, he did not include
the news about the queen’s murder in his message to the
king. He repeatedly reminded the messenger that he should
not tell the king what happened, no matter how much he
insisted, even if he amputated his limbs and crucified him
at the gate of Cintana.
“What happened?” shouted the king like a furious
lion. “Where is Queen Heather? Has anything happened to
her?”
The terrified trembling usher did not reply until the
king shouted, “Answer me. Why are you silent? Has
anything happened to Queen Heather?”
The terrified trembling usher realized that he had to
say something. “Go to your bedroom in the palace, My
Lord, and you will understand everything.”