A Lifetime Ago

Chapter 16

Following the feast, the king and the prince along with his family members started their journey to Triyad. It would take approximately six days for them to reach the mountainous country, that they had to make a camp every night. Hence, all the necessary goods and food supplies were loaded on to countless wagons, pulled by several horses.

Timandra was traveling in the carriage in which Meeda, Avira and her mother were. Timandra met Avira’s mother, Tamara for the first time but she made her feel homely and warm in her company. Avira had her mother’s big brown eyes and sharp face cut. When asked about her whereabouts, Avira said that Timandra was Meeda’s cousin who had come to stay in Vonentis for a month.

They marched along the banks of the river Pethus up towards the mountain and the journey was becoming too difficult as days passed. They came across hills, farms and villages on their way to Triyad.  They crossed two wide tributaries on river Pethus, after which they rode through the dense forests of Vonentis. Timandra remembered the day she woke up near the river however, she hadn’t admired the beauty of this place then. She was too lost and eager to find help but Timandra had never seen a sight so beautiful in her whole life. 

Early every morning, before they started their journey, the dense forest surrounding them would be covered in thick mist. The artistic golden Sun would paint the black sky into light blue, causing the mists to melt and drip along the leaves. The murky mountains stood alone, tall and far away, covering the entire nature. From those gigantic mountains tumbled down an ivory white waterfall, pounding on the rocks. The tall grasses and small flowers would nod gently as the wind brushed against them. The whole place smelt like sweet honey. She would often peep out of the carriage to breathe the fresh and crisp air which would whistle like an invisible ghost against her ears. And when they stopped, she would run around chasing the colourful cute butterflies that danced over the flower.

At mid-day, the forest became sleepy, hot and still. The blazing Sun would shine relentlessly on the riders. The three girls would decorate each other’s hair with the wild colourful flowers that carpeted all over the forest grounds. Avira made sure to conceal Timandra’s natural hair colour by regularly applying the paste. 

They would talk and giggle among themselves commenting on those handsome looking Knights who rode their horses behind their carriage. Meeda was growing friendlier to Avira as well, that she insisted her to call her just Avira instead of my lady.

After lunch which was served in a pavilion built temporarily for the royals, the three friends would sleep for hours as the carriages carried them up the rugged mountains.

The evenings weren’t any less enthralling to Timandra. She would look up at the blanketed sky on which the stars would start appearing gradually.

“My mother says they are our ancestors.” Said Avira gazing up the night sky which was covered with twinkling stars.

“You mean the stars?” Timandra asked, lost.

“Yes..” She looked at Timandra before she began, “Every time we look at a star, we only see the light it emitted a certain years ago because light takes a huge amount of time to travel across the universe to reach our eyes. That means stars have the ability to time travel.”

“Avira I don’t understand a single word you are speaking.” Timandra said frowning at her.

Avira laughed at her. She knew it was beyond Timandra’s understanding but she believed that her ancestors had the ability to time travel as her uncle Jaheba claimed.

“And it is believed in my mother’s tribe that some of our ancestors had the ability to travel across time during their lifetime and after their death they turn into a star.”

“Do you really believe in all those stuff?” Timandra asked curiously.

“Of course I do. That is the reason the tribes of Vonentis worship stars. We pray to our ancestors to bestow our future generations with some of their powers, if not all.” Avira’s eyes were shining full of confidence and hope.

“So, did they also do magic like you?” Timandra asked in a hushed voice.

“A lot of them practiced black magic.. They were able to control supernatural entities. I have encountered miraculous things that might not otherwise be explained. They could treat the sickly just with their chants and some could even bring back the dead ones.” She replied too proudly.

“A few months ago, I wouldn’t have believed your words but I do now, after watching you light the candle just with a snap of your fingers, revive a dead plant or an insect.” Meeda spoke as she watched Avira pick up some stones from nearby. She held it between her palms while she murmered softly, closing her eyes. When she opened her palms, they watched the stones were turned into soft white features which she blew on their face, making them chortle.

As they spent their evening along the banks on the river, large tents were set up for the royals to spend the night comfortably amidst the jungles. The tiring journey exhausted them and they would be fast asleep after dinner.

The next morning was a glorious day. The air was light and pleasant surrounded with the sweet fragrance of wild flowers. Timandra hadn’t seen Ragnar for four days after the night at the ballroom. He and the King were leading them all to Triyad on their black stallion. She was glad he wasn’t close to her. He made it difficult for her to breathe properly and gave her a weird kind of nervousness with his presence.

Avira’s brother Nodin was quite the opposite. He was easy to mingle, laughed more and Timandra could easily decipher his thoughts unlike Ragnar. She was more comfortable with him and considered him a good friend. After hanging around with Timandra, he knew she was beautiful both inside and outside.

She was different from all the woman he had seen and known but she was also a mystery.

Once, he had overheard the conversation between two servants. They were talking about an unfamiliar woman being beaten by a noble and rescued by Ragnar.

‘Whom did he save?

Where was she?

Was that woman Timandra?’ He had many questions about Timandra in his head which almost went unanswered every time.

He would often pay a visit to Timandra with the excuse of coming to see his mother and sister. In the evenings, He would sit with them and drink wine. Many a times, he had caught fish from the river and dined with them under the open sky. He was a charming gentleman who would sing, dance and make them laugh often.

Timandra, in her right mind would have fallen in love with this handsome man trying to grab her attention but to her, he did not make her heart flutter like Ragnar managed to do. She knew it was so stupid of her heart to feel like that about a crown prince who was betrothed to another woman but she was helpless.