Chapter 8 The Prompt discussion

• The candles were lighted in the centre of the banquet table with a peculiar style candle holder and the seats were fully taken up by the loyal members of Mrs Blackfire. Alabruz Redclaws was on his knees beside Mrs Blackfire.
• Yadivah Redclaws was pleading with Nicoria to spare the life of her husband. Akshara was shocked to watch the scene. She wondered when and why her aunt Yadivah comes to the palace.
• Akshara rushed to her uncle to help him as she could not tolerate watching him kneeling; suddenly a hand grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth from shouting in shock.
• Akshara couldn’t figure out who grabbed her, but she could sense that the person wasn’t mean to hurt her but to help her from being spotted by Mrs Blackfire and got punished. The anonymous hand-pulled Akshara to the darkness and the person came close to her ears and spoke, “Shushh...”
• “Karen...” Akshara wondered.
• “Shush. Axe, Keep your voice low. What if they found you….” requested Karen.
• “Found me! Are you included in that and I am an intruder?” – Akshara asked with puzzled eyes and she continued, “Is this family gathering? Why Am I not acknowledged for this? You are in that gathering too. Why I am not allowed…”
• “Axe, so many are happening beyond your knowledge. You must be ready to accept that. You must be aware of everyone around you… Axe, you should be very careful”, Karen wouldn’t want to answer her rather he said something which could confuse her even more.
• “Stop Karen, Why are you, all of a sudden, sound concerned? You are scaring me. Did you watch any emotional movie last night?” - Akshara replied him in a soft tone.
• Karen holds her arms with his hands and wanted her to listen to him, “Axe, listen to me. You must not believe all by their outward appearance, you must…”
• “Karen, don’t change your topic, I found Uncle Bruz was kneeling and aunt Yadivah was pleading Nic. What is happening, Karen? What is the sin Uncle did, when aunt did arrive, who are those persons in the banquet table, why you are all awake expect me, Who are they, Are you going to answer me or not….”
• Karen was annoyed by the rain of questions from Akshara, to stop her; he shushed her to stop. But, Akshara was too talkative and wanted to be answered, so Karen unconsciously made a sudden move to get closer, maybe to kiss her.
• Shocked Akshara forced Karen to stay away and said, “Karen, Are you insane, what you are trying to do…?”
• “I’m trying to stop you, Axe” Karen replied in a hasty and guilty tone.
• “I don’t find the best way to stop me from questioning is to kiss me”, she slashed him with her reply.
• “Axe, I don’t mean to do that. I was … Sorry,” when Karen was trying to explain Akshara gave a disappointed look to him.
• Karen was hurt by her disappointed look and continued, “Listen Axe for god’s sake…”
• Akshara kept her hands in one arm’s distance to stop him who was moving towards her, “What is it, Karen. I am listening…”
• Karen understood her gesture and maintained the least distance and answered her, “They are all invited by your Godmother. Even my dad and I are called by her. My mom just arrived now. My dad is being punished for his fault. I cannot have a voice against this matter. Because it is decided by Queen…”
• The eyebrows of Akshara were widened and her eyes were shocked and her mind was more puzzled and asked “Queen… What Queen? Are you addressing my godmother as Queen?”
• “Yes, she is indeed OUR QUEEN”
• *****
• On the banquet table,
• Uncle Bruz kneeled before Mrs Blackfire and his wife Yadivah was on her knees to plead to spare her husband’s life.
• “No Bruz. You shouldn’t allow it to happen” – Mrs Blackfire spoke.
• Alabruz was spotted by his sin by the people in the banquet table one after the other.
• Uncle Bruz opened his mouth without lifting his head, “I know! I wronged you all. But I can’t help. What should be happening has happened. How I can stop?”
• One of the people with a black cloak with a hood told him, “But you could have tried to stop…”
• One after the other, everyone pointed their Alabruz (Uncle Bruz) with their possible statements, Yadivah replied to everyone with her full effort.
• Therefore, the verbal fight started and the noise polluted the living area which stimulated the attention of Mrs Blackfire. She gave a chiselling look towards all the members and silence was spread over the banquet table.