A Princess Tale: Poseidon Kingdom Read online

  A Princess Tale

  Poseidon Kingdom

  D. L. Akosua

  Published by D. L. Akosua, 2021.

  A Princess Tale: Poseidon Kingdom

  Second Revised Edition

  Copyright © 2021 D. L. Akosua.

  All rights reserved

  The moral right of D. L. Akosua to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. For enquiries, please contact [email protected]

  Cover design: GetCovers

  www.dlakosua.com

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  A Princess Tale - Preview

  1. The Marriage Proposal

  2. Prince Charming

  3. Dinoland

  4. The Annueri Games

  5. The Nipa Gardens

  6. A Family Dinner

  7. The Plan

  8. The Office of Security and Protection

  9. An Intruder at Nipa Palace

  10. Eleuia and Matlal

  11. Seed of Lies

  12. The House of Justice

  13. Correction

  14. Priests

  15. Airship

  16. Marlguay Forest

  17. A Missing Princess

  18. Family of Bears

  19. High Priest

  20. Rescue Mission

  21. Home Sweet Home

  22. The Wedding

  23. Royal Procession

  24. Star Gazers

  25. The New Rai

  26. Defiance

  READ BOOK 2 - THE SERPENT KING: POSEIDON KINGDOM

  GET A FREE MAP OF ATLANTIS

  ENJOYED THIS BOOK? YOU CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

  About the Author

  Thank you, God, for blessing me beyond my wildest dreams.

  A Princess Tale - Preview

  The Chieftain watched closely as Ajaniame followed Otekah blindly into the hut. It was dark and slightly chilly on the inside despite the warm air outside. It also had the unpleasant smell of urine and feces.

  Otekah pointed to the ceiling of the hut.

  “Look, spiders.”

  Ajaniame saw a tiny family of spiders crawling across the ceiling, making her skin shiver. They had shiny silvery backs which caught the small streams of sunlight bursting from the cracks in the ceiling and walls. Whilst the spiders distracted Ajaniame, Otekah backed out of the hut slowly, so as not to draw attention to her movements. She closed the door and locked it from the outside, trapping Ajaniame on the inside.

  “Otekah, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Ajaniame banged on the door, but Otekah ignored her and walked away.

  Ajaniame peeked through a tiny gap in the door and couldn’t believe the turn of events. There must be a mistake. Surely Otekah doesn’t mean to leave me locked inside this hut, she thought. Her fears became realized when Otekah approached the Chieftain and explained something to him, pointing at the hut.

  “OTEKAH. OTEKAH, OPEN THIS DOOR!” Ajaniame shouted at the top of her lungs until some of the birds flew away from the treetops at the disturbance.

  “CHIEFTAIN LITMOTH. HELP! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME HERE!”

  Nobody was paying attention. They stood in the middle of the clearing next to the airship as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Ajaniame banged on the door with all her strength, but it didn’t give. It was tightly locked.

  “OTEKAH, PLEASE! OPEN THIS DOOR. OTHERWISE, YOU’LL BE SORRY,” Ajaniame screamed until her voice could scream no more. She rested her head against the door frame, closing her eyes as tears threatened to overcome her.

  Ajaniame was unaware of Otekah approaching the hut. She banged on the door, shaking Ajaniame from her thoughts.

  “Otekah, please open this door. Why are you doing this?” Ajaniame pleaded.

  “Questions, questions, questions. Which should I answer first?”

  “Please, just open the lock. I want to get out of here. It’s smelly, and I can barely breathe.”

  “Please, just open the lock,” Otekah mocked.

  “Don’t leave me here, Otekah. Are you trying to kill me?”

  “Finally, you got to the heart of the matter. The truth has dawned on your tiny little brain.”

  Ajaniame’s eyes widened in fear. “You mean you’re going to leave me here until I die? WHY? You’re not a murderer, Otekah.”

  “You have no idea what I am. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

  “You never intended to visit your parents, did you? Everything you’ve told me has been a lie to evoke my sympathies.”

  “Wrong. Nearly everything I’ve told you is the truth. I am going to visit my parents in Niakiali, but you’re not coming with me. You’ll stay here and starve to death.”

  “How will you explain my disappearance? Husacar knows I’m with you. They will look for me, and they’ll surely find me.”

  “Does Husacar really know that you’re visiting with me? Did you speak to him?”

  “Well, no, but . . . ” Ajaniame paused in mid-speech as she realized Otekah was right. She hadn’t spoken to Husacar. For all she knew, Otekah had probably made up the whole story, and Husacar was none the wiser as to her whereabouts.

  “That’s right. Nobody knows where you are. Your servant will tell your parents you packed a bag and left in a hurry but left no clues about where you were going. But in fact, nobody will look for you. You’ve left a letter explaining you hate your parents because they’ve tried to force you to marry a man you don’t love.”

  “What on earth are you talking about? I’ve not written anything of the sort.”

  “No, but you’ve signed one to that effect. Remember the so-called disclaimer you signed at the Chieftain’s office? Well, that wasn’t a legal document but a letter from you to Kasakir.”

  Ajaniame realized she had fallen into the perfect trap. Not only had she believed the sob story about Otekah’s parents being unwell, but she had also agreed to keep their journey a secret.

  “You told me I needed to keep this a secret because of the travel ban at the border.”

  “Well, that part wasn’t a lie; there are travel restrictions at the border, but Niakiali is far enough from the border as to not be affected.”

  Ajaniame banged her head against the door in frustration and anger. She couldn’t believe she had allowed herself to be manipulated like this.

  “Tell me, why do you hate me?”

  “Why do you hate me?” Otekah mocked Ajaniame’s voice.

  “I can’t imagine why else you would go to all this trouble. You’ve also had help from the Chieftain.”

  “Yes, I’ve had help, but you should know none of this is personal. I’m just following orders. I hope you have a good afterlife.” Otekah walked away from the door, heading to join the Chieftain waiting by the airship.

  “NOOOOOO. . . OTEKAH!” Ajaniame screamed at the very top of her lungs, but Otekah didn’t look back. Ajaniame felt as if she was having an out-of-body experience as she watched them climb into the airship and fly away. Her knees grew weak and she was forced to sink to the ground as the pain of Otekah’s betrayal ripped through her heart.

  1. The Marriage Proposal

  “Princess Ajaniame?”

  Ajaniame heard someone calling her name. Was
it a dream? Was she awake? She found herself in a strange limbo state, uncertain, insecure. All she was certain of was that she had been telling a man how much she loved him, yet couldn’t see his face; he was running ahead of her, and each time she hurried to reach him, he would be way ahead and she was unable to catch up. The voice echoed her name again—and this time, it sounded like her servant, but she wasn’t sure of that either. She stretched out in bed, leaving her fantasy behind.

  “Mailzis, is that you?” Ajaniame called out.

  “Yes, it’s me. May I come in?”

  “Of course.” Ajaniame pulled the bedcovers over her eyes as her servant, Mailzis, entered the room. Mailzis woke her up every morning without fail at the same time, and it was extremely irritating. She wasn’t quite ready to face the reality of the day yet.

  “Good morning Princess.” Mailzis took a low bow, almost touching her face to her knees.

  “Remember, it’s just Ajaniame, not Princess or Princess Ajaniame. You’re almost part of the family now, and I want you to be more comfortable.”

  Ajaniame frowned as she regarded Mailzis, for she was nothing like her old servant, Gelina, who had served in the royal household for as long as Ajaniame could remember. She had been more of a mother to her than a servant. Gelina was much loved by everyone in the palace, and her decision to retire to look after her grandchildren had come as a shock to Ajaniame.

  “If you insist on me calling you Ajaniame, then I will.” Mailzis bowed again, but this time, her face nearly touched the floor.

  “I insist, Mailzis. I would like us to be friends. The people know me as their Princess, but within this palace, I’m simply known as Ajaniame. We are all equal as human beings before Incal, the sun god, and the creator of humanity.”

  Mailzis’ eyebrows pinched together in confusion as if she was struggling to understand Ajaniame.

  “Sorry Prin . . . I mean Ajaniame. Your mother, Queen Azubah, would not approve. She insists that all servants must show the proper level of respect —”

  “My mother is not here.” Ajaniame snapped. She didn’t want to spend the entire morning correcting Mailzis on what to say or how to behave. After Gelina’s departure, her mother had insisted they recruit someone from the educated servant class. She could still remember the Queen’s voice saying, ‘You need someone who is trained and mature to commit fully to the role,’ and as usual, Ajaniame had given in to her demands. Therefore, hoping for Mailzis to become her friend might be asking for too much.

  “Your parents, Rai Uziyah and Queen Azubah have received guests from the western district of Wejemos,” Mailzis announced. “They request you to join them”

  “Really? Surely, it’s too early for a social call.” Ajaniame yawned.

  “Perhaps. Prince Jemuel Wadiyar and his wife Atarah Wadiyar, along with their son Kasakir Wadiyar, are waiting for you in the family room,” said Mailzis.

  “Did you say Kasakir Wadiyar? Are you sure?” Ajaniame clapped her hands together in excitement.

  “I’ve not seen him in years. Now I think about it, I’ve missed him. He frequented the palace in the past, and we had many adventures together before they moved to Wejemos. What are they doing here?”

  Mailzis nodded before taking another bow. “Prin . . . sorry, I mean Ajaniame, I think you should come and see for yourself.”

  “Will you please stop bowing to me all the time?” Ajaniame grumbled. “And tell my parents I’ll be there shortly.”

  Ajaniame dismissively waved Mailzis out, closing the door. It’s going to take a while for Mailzis to feel comfortable in my presence, she thought. She dressed quickly, wrapping her hair up in a ruby headscarf as was befitting of a woman of Atlantis.

  What on earth is this visit about and why do they need me in attendance?

  They hadn’t seen each other in years. Her feet easily navigated the familiar passages of Nipa Palace on the second floor until she found the family room, a large space accommodating up to a hundred people, and lavishly furnished and decorated in gold and rich brocades. It was also accessorized with heavy silver and gold cutlery, with bowls, goblets and plates of all patterns and luxurious finishes, and with fine, indulgent decorative objects of all types.

  There, her parents and the Wadiyar family were seated together around the table, enjoying a breakfast of cereals and fruits, the perfect domestic scene almost looking too well-rehearsed. She didn’t recognize Kasakir the first time she glanced around; he had grown into the full figure of a man, now resembling his father to a tee. Mrs. Atarah Wadiyar, Kasakir’s mother, still looked surprisingly young, apart from a few aging lines around the eyes and a general demeanor of maturity.

  “Ajaniame, how wonderful for you to join us.” Queen Azubah, Ajaniame’s mother, stood to welcome her with a hug and a kiss to the cheek. Ajaniame was slightly taken aback as her mother usually frowned on such open displays of affection.

  She was a beautiful woman, tall and slender with a long neck, narrow face and thin lips. And she always spoke her mind.

  “Good morning.” Ajaniame took a seat at the dining table beside her parents.

  “Governor Jemuel Wadiyar and his family have come for a visit, Ajaniame. You remember Kasakir Wadiyar, don’t you? You used to be so fond of each other as children,” said Queen Azubah.

  “Of course, I remember him, Mother.”

  But we were children then... is what she really wanted to say. How is it relevant now?

  Ajaniame stole a glance at Kasakir who had grown into a dashing man. Even though he was sitting down, his features were all too visible. He was tall and broad-chested, his eyes were dark and deep-set, and his cheerful face spoke of trustworthiness. Without warning, he winked at Ajaniame as he caught her staring, and she spun away, her face burning in a spontaneous deep flush.

  “Ajaniame!”

  “Yes, Mother?” Ajaniame’s tone held a hint of sarcasm, while her mother’s sharp pitch had displayed annoyance. Apart from official engagements when the public expected her father to speak as the Northern Kingdom of Atlantis’ ruler, her mother usually did all the speaking when they gathered privately.

  “Eat up, Ajaniame.”

  “Yes, Mother.” Her red skin grew even warmer as embarrassment washed over her face, so she looked down, focusing on gathering a plate of fruits.

  “What a lovely young woman you’ve become,” said Mrs. Wadiyar.

  “Exquisite. The legend of your beauty is true,” said Kasakir, nodding.

  “Thank you.” Ajaniame’s stomach flipped as she looked up to see Kasakir staring directly at her, unapologetically.

  “Ahem, hem . . . ” Queen Azubah cleared her throat, drawing all the attention back to herself.

  “Is everything alright, Azubah dear?” asked Ajaniame’s father.

  “I’m fine.”

  Nobody spoke further as they concentrated on finishing their breakfast. Ajaniame couldn’t taste the food as she chewed in silence, the veiled purpose of the visit hanging over her head. Never in all her twenty-five years had her parents invited her to breakfast with a guest of honor without an underlying reason.

  “I’ll not keep you in suspense any longer as to the reason we’ve called you here Ajaniame,” said Rai Uziyah.

  The servants came to clear the table and plates of food swiftly as if summoned by magic. The palace had listening ears everywhere, and they were never truly alone.

  “Governor Jemuel Wadiyar and his wife have come to ask for your hand in marriage to their son, Kasakir Wadiyar,” said Rai Uziyah.

  Ajaniame clenched her fist under the table, fighting to remain seated, expelling a long breath to calm the increase in her pulse. Of all the things she expected her father to say, proposing a marriage for her wasn’t one of them. Although she shouldn’t be surprised, considering her parents’ increasing determination to see her settled in marital bliss.

  Queen Azubah turned to face Ajaniame. “You know we’ve received many suitors over the years, some of whom we’ve not introduced to y
ou, and others you’ve rejected. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that the Wadiyars have come forward to ask for your hand in marriage. We consider Kasakir the best suitor for you, and the fact you’ve got a shared childhood bond is even more significant. I want you to think carefully before you make a decision.”

  In other words, her mother wanted her to marry Kasakir or risk her displeasure. Ajaniame had been ambushed! She glanced around for a way of escape. There wasn’t one.

  How on earth can I get out of this? How can they do this to me? Am I not woman enough to reach my own decision?

  Kasakir was handsome, and she certainly had fond memories of him, but any childhood bond was long gone and he was a stranger to her now. Such a ridiculous union would not be taking place. Absolutely not!

  “Kasakir would like to speak with you in private, and we’ve given permission for him to proceed,” said the Queen.

  What? Had Ajaniame heard correctly? Her mother was willing to let her speak to a bachelor—alone? Preposterous!

  “Are you sure, Mother?”

  Say no, Mother, you cantankerous—

  But her thoughts were cut short. “Oh, yes, we think it will be—most fruitful,” said the Queen.

  Kasakir still regarded her with a steady gaze, her stomach twisting as his eyes bored into her own. She would refuse to entertain the man, looking away quickly; his appearance, his attitude, everything about this presumptuous intruder unnerved her. If she looked in his eyes, they might suck her into a dark whirlpool.

  “May I speak to you outside, Ajaniame?” Kasakir’s voice sent a tiny jolt of electric current through her spine. It was deeper and richer than the boyhood tones she remembered. It was annoyingly alluring and she hated it for that. And the smooth, syrupy tone in which he asked may I only made matters that much worse. It was proving so difficult to dislike the man.

  “Right now?”

  Kasakir stood up, offering his hand. “Please,” he said. “I would love that.”

  And I would hate it, said a little voice at the back of Ajaniame’s mind, though she stayed silent. What she thought, felt, wanted, clearly was of no importance to anyone.