CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER TWELVE – MATRILINEAR AID !? Bitaqir returned back to her chambers extremely worried of the doom her people will be facing if they lose this war and the fact that they are very likely to lose and there was a mole wasn't comforting in the least. Not sure why, but she had a gut feeling that she was missing something. "Majesty, what is really going on" Nigar asked for the nth time since Bitaqir returned to her chambers and had been pacing about in the terrace looking stressed for a long time. " Nothing " Bitaqir returned agitated, but Niger ignored her tone and just looked at her with such scruting eyes that Bitaqir could feel the heat. "I know I'm not qualified to question or tell you what to do, but I would like to suggest that you talk to your mother or Prince Selim or Ibrahim Pasha if it is something....." Nigar dragged her words hoping the Queen will consider. " Nigar!!!" Bitaqir exclaimed as her eyes twinkled from new found hope. " You're brilliant!! How could I not think of this earlier" Bitaqir praised after she halted her movement and her eyes shinning with new found hope. By mentioning her mother, Bitaqir remembered that her mother is the daughter of the cousin or rather distant relative of the present king of Bradmore, who had been wedded to one of the Pashas of the Bradmore royal council. Valide Aisha ended up as a Queen of Azbedran when she saves the late king from an attempted assassination whilst hunting, she got injured severely and the king bought her to the palace and had her treated. The next thing people knew was that the king had wedded for the fourth time. King Bial of Bradmore might refuse to aid a neighbouring country but will always protect a daughter born and raised in their land, his own neice though a distant relative but it still counts. Finally breathing out a sigh of relief Bitaqir relaxed her shoulder as she felt that she had found the missing peice of a puzzle. " Okay!" Nigar answered not really sure what was happening. "I'll visit my mother in the morning, good night Nigar" Bitaqir said as she lay on her bed , feeling the weight of her exhaustion finally breaking from her subconscious she slept off in no time. ******************************************** "Majesty!" Niger called Bitaqir's attention. " Yes " Bitaqir answered only sparing her a glance. "I learned that the harem was secretly vacated last night, is anything wrong? " Nigar inquired worry lacing her voice. "I'm not even sure right now, Nigar" Bitaqir replied curtly as she sat down to have breakfast. " Nigar where are the eggs" Bitaqir asked finally sparing Nigar a glance. Nigar looked at her and wondered if she wasn't aware that the harem has been vacated, meaning even the cooks were included. It was almost impossible for her to even put that meal as Bitaqir was very strict with her breakfast and not to mention her eggs. Chef Seker is the only one who knows how to prepare Bitaqir's eggs to her liking but being the head chef even he was vacated with the harem residence. She tried a few times but couldn't make it the right way so she just gave up. But considering that she had faked preparing the eggs but giving them to Seker to prepare it, she couldn't tell the Queen that she is incapable of preparing it. "So?" Bitaqir asked after a few seconds of complete silence from Nigar's end. A light knock was heard from the door before Nigar could reply and as if the heavens had answered an unspoken prayer, Nigar bowed slightly and headed for the door all the while praying that it would be someone who could change the topic completely. "Sadika?" Nigar asked asked wondering if her eyes where playing tricks on her, cause as far she knows the entire harem has been vacated, so Sadika standing before her was simply not possible. "Yes Nigar, you look surprised to see me. Let me guess you're wondering why I am still here. Right?" Sadika asked cheerfully and low key liking the look on Nigar's face. " Yes...no....ma ma maybe" Nigar stuttered failing miserably at hiding her surprise. "The Valide sent me to the Queen" Sadika informed Nigar. "She's having breakfast and let me warn you she didn't get her eggs today" Nigar warned and Sadika flashed her a knowing smile and walked towards the Queen. "Greetings, Majesty" Sadika greeted and bowed respectfully towards her queen. "Sadika! welcome" Bitaqir replied completely masking her annoyance over not having her usual egg serving. " The Valide wishes to speak with you before she leaves the palace " Sadika relayed the message she was assigned. " Then tell her I shall meet her in a while " Bitaqir replied. Sadika bowed and left the chamber. "Majesty is anything the matter? " Nigar asked the moment she closed the door and Came before Bitaqir. She had noticed the slight change in mood when Sadika had relayed the message. " How is it that my mother is still here? She was supposed to vacate with the other residents of the harem." Bitaqir spoke in a low voice but Nigar being a keen listener heard her. "Majesty, when a King or prince dies his wives and concubines are moved to the old palace to mourn his death. So I think that, Valide along with her co-wives and your late father's concubines will be heading to the old palace today" Nigar explained to Bitaqir. Bitaqir nodded in understanding and went back to her meal completely forgetting about the egg issue. Nigar signed in relief, because she had faked preparing Bitaqir's eggs a few times and was almost got busted today, Nigar thanked Sadika in her heart as her interruption was very timely, if she was one more second late then she would've been busted. "Nigar prepare travelling clothes for me.....and yourself " Bitaqir told her. Leaving Nigar in complete confusion, she was aware that the Queen was not going to the warfront, so where could the Queen be headed or did she plan to sneak in to the battlefield, that would be a very bad idea, but she was going along with the Queen so that option is off the table. But then where will they go?. " I'm done Nigar, I'm heading to the council meeting. Make sure to inform my mother that I'll see her after the meeting." Bitaqir instructed Nigar, bring her back from her thought. "Yes Majesty" Nigar replied and Bitaqir got up and headed to the council meeting. Unknown to Bitaqir a dark figure lurking in the shadows watched her every move listening to her every conversation. A smirk forms on his lips as his eyes follow her every move.