Tavari walked slowly down the grand hall, eyes locked on Arie. Every step echoed against the marble floors, a rhythmic reminder of the immense hall and the centuries of power that filled it. A guard, trembling, stepped forward. “Lord Tavari… prithee, take thy seat,” he said, voice almost breaking under the weight of the ceremony.

  Tavari seated himself without bowing to the Watcher. The twelve kings exchanged uneasy glances, whispering among themselves, unsure how to react. Behind the mask, the Watcher’s lips curved into a faint, unseen smile.

  “All rise!” the Watcher intoned, his voice rolling like thunder over stone. The entire hall seemed to shiver at the command.

  “Behold the Light that guideth in the darkling vale,

  The witness of all deeds, both hidden and known,

  He that bendeth the skein of Fate and rendeth the veil of Reality,

  Who seeth all that is wrought, and marketh all that is spoken,

  Unconquered, unyielding, whose word is as law eternal and unbroken!”

  The kings knelt, their heavy robes whispering against the stone floor. The Watcher continued:

  “Now rise, and take thy seats, for the counsel is begun.

  Hearken well, ye kings, and mark my decree,

  For this day forth, Lord Tavari shall have voice within the Watcher’s Vault.”

  Whispers slithered through the hall like a living thing. Arie’s sharp voice cut through the murmurs: “Quiet!” Silence fell instantly.

  The Leo King’s face reddened. “But… he is not a king — he cannot speak here!”

  The Watcher’s gaze fell upon him. Blood welled from the king’s mouth. Kneeling, he crawled to the Watcher’s feet, gasping, “Forgive me… I went against thee.” He was lifted gently and returned to his seat.

  “This is my decree,” the Watcher said, voice as steady and unyielding as stone.

  The Sagittarius King dared to ask, “Watcher… why is he given a voice here?”

  “The question is ask’d amiss,” the Watcher replied, cold and precise. “He is half of me, born with a magic none of thee have e’er possess’d.”

  A heavy silence fell over the hall. Even the servants seemed to hold their breath.

  “Decision made,” Arie shouted, unwavering. “Lord Tavari, speak.”

  Tavari rose, bowing slightly, eyes steady despite the tension in the room. “Thank you, Watcher. I beg pardon if I offend, but I know nothing of these matters. My first concern… why are women separated from men, as if they may do nothing we can? Why are men deemed the sole rulers?”

  The Capricorn King’s voice thundered, shaking the hall. “Because they cannot govern! They cannot be queens!”

  Tavari’s gaze did not falter. A fire burned in his chest, tempered by the clarity of truth. A woman is born a queen and dies a queen. Every life begins with a woman, yet men act as though she is lesser. We deny her rule, yet she is the maker of kings, the mother of warriors. The truth is plain, yet they choose blindness.

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  The Aquarius King spat, his face twisted in anger. “How dare you go against the Watcher’s decree, Trison!”

  Threads flared from Tavari’s hands like living serpents. They whipped forward, striking the king and sending him crashing to the floor. Gasps and cries erupted through the hall.

  The Watcher’s gaze fell on Tavari. With the faintest flick of his hand, the magic was broken. Tavari collapsed to his knees. The Capricorn King rose to his seat, unscathed.

  “You shall be punished,” the Watcher said, calm but unyielding, “by confinement within thy chambers for two days.”

  Voices rose in shock and outrage. “No!” some cried. “He should be beheaded!”

  The Watcher’s voice cut through the noise, sharp as steel. “Meeting o’er. No repast here; all shall eat at home.”

  He turned, Arie at his side, and departed. Tavari was escorted to his room. The heavy door closed and sealed behind him, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

  He sank to the floor, his mind racing. They fear women, yet they owe their lives to them. They cling to laws of power that pretend to honor the strong, yet they are blind to the truth of creation itself. I see now… strength is not only in men. One day… they shall learn.

  Scene – Nuru’s Chamber

  Far above, in the sanctuary of his private chamber, Nuru observed the hall through the veil of threads. Arie stood quietly beside him, as always, watching Tavari’s words ripple through the distant hall like unseen thunder.

  “The boy carries fire in his heart,” Nuru said softly, lips curling in a rare smile, “and wisdom beyond his years. His words shake the old guards, yet he speaks the truth.”

  Arie’s eyes widened. “He was reckless… but he did not falter under pressure.”

  Nuru’s gaze softened, every thread in the chamber vibrating subtly. “Reckless, yes. But strength is not measured in obedience alone. Strength lies in seeing the world as it is… and daring to speak. Tavari… he is ready to take the first step into the Vault. One day, he may surpass even me.”

  Arie swallowed, sensing the weight behind Nuru’s words. “And the kings?”

  “They will follow, in time,” Nuru murmured, threads swirling around them like living ribbons of power. “But he will shape their hearts… whether they know it or not.”

  The Watcher leaned back in his chair, eyes hidden behind the mask, yet every corner of the chamber seemed alive with quiet approval.