ASENDA

At the budding age of twelve, She was a beauty to look upon. She was graceful, smart, full of live and had a warm heart and smile that could make anyone come alive.

She was the pride of her dad that is after her mum. Because, Mr Sam Sante Mclord knew and always knows it was through her beloved wife that she got his darling girl.

She was his pride, joy and the apple of his eyes whiles his wife was his very heart.

There was nothing he couldn't do to make them happy. And truly, he never missed an opportunity to prove the very fact even if it wasn't in his power to do so.

So it was no surprise he finally gave in to his wife's desire of him fathering another child with her even though he knew of the consequences of what that decision poses.

For so many years they had both been wanting to have another child possibly a male to be their heir since it was customary for the male child to succeed his father. It was believed that a woman will marry and leave her father's home hence the rightful care taker should be the male child since he would rather marry into the home and continue the legacy of the father.

Anisa his wife had had series of miscarriages that they had both lost count of.

But The last one broke her hope and spirit when it happened during her second trimester.

She stood in front of her mirror with her mind far away.She could only see a ghost of her one's beautiful self. Her face which was the envy of every lady in the whole of Oldeville kingdom and beyound was now sunken.

Her dark shoulder lenght hair which was her beauty of crown now falls on her face and shoulder in a dishevelled mess like it had not had the feel of a brush in years, which was partly the case because she hardly could remember the last time she combed it. She wouldn't even give Sante the chance to do it for her.

Her doe eyes that could draw any one in them and make them fall into her charm was now puffy and looked out of proportion and hollow from all the crying she had subjected her self to since she lost her baby.

She had so many hopes and plans for him. She knew in her heart it was a boy before they even got confirmation on the gender and there she stood with all her hopes shattered.

She felt the light breeze from the opened window blow her disheveled hair of a mess from her face. It felt so cool and soothing on her face, At the same time, it felt icy like the hand of death.

She felt as if the wind was trying to either mock her or being sympathetic towards her by trying to straighten up her mess. She felt infuriated, she didnt need any of that, If she couldn't have what she wanted, there was no need for such appeasement or sheer mockery.

She didn't know which was which yet she knew and understood her anger so well.

The breeze wasn't helping her at all. It reminded her of the wind of destruction story she heard as a young child.

Everyone in the whole of Oldevile knew of this story.

It was said that the whole of the kingdom so many years ago was thrown into shambles when all of their neighboring kingdoms rose up against them in war.

Oldeville back then was a kingdom growing in prominency with it's business minded people who only grew more and more in wisdom when it came to trading.

The other communities where jealous and decided together to wage war against them. They therefore consulted the oracle of Zainta who told them it was impossible to do so.

So, for a while they backed down only to have their plot rekindled with the coming of Zainta's rival oracle, olgadeeza .

Olgadeeza promised them victory over Oldeville on the condition that they will reject every advice and everything that had to do with Zainta.

The whole kingdom readily agreed and Olgadeeza gave their leader a portion which was to be blown into the Eastern corridor of Oldeville's border.

The impact of blowing the portion caused Oldeville to be weakened. Which in turn made their Enemies subdue them.

The King of Oldeville in turn visited Zainta's oracle.And was given a sword of vengeance known as Sekanpa.

The Sekanpa sword was to be in the custody of the leader of the army which was Sante Mens Mclord Sam's great great ancestor.

Oldeville later went to war with their enemies for the third time and emerged victorious.

Anisa's was brought out of her reverie when she felt another breeze.

She looked at the open window and wondered how it was wide opened. She had not been in there in months.

She moved nonchalantly and in trance-like manner with her eyes fixated on the window.

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Sante Mclord walked out of the palace raging with anger.The once peaceful palace where he could find his very peace, power, and treasure. His treasure because that was the place he met and fell in love with Anisa the beloved princess of the entire kingdom of Oldevil.

He stood not a chance at even winning the friendship of the princess talk less of her love and hand in marriage.

The though of her brought smile to the corner of his mouth lighting up his entire face he grinned and muttered to himself, "she is mine for life".

He chuckled whiles mounting his horse. "and no one will come in between our happiness not the king nor any one".

Saying that out loud brought him from his thoughts making him furrow his eye brow with worry.

Happiness had eluded his wife ever since her last miscarriage and that has inturn taken a toll on His entire household.

He had never seen Anisa struggle emotionally like the way she has been struggling lately and it broke his heart to see her go through such pains, as much as he tried to take away her pains he just couldn't.

He therefore took the bold step and decision to support her through the grieving and pain till it was over but for the time being he had decided he would be her protector and comforter.

He had left Anisa and Asenda in the care of the care taker but he always felt good when he was the one doing the taking care of other than anyone else.

Anisa had been suicidal during the first three months after the miscarriage but he was always there for her protection and he was able to abate her suicidal instinct and restore a bit of her calm.

He had been at her beck and call ever since the incident and didn't want to leave her for even a second.

If not for the king's summon he would have been at home with her attending to her every need.

He spurred the horse on in a hurry to make it to the house. Few minutes later he saw his house come into view.

He unmounted the horse and gave the rein to Xavier their groom who was attending to the horses and hurriedly took the route leading to the meadow.

From across the stretch of meadowland he could make out the tree under which Anisa normally sits when she needed calm.

But he saw no one in sight.