Read The Blind King for Free Online

more affection than his
father, she had doted on her younger son. Gannon, of course, would be busy with
matters of state, leaving the queen with only her servants to lean on. Would
she seek comfort from Efren at all? He doubted it, but he could no longer bare
the silence. He could find no other words to commence conversation.
    “I’m sure your mother is well tended to,” Ryshel
reassured him, patting his leg with a soft hand. “I worry more for Gannon. With
the king’s illness progressing so rapidly, he has had little time to prepare
himself.”
    “Gannon is strong,” he replied, “and he has been
preparing for this his entire life.”
    They reached the castle grounds early the
following morning. The serving staff had been outfitted in mourning clothes,
and the mood inside the castle was somber. No one would be allowed to laugh or
make merry until a full week had passed. Gannon’s coronation would be carried
out quickly, and he would have to meet with his council immediately following
the ceremony. Efren did not envy his brother the task ahead. He was relieved to
be spared the burden of becoming king.
    After stepping out of the carriage, Efren took
Ryshel’s arm. “We should see to the queen first,” he said.
    “Of course,” she replied.
    Slowly they ascended a spiral staircase and made
their way down the long corridor to the queen’s chambers. To their surprise,
the door stood open. Servants were running back and forth carrying various
items.
    “Not that one, idiot,” the queen’s voice sounded
from inside.
    Efren sighed and stepped inside the room. Ryshel
squeezed his arm slightly, hoping to give him strength.
    Nearing the queen, he bowed slightly and said,
“Your Majesty. How are you, Mother?”
    “Terrible,” she sobbed. Her voice was hoarse from
both screaming and crying. Looking Ryshel up and down, she asked, “Are you with
child?”
    “I am,” she responded with a slight smile.
    “Well, there’s no danger of the child being born
blind,” the queen informed her. “Your husband was born normal. The doctors lied,
but I know it to be true. I believe it was an infection that claimed his sight.
It wasn’t my fault.” She walked over to a chest full of dresses and began
sorting through them, throwing many of them onto the floor. “Not these!”
    A servant rushed to her side to collect the fallen
gowns. The queen slumped down onto the floor and buried her head in her hands.
Instinctively, Ryshel went to her side to comfort her. Composing herself, the
queen patted her daughter-in-law’s arm and nodded.
    “Are you preparing to leave?” Ryshel asked.
    “Yes,” she replied. “My son has seen fit to send
me away. I am only too happy to oblige.”
    “Where will you go?” Efren asked with concern. He
had never been close to his mother, but he cared for her well-being.
    “To an estate in the east near the coast,” she
replied. “I might do some traveling at some point.” Turning her attention back
to her servants, her face became visibly annoyed. “Can’t you do anything
right?” she shouted. The girls scattered, attempting to avoid the queen’s
wrath.
    “Will you stay for the coronation?” Efren asked.
    “No,” she replied. “It is to be a small affair,
and my presence is not needed.” With those words, the queen collapsed onto her
bed.
    Ryshel rushed to her, followed by the servants who
had witnessed the spectacle.
    “What’s happened?” Efren asked. He heard the
commotion but was unaware of his mother’s condition.
    “She’s fainted,” Ryshel responded.
    “Should I fetch a doctor?”
    “No, she’s coming around.”
    The queen sat up and stared into the distance
unspeaking. Tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
    Ryshel approached her husband and quietly said,
“I’ll stay and tend to her. Why don’t you go and speak with Gannon? Your mother
will be all right. She just needs rest.” Looking over her shoulder at the
queen, she added, “In time, her wounds will