“She isn’t ready.”
Kafaa Evangeline continues to stare out the window, the doorway to her left.
“You can’t let her reign.”
Evangeline notes the individual trees in the bustling courtyard below her. Trees that were fully grown while she was a child. Trees that would be here, when she passed away.
“This is a mistake, Evengeline. Are you even listening?”
After a few moments, Evengeline puts her knobbly hands on the chair arms, and pushes upwards. She stands straight after a few moments, then turns her body to regard the dwarf standing in the doorway. She looks at him for a mere second before carefully speaking.
“You know as well as I that my health is failing.” She took a step closer to the miffed man. “I have been holding on for so many years, Ange. It has been five years since I should have retired the sword.” Evengeline hobbles towards him and lays a hand on his shoulder. She sighs, her eyes crinkling with tiredness. “The people are starting to become discontent. They want her as Kafaa”. The old ruler looks into the middle-aged man’s eyes. “You know I would not take this course of action if I had another way. We talked about this before.”
Ange blinks and lays a hand over hers. “I’m just worried about what may happen. I’m unsure if the nation will remain intact.” He moves the Kafaa’s hand off his shoulder, but still lightly holds it. “As you said, everyone is restless and agitated. We need a strong ruler, not someone whose defining trait is vanity. She just is not ready, Evengeline.”
“I know.” Evengeline smiles slightly, before slowly pulling her withered hand from Ange’s loose grip. She turns around and begins a slow walk to her chair. “I know”, she says as she grabs the left chair handle and positions her behind above the cushioned seat. “But there is nothing else I can do. There are no suitable heirs.” She sits down with a phmph and turns her head left to regard Ange.
“I have done all I possibly can. My daughter will soon take over as ruler. She, herself, will make the choice whether to be a strong Kafaa or not. And if the nation falls…”
She turns her head back to the window, now focusing her gaze on the bustling workers of the Civil Service, living their lives in bliss.
“We will know what she chose.”