Kitanna
Chapter 27: RAIN AND PRINCESS RETURNS

Chapter 27: RAIN AND PRINCESS RETURNS

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: WAY BACK HOME ~ SHUAN]

The next day, preparations for the ritual to ask the beings above for rain started. It was a ceremony done in Morado every two consecutive half moons without rain. The high priestess and the royal family prayed together with commoners, asking the supreme beings for abundant rain.

The ritual usually took place in the east building, which was the location where the sun rose. At the east palace, the ritual table was set between two pillars called the heavenly pillar. The pillar served as a communication medium between the heavenly realm and earthlings.

Mubera and her shrine maids brought forward the items required for the ritual. About six children were made to sit in a circle, wearing blue outer garments with a tied lizard in front of them.

Back inside the main palace, all the servants were dressed in clothes made with sacks of wheat, trying to keep up with their duties.

Khelan stood as his servants dressed him in an all-white local robe. His crown was discarded and replaced with a white futou.

In the next room, Larel was also dressed in white. All her jewelry and makeup were removed.

Almaria was not left out; she also dressed in a white dress, but she made sure her makeup was still intact. When she was ready, she made her way to the ritual ground.

The ritual started as the sun began to shine brightly. The palace was open, and the commoners, also dressed in sacks, walked in to join the ritual.

Khelan walked to the altar, when he got there, he rolled up his trousers until his calves were exposed. Then he raised his clasped hands and knelt down. Everyone joined him, kneeling and chanting incantations to ask the heavenly king to send down rain. The process continued, with Khelan rising, clasping his hands, and kneeling again to chant prayers, with the royal family, court officials, and commoners doing the same.

After the seventh bow, Mubera, who was wearing a long white dress with a hood, walked with a cane to where the king was kneeling. She made some incantations before raising her hand to strike him for the first time. When she did this, the commoners bowed and prayed for rain to come and asked for forgiveness.

Khelan hissed in pain when the cane landed on his bare skin. Initially, before the ritual, he had begged his mother not to proceed with the ritual, suggesting that the rain might be delayed. But then, the queen dowager insisted that the rain would come only after the ritual was completed. He turned to look at his mother, but she had her face down, concentrating on her prayers. Khelan had no choice but to bear the pain. When the next whip landed, he almost ran out of the place.

Almaria watched her son get whipped with the cane, continuing her prayers with her head bowed on the ground.

When blood was finally drawn from Khelan’s calves, Mubera stopped flogging him.

The six children began the next phase of the ritual, exposing the lizard to the scorching sun and tormenting it. The leader of the children chanted, "Little Lizard, Little Lizard, give rise to white clouds, breathe out moist mist, make the rains pour down, and we will set you free."

The ritual for the rain continued, with everyone staying in their positions. They were to remain there until the rain eventually fell.

"Mother, it doesn’t seem like it will rain. I think it is Kitanna’s soul that is ceasing the rain," Khelan, who had moved from where he was kneeling to kneel closer to his mother, whispered.

Almaria pressed her lips together in disappointment. She wanted to take the cane from the priestess and whip her son. "I see the whipping did not help get your mind straight," she said in between her teeth.

"But, Mother..." Khelan was still talking when he felt a slight shove from his side and turned to look at the person.

Larel did not want the king to provoke his mother further because, in the end, she would be the one at the receiving end. "My king, focus on the prayers; I am sure it will rain soon. I see the heavens changing," she said in a dull voice.

"Listen to your wife," Almaria said curtly to her son before moving her knees, shifting away slightly.

Soon, rumbling was heard in the sky, and the people gasped. They continued to pray for the rain to come, and it started as little drops, then it turned into a heavy downpour. Everyone remained under the rain this time, chanting praises to the heavenly king.

After a few minutes, the rain stopped. The people stood and waited to hear from their king.

The servants immediately rushed to dry the king’s body and add color to his robe, indicating that their prayers had been answered.

Khelan went to stand on a podium with his family and officials behind him. He began his speech.

"My people of Morado, the heavenly king has finally answered our prayers. Now, go back home and plant, wait for an abundant harvest next season and in many more seasons to come. Bear in mind that heaven will never turn its back on Morado," he smiled deeply. Khelan’s happiness was not because of the abundant harvest the rain would bring; he was already tired of kneeling and being flogged continuously.

Almaria moved to stand in front of the people, stopping Larel from talking. Larel moved back and bowed with a smile.

"Hardworking people of Morado, I know what it feels like to toil fruitlessly. But today, the heavens have heard us. With the heart of a mother who has lost her child before, I know what it feels like to lose a child, especially due to hunger. Now we can work on our soil and provide food for our children," Almaria said, her voice filled with emotion. She held her chest with one hand and used the other to stop a tear from slipping.

The people looked at her with pity, and some women even started crying.

Almaria’s spotlight lasted for just a few seconds before a commotion started at the back, with murmurs erupting from the crowd.

"What is going on with those lowlifes?" Almaria said in a low voice to no one in particular.

Larel who was standing beside her, turned to look at her. The same people she was crying with moments ago, "lowlifes"? She shook her head.

"Who is that?" Khelan squinted his eyes to see the person dressed in a beautiful patterned dress, the only burst of color in the crowd.

"Ki... Ki... Princess Kitanna," Larel’s voice came out breathy.