Rivals
It would be so easy, Salrisa thought. Not even a moment of pain. One descision and then blessed freedom. She would do it, she told herself for the thousandth time. And for the thousandth time, she stopped herself.
The night was hot and muggy, insects buzzed around her, despite the lotions she'd rubbed on her skin. The erie noises of the jungle, familiar to her, did not add to her pensiveness, but instead soothed her. The descision was hers, why could she not make it? It would be so easy. All her training had taught her the proper response to her situation. Self preservation above all. Any of the others would have done it by now. She played with the vial in her hand.
Esthi had brought the decoction, at her request. The light had gleamed from his shaven head, as he had bowed sinuously, and passed it to her. "At your command, chosen." the eunuch had hissed. He had urged her to use it. Were she not chosen Queen, his position was as fatal as hers. He would do anything in his power to see that she succeeded. She knew of his hopes of becoming Chief Eunuch. He would help her in her plans. He had already proven his skill as a poisoner. She was not afraid of detection. Safeguarding herself had become second nature. Years of training in the mannerisms of Eternal Salmissra had eroded much of her original personality. The overwhelming mixture of drugs in her system sometimes confused her terribly. She had dreams of damp earth, jungle vegetation, and primitive longings. Some days she could not remember that she was not, yet, Queen.
Esthi glided in, a goblet on a tray in his hand. "It is time, chosen," he told her. "You must not deviate from your schedule."
"I know." She took the glass from the tray and drained it. "What is it this time?"
"You do not need to worry, chosen. You have the best apothacary of any of the candidates." he smirked at her. The drug began to affect her, and reacting with anger, she directed it at him. At one time she would have fought the anger, realizing it was drug induced, but now it was too much trouble.
"You are worthless! What have you found out? What news from Sthiss Tor?" she barked, slapping him on the ear.
"Yes, chosen, there is news. Eternal Salmissra is failing. The end will come soon enough." Esthi said calmly. He was used to the outbursts, and held to his dreams of power when she became unreasonable.
"Fool! I knew that! What of the other candidates?" Salrisa threw the goblet against the wall.
"There are but three left, chosen. They are clumsy and ugly. None have the personality of Eternal Salmissra. You are safe." the eunuch told her gently.
"Three?" Salrisa asked, shocked. "Who?" Her rage left her. The death of another candidate should not bother her. Many times in the past, it had even brought her joy.
"There was an outbreak of fever. One of the candidates succumbed."
"Tell me." she whispered.
"It was Thasthi, chosen." She slumped against the wall, and slid down it. The vial containing the poison fell from her open fingers and broke against the stone floor.
"I have won." Salrisa said softly. "There is no competition any more." Esthi began to wipe up the liquid on the floor. Salrisa looked at him with wide eyes. "It is over."
"Yes, chosen. Will you require anything else?"
"Bring me something calming. Now."
As Esthi left the room, Salrisa began to rock slowly back and forth. She felt tears stinging her eyes. How long had it been since she had cried? Years. And now, when victory was hers, she felt overwhelming sadness. She knew herself, and knew that soon she would look on this as a blessing from Issa. She had not needed to use the poison after all. And she would be Eternal Salmissra.
"Thasthi," she sobbed to herself. "Thasthi. My sister. My twin."