The horse trotted slowly on the rocky path that led to the seeress' cave. It was a chilly winter morning. The winds blew aggressively at them but it didn't bother the the individual on her horse. Although the tall trees covered any means of sunlight, the sun had not risen yet. The only light in the first were the lanterns that she had carried. The forest was quiet. The only sounds heard were the whistling winds, the creaking branches, clattering hooves and her silent breathing. 

A singular Nyya tree stood in the heart of the forest. Its heavy roots bulged out of the ground. Its big branches seemed to make the place darker as it covered the sky. Strange symbols were carved on the tree. Its hanging vines looked like curtains as they covered little of the wide entrance that led into the tree. The falling leaves followed the wind as it danced around the tree.

She stopped her horse in front of the tree. She came down and were careful not to step on anything that would disturb the one who lived inside it. The girl brushed down her long sleeved gown and adjusted the hood of her cloak on her head. Her hands were shaking as she tied the horse's reins to one of the bulged out roots.

She walked towards the entrance and then stopped. She had never been this close to a Nyya tree before. She had heard tales of how it would devour anyone who disturbed it or caused harm to it and she was disturbing it now. But she wanted to meet the seeress and this was the place she resided in. So, she gathered courage and walked inside.

The inside of the tree was much darker than the outside. The lanterns helped to illuminate a bit. She had walked far enough when they saw a pale skinned woman seated on a tree stump. The branches held her so that she would not fall. Her long black hair intertwined with the vines and covered her entire body except her expressionless face. Her grey eyes looked empty.

“Welcome, my Lady.” She had been waiting.

“Greetings, Nyyamä.”

“Tell me, child. What do you want to know?”

So she knew. The Lady gulped. “Who would I be married to?”

Nyyamä closed her eyes and reopened them. “The Crown Prince.”

Yes! She rejoiced inwardly. “And how many children would I have?”

“Four.”

“How many sons?”

“One.”

That was disappointing. She thanked the woman and gave her some gold coins. She turned around and was about to leave.

“Wait.” Nyyamä called out. “Don't you want to know something else?”

The Lady became curious. “Like what?”

“You will not be Queen, neither would the Crown Prince be King. His sister would be”Queen.”

Ayimina was shocked. “The Prince has no sisters.”

 Nyyamä smiled widely. “I am never wrong.”

Ayimina was confused. Still, she thanked her and left the eerie place.

Ayimina never told anyone about the prophecy, not even the Crown Prince whom she had married. Fifteen years had passed. She indeed had four children. Among them were two sons. She laughed. Her husband had been pronounced heir to the throne and there were no sisters. Nyyamä couldn't have been wrong. She basked in the glory and power that came with being the Crown Princess and future Queen. 

She had gone to meet Nyyamä one day. She wanted to rub her failed prophecy in her face.

“You were wrong. I have two sons, my husband would soon be King and his Mother is too old to have more children.” She laughed.

Nyyamä just smiled. “Enjoy it, my Lady. But remember, I am never wrong.”

Ayimina sneered at her and left.

Three years had passed. Ayimina sat quietly and sadly in her room. Her first child and son had died of a strange illness. Now, she had only one son. She had barely recovered when her husband's Mother was strangely with child. She had given birth last week. It was a girl. Her husband's sister.

Nyyamä was right all along.