"I hoped you come and take care of them."
"Where's Temi? She should tend to them."
"I have some bad news miss, it seems she passed in the night."
"Temi's dead? No, he–she can't be." Rasha stood, but the babies started to cry and she sat down again.
"Some animals have that kind of cycle. They birth their babies and then die. That would explain how you came to have one so early in its life."
Rasha looked down at the babies who'd settled in to the first person to come along. It was like a mallet to the stomach. Temi had been loyal and faithful to Lu then to her. The only thing she'd asked for in return was for someone kind to take care of her babies. She'd come all of this way from where she'd been. Thankfully, the last moments of her life, she hadn't been alone. That was a blessing from the Universal. She reached for her amulet and kissed the stone.
"What would you like me to do with these cubs, your highness?"
Rasha thought for a moment.
"Get me a large basket and leave them to me."
The cubs were the success she hoped they'd be, and the young women were enraptured by them. The princes loved having them around too. She handed them out, letting the group give them the love and attention they needed. She sat down and realized that there was one left. He'd been hiding in the blanket and had only just poked his head out to see where his siblings had gone. He cried a little until Rasha pulled him out and stroked his head as Lu had done to Temi that first day. She looked him over as he calmed down. She wasn't sure if this one was male or female.
Playing with the small cubs eased some of the pain of losing Temi. The others wanted to keep their beasties and since there was no one to care for them otherwise, Rasha agreed to let the cubs go. She only kept the one.
"So, you will name this one?" Jak asked as he sat down beside her. He watched the others cooing over the cubs and looked down at the one in Rasha's lap.
"I don't know what to call him."
"You'll think of something. You did well choosing for Zele."
"That's not the same. She doesn't belong to me."
"I doubt she knows that any more than this little guy." Jak reached out and stroked the little beastie and it mewed in her hand.
"I’d better go. I need to talk Chiza. She didn't come down this morning. I'll see if she wants one of these," she said holding up the basket. Chiza wasn't the antisocial type. If she hadn't come down with the others, there must be something wrong.
17
RASHA DIDN'T HAVE TO REACH her room to discover the problem. Several servants were coming and going from her room, carrying bedding and wearing masks over their faces. Bashir had already been called. He paced outside the door, looking anxious. He looked up when he saw her coming.
"She's sick, just like the other young lady. I think we might have a bigger problem on our hands than originally thought."
"Is there a cure?"
Bashir shook his head.
"Too many people have died from this sickness already. I can't have the young ladies in the palace exposed. If they are sent home, they might spread it to their lands, if they've already contracted it somehow
."
Bashir's normally put together facade was falling apart. He looked like he'd thrown on his clothes from the night before and his hair fell in unkempt wisps around his face. The alabaster skin under his eyes had colored into a faded purple.
"What can I do?"
"Nothing, I can't risk you leaving any more than the others."
"I'm not like the others," she said as she squared her shoulders.
Bashir turned away from her to rest his hand on the wall. It looked like he was holding up the wall but it was the other way around.
"I don't know what to do. Chiza is," Bashir's shoulders slumped, but he didn't turn around.
Rasha placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You care for her," Rasha said. He turned into her and she saw it then. The pain in his eyes made her bite her lip in sympathy. "Oh no, I'm so sorry. But it's not too late. Something I learned from spending a lot of time with Chiza is that she's stronger than she seems."
Bashir nodded.
"Even in mourning, she was stronger than me." He took a few steps away from his guards and toward the hall window. The gardens below were luscious and green. He smiled at a memory. "Did she tell you about our time together?"
Rasha shook her head.
"Of course not, she's a lady in every way. I just assumed since you were close she might have shared it with you."
"I didn't ask, and she didn't seem inclined to discuss it. It was a difficult adjustment."
"At first it was, we barely knew each other and we were both grieving. Difficult is a good word for it." Bashir turned toward her, resting his shoulder against the glass. "We lashed out at each other in every way possible until there was nothing left. Then somewhere in there, we'd become friends. We played games, we talked, we cooked, we walked. There wasn't anything we didn't do together. We read the same books then we debated about them afterwards. It was glorious right up until I kissed her."
Rasha watched the light go out of his face.
"She hadn't been ready. I'd been so excited to latch on to anything, anyone, that I'd moved too fast. After that, I felt her pulling away until she was out of reach. I demanded that she get over it. I'd done it, why couldn't she?"
Rasha shook her head, seeing what was coming.
"I have never seen someone shut down so fast. That moment, the words, the anger, I'd take it back if it were possible. I'd gone too far, I realized it, but of course it was too late. So, you see, it's only fitting that she die from this disease and leave me pinning for her as she once did for her lost love."
Rasha felt tears filling her own eyes as she listened. This couldn’t be happening to people who really love each other. The Universal would never allow such an injustice. There had to be a way. Bashir reached out and took her hands in his. His were thin and cold. She wanted to breathe on them to warm them. He beat her to it. He raised their joined hands to his lips and kissed her fingers.
"Thank you. This has been weighing on me for some time."
"I hope I'm interrupting," Jak said from behind Rasha.
They jumped apart at the sound of his voice. Rasha turned, his eyes were on Bashir but his words were for her.
"When you didn't return with Chiza, I got concerned and wanted to make sure you two were all right."
"We're fine," Rasha said. She had to wipe a tear from her eye. "Chiza's sick."
"I saw the commotion. The girls are downstairs. They're concerned," Jak said and looked at Bashir.
The way the two measured each other made Rasha wish that Jak hadn't seen them holding hands. It might as well have been an embrace the way he was acting.
"Please excuse me, princess." Bashir brushed the back of his hand along her arm. An intimate gesture that fit the circumstances but that made Jak clench his fists.
"I'm sorry if I've disturbed you, princess." Jak turned to leave but Rasha grabbed him by the arm.
"Hey, what's going on with you. I did nothing wrong. We were just talking. We were both concerned about Chiza."
"I didn't ask."
"You didn't have to, your posturing is obvious and childish." Rasha opened the door to her room and put the basket with the now sleeping cub inside. She needed to get out of the dress and into her own clothes. The prince might not have any idea what he needed, but she knew what Chiza needed and that was a cure. She was the best courier in the kingdom. Who else would fetch the cure and deliver it in time to save Chiza?
Besides, Ladi was out there somewhere and she was dealing with something bigger than herself. The worst thing was to leave her to handle whatever it was on her own. Things were taking a bad turn with Jak. He paced her balcony while she changed. When she came back out in her courier's clothes, he looked her over. His eyebrows stretched toward the ceiling.
"Are you going someplace during quarantine?" he asked.
"Not yet, but soon. Chiza might die of this virus. They'll need someone to find a cure."
"And that's you?"
"Yes, in fact, it is."
"The prince is just going to let you walk out of here?"
"I believe he'll ask me to leave. I won't be walking out, but I'll be flying out."
He held up his hand to stop her.
"Flying out how?"
Rasha watched as Jak's lip curled in challenge.
"On my dragon, Zele." Rasha looked down at her hand. She still held the basket with the sleeping cub. She shoved the basket at him. "Here, take care of this one until Chiza gets better. She'll want him or her or whatever."
18
RASHA HAD BEEN RIGHT. She didn't even have to wait that long before another two girls fell ill. The other two of the young girls from the southern kingdoms of Winaka and Buku. One prince had also fallen ill. The Joro prince was sick in bed and another, the prince from Majiwa, had been weakened by the onset of the disease. He was put into the pool to maintain his most natural form and fight off the virus. The mermaid kept vigil at his side, refusing to leave despite the recommendations from the doctors.
Bashir came to her room. Rasha was sitting by the window. She wasn't fond of reading but she'd found a book of Bolaji history and was reading it while she watched the sun begin its fall from the sky.
"I see you are prepared to go."
"There was the possibility you'd need me. I wanted to be ready." Rasha put her feet down from the windowsill and stood up to face him. His hair looked even more unkempt than earlier and the circles under his eyes darker. "I can get it, only tell me where."
"That's the problem. We don't know where. The Tero-Joro are working on a cure as we speak but I'm not sure how far they've come. Their communications there are down. I need to find out if they're close and what they've discovered. At this point, a cure is purely hypothetical."
"I've got contacts in Tero-Joro. I'll see what I can do."
Bashir put a hand on her shoulder, then brought his hand up to cup the back of her neck.
"I hope I don't need to remind you it is urgent you find it. This disease is sweeping the country. This news can't be contained any longer, the families will be informed."
"I understand."
"I want to give them hope. If you're out there looking, I'll have it."
"Jak?"
"Yes, your partner. Of course, you'll want to bring him. I'll allow it."
Rasha bowed to him in respect, "Thank you, Your Grace."
She left Bashir and went directly to Jak's rooms. The prince's wing had almost as much commotion as her own. They were wearing masks here as well. When she reached Jak's room, there were servants coming in and out. She asked one of them for directions.
"I must be in the wrong room, I'm looking for Prince Jak Ameenu."
"This is his room, your highness." The young maid bowed to her and bustled off.
Rasha’s knees buckled as she walked inside. Two servants were cooling his brow with water as they'd done to Chiza. His face was a pale green and his eyes, though closed, had dark circles around them. Xeku stood hovering over him, cooling his feverish arms.
"He just collapsed. I don't know, we were talking and then…" Xeku didn't look up as she drew closer to Jak's bed. When the maid left to change the towels, she took her place on Jak's left. She grabbed his hand and felt the cold clamminess of the disease on him. His eyes fluttered open but the two blue pools wavered about as if searching the room and seeing nothing.
"I'm here." Rasha knelt down.
Jak's eyes fluttered closed, and he squeezed her hand. It was the only sign he'd heard her.
"I am leaving to find the cure, I'll be back soon. I promise."
Rasha's eyes filled as she realized at worst this could be the last moment they'd have together. How could she explain to him now what she wanted? When he'd asked her before but she hadn't been ready. She didn't like the idea of being chosen. Now it was all she could think about. Why had she been so foolish?
"I need to go, now."
"Yes, go and find the cure."
"I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I know." Xeku stood up. "Thank you."
Rasha's aunt stood up from the chair and moved to her side.
"If you need me, I'll come with you."
"No, I think you will be more needed here." Rasha looked to Xeku. "You two seem to have a connection."
"We've been friends for a long time."
Rasha wasn't sure what to say, so she didn't say anything. Sochi put her arms around her in an embrace.
"Can I ask you something?" Rasha asked.
"Anything,” Sochi said and looked her in the eye.
"Is there something more than friendship between you two?"
Sochi looked over her shoulder back at Xeku, then back to her.
"Does the thought worry you?"
"No, it seemed that perhaps things had changed between you. I'm not sure how Jak will take it."
"He's not the only one we have to worry about,” Sochi said more to herself than to Rasha.
Rasha thought of her parents, then of the council. There were many obstacles to an entanglement between the two.
"You should go, don't delay,” Sochi said urging her forward.
She was right. This cure could be anywhere within the eleven kingdoms of Bolaji and she needed to find it or she might lose Chiza and Jak.
"There's one small thing. I need you to take care of something for me." Rasha tilted her head in the direction of the basket with the last of Temi's sleeping babies on the floor.
19
TERO-JORO MADE THE MOST rapid changes in the time they'd become a part of the Bolaji kingdoms. Once a people who primarily lived among the trees and nature, they'd made technological advancement early, setting themselves apart from the rest as leaders in all things modern. It was that advancement that brought Rasha to their kingdom. Her best friend had taught her a lot about their culture and traditions.
Their belief in the goddess of nature was something she could understand. Lu put no faith in anything he could not see, hear, or touch. Ladi seemed similarly inclined. Rasha's own beliefs fell somewhere in the middle. Although not devout, she believed the Universal touched everything and everyone. She held up her amulet and said a quick prayer she might find the cure to help save her friends.
The city center of town, known as Q Prime, housed their local government which had long stopped using the monarchical designation and had instead termed their leaders by their function. Rasha steered Zele directly to the scientific labs of Q Prime, a modern building made of glass and steel. It didn't have the warmth and charm of the castles she was used to, but it held some of the most modern of art.
The entrance, lit from the sun outside, had windows from floor to ceiling. Rasha entered the immaculate building and walked to the entry level reception area where three android robots sat answering questions via the communication switchboard. The one in the center noted Rasha approaching and, finishing its current call, was ready with an anatomically correct smile.
From the top of his head to his waist, he was formed to look like a Tero-Joro humanoid complete with enlarged ears and eyes and two-toned, green skin. When Rasha reached the desk, she saw that from the waist down their makers hadn't bothered with anything resembling a humanoid. A metal s-curved form held the android to a chair that swiveled but didn't seem to move any further.
"Hello and welcome to Q Prime Labs. How can I be of service?" The android spoke in the native Chilalian.
Rasha answered in the common, "I am Courier Jenchat-42769. I am here on urgent business for Prince Bashir. Rasha held up her communicator, showing her credentials. She waited for the inevitable resistance from this one. Androids were the one form of security measure she was thankful the other kingdoms hadn't decided to adopt. Rasha found herself often in debates with them over minutiae. The android scanned the information and within several unnaturally timed blinks, h
ad relayed her request and received an answer.
"Please proceed to the elevators behind me and take one to the eleventh floor. Someone will be there to meet you."
"Thank you."
"Have a pleasant day."
The android seemed more relaxed but still artificial. She found the elevators and took the first one available to the designated floor. When the doors opened, another android was waiting. Despite its complete anatomy, the tilt of its head and fast scanning of her with its rapid eye movement gave it away as another machine. She rolled her eyes and followed the female android to the lab office. As they walked, they passed several glass doors and frosted windows that led to working labs with androids and humanoids on the opposite side, working without noticing or bothering to notice the visitor gawking at them on the other side.
"Right this way, Princess Indari."
She hadn't stated her given royal name, and felt the annoyance rise in her throat as the android addressed her by title instead of by her courier status.
They followed the corridor to its end where a double glass door led to another reception area. There was no one behind the desk and Rasha waited for the android with her to take her station. The android lifted the headset to her head and spoke into the microphone.
"Shall I send her back? Right away." The android looked back at Rasha, "You may proceed through the door on my right."
Rasha didn't bother thanking the android but walked to the door. It slid open without a touch. All the modern conveniences were available. When the door closed behind her, anxiety made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. What if she hadn't walked all the way through or had hesitated? Would the door have crushed her? Shaking off the unease, she continued through the bright white space to the one and only humanoid working in the room.
The man's thinning hair and yellowish skin put him in his late fifties. His smallish ears and large eyes said he was more Joro than Tero. He kept one large eye focused on some kind of magnifying device.
The Courier's Quest Page 9