"Here come the protests. Be ready."
Rasha didn't have to wait long to see what he meant.
The mumbles and grumbles around the table grew as the parents of the invited guests realized they would not be staying.
"I travelled from the western sea shore. I am expected to travel back again with no place for respite?" the merman king demanded. His long blue hair rested on his shoulders while he fidgeted in his seat.
It was true they would have a long way to travel. It wasn't fair for them to have to go all the way home. Of course, they couldn't stay at the palace. That would change the dynamic too much. She stood up and offered an alternative.
"My home in Chilali is one of the closest. If you need a place to rest, it is not along your route home but much closer. You are welcome to stay there."
Her father looked up at her, his face a dark shade of purple. Rasha wondered how he could be angry. This excellent arrangement ensured their contact with as many royals as possible. She saw no problem with the idea.
"We are not an inn for every passerby," her father said between his teeth.
"No but you are potentially hosting the parents of the new queen," Rasha said, looking at each of them in turn.
Rasha spoke up again. "My parents are very generous. They insist that you make the journey north and let the Chilalians show you hospitality fit for a king." The prince started the applause that broke out over the table, and he leaned over to speak to her parents.
"Your generosity will be rewarded." He bowed to them and her father bowed back to him.
Smug now, Rasha sat down and received a grateful smile from the prince and a knowing smile from Silae. What did she know? How did she get an invitation to this party? She was no royal and there were plenty of pretty girls throughout the realm. The mystery would persist until the moment arrived where Rasha could pull her aside and ask.
14
AFTER THE FAMILIES WERE SENT on their way, the night took a dramatic change. Prince Bashir had arranged for entertainment and more dancing. Hired performers did tricks and played games on one end of the large ballroom. The guests found drinks and snacks along each wall. The other end of the ballroom was cleared for those who wanted to dance. A juggler with a painted face tossed balls into the air, then plates, then knives. There was a fire swallower as well as two women with the flexibility and stamina to make almost any pose and stay that way long enough for people to appreciate it. A mime walked around, putting couples together and making strange faces. He'd matched Jak with the mermaid. There were some oohs and ahhs. Chiza's hand was placed in Omi's and everyone laughed at that.
Rasha didn't care for the mime. He'd taken her hand and placed it in Prince Bashir's hand, then made a show of bowing as if she'd already been chosen. The prince blushed as if he hadn’t seen it coming. A few others laughed, but Rasha didn't. Jak didn't either. Chiza was facing in another direction and Rasha couldn't read her face, but her shoulders seemed to droop.
"Really, I'm not so bad, Rasha. I wish you'd give me a chance," Bashir whispered to her.
"I'm sorry. I want to feel like I have a choice," she said.
"You don't think you do?"
"Am I free to come and go as I please?" Rasha crossed her arms.
The prince nodded. "I see what you mean. But the option to make your own choice, whatever that may be, is still yours. I can live with whatever you decide, so long as I know you considered me."
"That's just it. I have to decide. What if I'm not ready to make that choice?" Rasha turned away, not waiting for the answer. There wasn't anything he could say.
Rasha needed fresh air, and she'd rather spend the rest of the night in her room than in the stuffy ballroom. If Silae hadn't stopped her before she made it to the doors, she would have.
"Don't," Silae said and moved to block the door.
"You had better get out of my way, right now, or I promise you'll regret it,” Rasha said between her teeth.
"Don't leave, the others are watching you. It will look bad if you storm out after speaking to the prince." Silae folded Rasha's arm over her own as her mother had done. "Let's take a slow walk to calm you down." Silae took a deep breath, urging Rasha to imitate her.
Rasha did and the blood flow reached her brain and she saw the curious eyes of the others watching her.
"What did he say to offend you?" Silae asked.
"It's not him. It's this whole stupid thing. This New Choosing is just the Old Choosing dressed up in different clothes. I'm not sure I can do this."
"You're eighteen, stop acting like a child. You have to do this. As the princess of Chilali you know your duty. Besides, do you think your options will be better when you're 80?"
"I'm not ready." Rasha stopped and looked at her. Silae had once again chosen the most revealing gown she could find, something the same color as her reddish-brown skin, and it clung to her every curve.
Silae gave her arm a pat and continued.
"Get ready."
"Don't bait me."
"I'm not," Silae said, looking sincere. "We often must do things before we're ready. The war proved that. You and Jak were incumbents for almost an entire year. In all that time, I'm sure you did things you never imagined you could."
Rasha was nodding. It was true. She'd felt so old after that war, now it was over and she'd gone back to her old way of thinking.
"I guess, I wanted things to go back to the way they were."
"You mean the way things were when Lu was alive?"
Rasha stopped short and turned to look at Silae. That's what she'd been trying to do this whole time. Yet, how could things go back without Lu? Ladi had filled the gap. Had she been forcing Ladi to take Lu's place the way she'd said? If she were being honest, she'd have to say yes.
"How did you manage to get an invitation to the New Choosing?" Rasha asked, changing the subject.
"You mean because my parents are of different kingdoms I'm so obviously not pure?"
Rasha shrugged. She'd implied it, but wasn't going to say it.
"Well, my father is pure born, as is my mother. They petitioned on my behalf. We're not royals but we're not backwards and our family lines are strong."
Rasha nodded. That made sense. Her beauty was a strong case in her favor, the reddish-brown skin and the long wavy hair the same color as her black almond eyes. Her children would inherit most if not all of those traits.
"Your turn. What is the prince giving you in exchange for tolerating this event?"
Rasha shouldn't have been surprised that Silae had seen through the façade, but she was. She'd thought that she'd been discreet but perhaps not enough.
"I'm gathering as much information about the girls here as I can so I can tell the prince the things he might not find out on his own. In exchange, I get time away from the event so I can track Ladi."
"I can help you with that. Since your last visit, I've been asking around."
"You have?"
"Ladi is the sister to a dear friend. Don't seem so shocked. Plus, she's young and impulsive. Better to find her sooner rather than later."
Rasha agreed.
"Our young friend might have gotten wind of a small uprising among the beasts living within the ten kingdoms. She may attempt to help them. The mistreatment of the beasts that moved south is rampant. Many people lost everything to those animals," Silae said.
"They were forced."
"Not everyone is ready to forgive."
Rasha saw it, though. She didn't want to believe her own people could be so cold. She thought of her parents. They hadn't welcomed the beasts with open arms. It seemed they tolerated them for Rasha's sake since she rode a dragon herself. They wouldn't deny them a place to nest. She wondered how the prince was dealing with that news. He had mentioned nothing to her, not that she was on the council. It might be better to speak with Xeku.
"There's someone I must speak to. Thank you for your help, as always, Silae. Next time, go with something a little classier."
>
"I'll take advice from you on how to dress when you stop dressing like a boy."
Rasha's head tilted as she looked down at her own lovely gown.
"Oh, so you fall into a dress one day and it makes you an expert. I'm sure you didn't even pick it out."
Rasha's cheeks turned deep purple and she glared at Silae.
"Princess," Silae gave her a slight curtsy and turned away.
Rasha glared at her a moment longer before she rushed off toward Jak. He'd know where to find Xeku. The council had residence in the palace somewhere. Jak looked up and saw her moving his way and dislodged himself from the young merman. He smiled as if he were about to say something when she heard a startled scream followed by another. Rasha changed direction and ran toward the sound. She reached down for her swords but they were tucked away in her room.
15
IT WAS TWO GIRLS FROM the southern kingdoms screaming. The third, the one from Vol was on the floor. The young Vol—white from the top of her head to her toes—seemed without life. Rasha was the first to reach her and remembered to check for a pulse. It was a fast but uneven pulse. Her skin was clammy to the touch.
"Get a doctor,” Rasha said to the nearest person.
Jak joined her on the floor and checked her body for injury.
"Nothing," he said.
"No, look at her lips, they're turning blue. We need to get her to her room and keep her isolated from the others," Rasha said.
"I've taken care of that,” Bashir said as two guards came through with a small cot and put the girl on it. They carried her to her room. The festivities came to a halt and everyone retired to their rooms. No one would forget tonight but not for the reasons that the prince had intended. He paced the floor at the entrance to her room.
Rasha and Jak joined him a moment later.
"I can't believe this,” Bashir said over and over to himself. "The doctor says she's got that horrible flu virus."
"Oh no, I'm sorry,” Rasha said, putting a hand on his arm.
"It gets worse. The entire palace and grounds are now under quarantine. No one can come and no one can go." He looked at her, waiting for her to understand the impact of his words.
"But I must. You and I had an arrangement." Rasha's voice grew louder with each word.
Bashir yanked her hard by the arm and pulled her to one side. Before Rasha could react, Jak's hands were on the prince's shoulders turning him around before pushing him back hard against the nearest wall. One guard standing nearby knocked Jak in the back of the knees dropping him to the floor before putting a sword to his throat. He only waited for the order. The prince recovered and straightened his clothing. He ignored the guard as if he weren't there and put his hand out for Jak. Bashir helped him to his feet and turned back to Rasha, speaking in a low tone.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I understand your feelings, only too well. But no one can find out we're under quarantine right now. It will send a panic throughout the palace and the rest of the kingdoms. For now, you must forget your mission and wait along with the rest of us. Please keep our arrangement to yourself."
"What arrangement?" Jak asked waiting for one of them to explain.
Prince Bashir raised an eyebrow at Rasha. He must have assumed that Jak had been told but Rasha hadn't had a moment to tell him. She shook her head. The prince bowed to excuse himself.
"I must see to the young lady. Please go to your rooms for now. It is best."
The guard who'd taken Jak down stood at the ready in case he should attack the prince from behind. Jak nodded to the guard and turned to Rasha.
"Let's go." He led her to the Princess Wing as they called the staircase leading to the upstairs rooms to the right. The princes were on the left of the palace. Bashir had taken the suites set aside for the royal family. Jak waited at the bottom of the stairs.
"I'm sorry, I pressured you and I shouldn't have."
She held out a hand and touched his shoulder. He'd been ready to take down the future king of the eleven kingdoms to protect her. How could she not care for him? Not that she didn't. She knew it had nothing to do with Jak. Rasha would have to come to terms with the fact she was old enough to decide, just as Silae had suggested. She wasn't a little girl anymore, rebelling against her parents’ choices. She had to make her own choices and not choosing wasn't an option. Especially when someone's heart was involved.
"I've been wanting to talk to you all day, but you didn't give me the chance earlier. I wanted to tell you about the arrangement."
A guard rushed forward.
"Your highness, I'm sorry to intrude but it is urgent. Your beastie has returned."
"The dragon?"
"No, the other one."
Jak kept up with her as Rasha raced to the stables where Temi had been taken. They heard the crying before they entered the door. Two guards stood at the entrance, looking as if they'd rather be anywhere but there. The stableman was kneeling over Temi. Temi was panting and whining. When Rasha entered, his tail and body moved in recognition of her.
"What's happened to him?" Rasha asked, looking at the poor bloated beast. He looked like he'd swallowed a tuskin.
"Not him, her. She's about to give birth," he said.
If he'd said Temi would sprout wings, she couldn't have been more shocked. Temi was female. All this time, they had no idea.
Jak face broke out into a smile.
"What's the matter, Rash, you're not ready to be a grandmother?" He gave her ribs a poke.
She rolled up the sleeves on her gown and hiked up her skirts.
"What can I do?"
The stableman glanced at her. "I can handle this, your highness. I wanted to send word, so you'd be aware of what to expect in the morning."
"I'm not leaving Temi, he — she's been a part of my life for a while now and she needs me. Just tell me where you want me."
"She'll want a good whiff of you, so come over here by the head and let her rest her head in your lap. It will be a little painful but she won't bite you, I think."
"Have you ever done this before?" she asked.
"Not with this kind of beast. Never seen one like her before, but the panting and crying I recognize from the tuskins I've birthed. I'm not sure how big her cubs will be, though."
"I have, they won't be big at all."
"I beg your pardon, your grace, but would you mind fetching blankets to help clean up the cubs when they come?"
Jak dashed out without a word.
The stableman turned back to her. "I don't suppose you know how many we might be expecting?"
"I don't. Temi was days old when we got her. She fit in a cup back then."
"A cup?" The stableman moved to her rear and prepared himself for whatever was going to come.
Rasha didn't know what to do, so she stroked Temi the way Lu used to and whispered soothing words to her.
"Surprised us all, you sly girl. But you knew where to come when you needed help. That's a good girl."
They waited another hour before the first cub arrived. There were eight in all. Rasha couldn't have been prouder of Temi. She endured the whole thing and seemed to understand just what her little teacup babies needed.
"There's a good girl, all finished," the stable man said to Temi, giving her lower back a rub. He stood up and looked at Rasha. "I'm afraid your dress is ruined, we should get you cleaned up."
"Not yet, I'm not ready to leave her just yet." Rasha stroked Temi's head a bit. "You go ahead, I'll be along."
"No worries, after I've cleaned up I'll be back to watch over her and the cubs. No harm will come to any of them on my watch."
Rasha nodded.
"Thank you." She gathered up her skirts and watched as the babies clung to their mother for warmth and fell asleep.
16
THE NEXT MORNING, RASHA WOKE up with the sun. She felt more rejuvenated than ever. She couldn't wait to show off Temi's cubs to the palace guests. It would be something to take their minds off of the quaranti
ne. Rasha didn't bother with a dress this morning. She dressed in her courier clothes and strapped on Cutter and Blade on her way out of the room. When she reached the front doors the guards at the entrance stopped her.
"You're not allowed to leave, your highness. I think you already know that." It was the same guard from the night before who spoke to her.
"I'm not leaving, I'm going to the stables. My beastie is there, and she had cubs last night."
He looked her over and shook his head.
"No, the prince said you might want to leave to do some courier work and not to permit you to leave."
"My clothes? Because I'm dressed this way you think I’ll leave? I didn't want to ruin any more of the dresses that the prince had given to me. But if you insist, I'll change and head to the stables in one of those." She put her hands on her hips. Her swords shifted under her hands. A subtle hint she would use them if she felt inclined.
"One moment." He stepped to one side and informed the prince of the situation.
"The prince says you can do what you please with the clothes that were given to you, as long as you wear them."
"Are you serious?"
Rasha grumbled all the way up the stairs. Now, she couldn't be trusted to wear her own clothes. She'd have to have a talk with Bashir after she'd finished in the stables. The gown she chose was not the ugliest, but she wanted to make a point. She picked the rose colored one with the frilly touches along the short sleeves and hem. The bodice was an intricate lace that would be ruined while playing with the cubs. She strolled passed the guards with a toss of her hair and headed for the stables.
She heard the mewling of the cubs when she arrived. They'd been moved. The stable that Temi had been in was cleaned and empty while the cubs were alone in the stable across from it. They could barely see and when she knelt down, they curled into her lap, wanting to be near something larger than themselves. They were asleep in moments.
The Courier's Quest (The Bolaji Kingdoms Series Book 3) Page 8