REJECTED SAVIOUR

FIVE

FIRE-CITY

♤ ♤ ♤ 

Carim laid on his bed, staring at the white ceiling of his house as his mind wandered through series of thoughts. 

He had refused to get up from his bed and his mother, after her fruitless effort to get him to act like a living being, had left him to his fate and had gone to visit her sister that stayed many blocks away. Though Carim felt glad to have the entire house to himself without anyone checking up on him or giving him some kind of look, he still felt sorry for his mother as she had done nothing but worry about him. Not that he intended to make her worry but what was he to do when his friends had gone for the contest while he was left to wallow in anxiety and pity for the outcome of the contest? He had watched in sadness as his friends dressed their best - they had stopped by the house to inquire once more if he was truly dissing an opportunity every young man in the land would die for - to the contest, with hope and happiness shining on their faces. They had even asked him to pray for them that they came out victorious. What nonsense!

Well, he had sure prayed for them. Yes, he had prayed they all failed woefully and would be thrown out of the palace with lots of bruises - all of the so-called contestants. From what Zuda had said, everyone was talking about the event and the young men were rejoicing that they would finally get to see the princess of the land. His own princess!

Carim let out an aggrieved sigh as he rolled to the side of his big bed. He had prayed and was still praying that the princess would be right in her judgement. According to her, she had always had foresight and her intuition never lied. He hoped that was true. God, he fervently hope that would be true for he would die if the reverse happens. He would.

She was his princess, his and his alone. He had always been a selfish person and would not like to stop now. He never shared things that belonged to him and he would not start now.

He had been the one to help her out that day and not them. They had been together after that event so it could not end now.

Carim shut his eyes as he allowed himself to trail off into the land of memory as the events that led to his meeting of the Princess flooded back to his mind.

It had been a breezy evening as usual and he had been returning from the forest after checking a trap he had set the previous day. Not that hunting was what he did for a living but he had just wanted to try after hearing about Baim's escapades. He had wanted a deer of his own too.

As he walked back to his house in disappointment after seeing nothing but a useless mouse in his trap, he heard the light voice of a female coming from the direction at his left. Thinking he had not heard well or was assuming a sound of a bird as that of a woman, he made way to continue his journey, only to hear the sound again - clearer this time.

He began retracing his steps, following the direction of the voice and finding a clearing at the depth of the forest. In it stood a petite woman with wavy crimson hair that fell over her shoulders and a very tall muscular man with a bald head. They had not seen him so he quickly hid behind the bushes to shield himself while he understood what exactly was going on. Based on the teachings of his father, he had learnt never to interfere in other's business except a life was being lost or a person was in danger, so he hid quietly as he watched the drama ensue.

The bald giant took a step towards the petite woman whose face was etched with a deep frown. Her stance was like that of a warrior and her nose was flaring with smoke.

"I said you should get lost!" She yelled at the top of her voice, "don't come any closer. I'm serious." She pointed a stern finger at him.

"And who are you to tell me what to do and what not to?" He jeered and the lady's eyes narrowed.

"I am the princess. Is that the way you speak to a princess?" She yelled again, holding her chin in the air.

"A princess?" The giant of a man asked, amusement pooling from his eyes as he stared the lady down.

"That's what I said." She replied and the man burst out laughing to the lady's disapproval.

"If you're a princess, then I'm a prince." He proudly hit his chest, still laughing in amusement.

Carim on the other hand found the scene hilarious as he fought seriously not to give in to laughter. A princess? Indeed!

Not that he knew the princess personally - heck, he had not even seen the lady - but with what he had heard about her, she was a fair pretty thing, fragile and feminine in all aspects. A perfect lady in every manner!

The lady before his eyes was a perfect contrast to that description as she was in nothing but a dirty boot and a long robe. Her hair was plaited into two big braids, and she, though pretty was staring at the man with so much venom. Not that she was not pretty - Damn! She was. A whole lot - but then, what would a princess be doing in the forest at that time of the day, without even a guard or maid to accompany her?

Princess indeed! That was really ridiculous. Carim was sure she was a pirate or something else.

"You don't believe me?" She asked in a fierce whisper and the man rolled his eyes.

"I'm not here for chit chat, woman." He began walking to her in quick succession and for a minute, fear consumed the woman as her body shook, but she soon covered up with a frown. But Carim had seen it. He had seen that she was very scared and needed help as he watched her eyes glance furtively around her.

"I said you should stay back!" She yelled once again but the man didn't. Instead, he caught her by the arm as she tried to run away and she fought furiously to pull herself from his grip. However, her attempt was futile for the man was way bigger than her.

Her eyes turned red as she raised her hand to smack him on the face. The sound of the slap resounded in the air and Carim gasped at the ugly welt that had formed on the man's face. The man stumbled and let hold of her and she used that opportunity to get away from him. But before she could run out, he caught her by the arm again and this time, his eyes had turned fiery red. He raised his hand to retaliate and the lady cowered in fear as she shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the blow.

However, it never came and she was confused for she had heard the echoes of his slap. She was sure he had slapped her but why could she not feel anything. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and she gasped when she was the tall frame of a man standing before her. He had his back turned to her so she could not see his face and she wondered who he was and where he had come from.