BRIDE OF JERU

Stay close to me

Ashur's POV

"No, not again."

I stared at him standing in the courtyard, dressed head to toe in hunting gear.

"What are you doing here, Marduk?" I asked, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.

He grinned. "I came to join you, brother. I heard you were going hunting today." He looked around at the horses being prepared. "Is something wrong?, I see one extra horse, were you expecting someone else?"

I didn't answer. I adjusted the straps on my own chest plate.

"Ashur?" Marduk pressed. "What's the matter? It's just a hunt. We used to go all the time when we were younger."

"That was different."

"How?"

Before I could answer, I heard the footsteps behind me. I turned.

Naamah stood at the top of the palace steps.

For a moment, I forgot what I was going to say.

She wore the hunting dress I'd sent her. The green fabric hugged her body in ways that made my mouth go dry. The leather straps across her chest were practically graced with her generous breast. Her dark hair was pulled back in a simple braid, and the morning light made her skin glow like bronze.

She looked like a warrior goddess from the old stories, beautiful and dangerous at the same time.

I realized I was staring. I forced myself to look away, clearing my throat.

Marduk followed my gaze and his grin widened. "Oh, I see what's going on here." He looked back at me, laughing. "This is why you didn't want me along. You wanted the princess all to yourself."

"Shut up," I muttered.

"Brother, you could have just said so. I would have understood."

"I said shut up, Marduk."

Naamah descended the steps slowly, her maid Shira trailing behind her. She kept her eyes down, refusing to look at me directly. Her expression was cold, as usual.

Good. Let her be angry. It didn't change anything.

"Good morning, Princess," Marduk called out cheerfully. "I'm Prince Marduk, the king's brother. It's a pleasure to finally meet you properly."

Yes, very likely of him, to act as the polite one, always trying to steal the show

She glanced at him briefly and nodded. "My lord."

Her voice was soft and polite.

Marduk looked between us, clearly sensing the tension. "Well then. Shall we get going? The hunting grounds won't wait forever."

I mounted my horse without a word. The servants helped Naamah onto own horse and I noticed how stiffly she sat in the saddle. She'd probably never ridden a horse before.

"Stay close," I told her. "And don't fall behind."

She didn't respond.

We rode through the city gates.

The streets were already busy with merchants setting up their stalls, children running between houses, workers heading to the fields.

As we passed, people stopped to stare.

At first, I thought they were looking at me. Kings always drew attention. But then I realized their eyes were following Naamah.

A group of young men near a wine shop nudged each other, pointing. An old woman selling bread smiled and waved.

"Blessings on you, my lady!" a fruit seller called out from his stall.

Even the guards at the gate turned to watch as she rode past, their eyes following her with obvious admiration.

I got jealous, I wasn't sure why.

Maybe because of the attention she drew or the fact that they admired her like I did.

I guided my horse closer to hers, positioning myself between her and the crowd. "Ride beside me," I said.

She glanced at me, confused. "Why?"

"Because I said so."

She pulled her horse level with mine, but I could see the annoyance on her face. She thought I was controlling her, show casing ownership.

Maybe I was.

I looked over at Marduk riding on her other side. He was smiling at her, saying something I couldn't hear. She didn't smile back, but she was listening.

That irritated me more than it should have.

"Marduk," I called. "Ride ahead and check the path."

He raised an eyebrow. "The path is fine, brother. We've taken it a hundred times."

"Just do it."

He gave me a knowing look, then kicked his horse forward with a laugh.

Naamah's expression grew even colder. She shifted her horse slightly away from mine, putting distance between us.

I saw it. The way she pulled away. The way she refused to even look at me now.

It shouldn't have bothered me. She was a captive. A prize. Her feelings didn't matter.

But it did bother me and I hated it.

The hunting grounds were deep in the forest, an hour's ride from the city.

I dismounted and helped Naamah down from her horse. Her hand was cold in mine, and she pulled away the moment her feet touched the ground.

"Listen carefully," I said to everyone. "We'll split into two groups. Marduk, you take the maid and head west. Look for deer tracks near the stream."

"And you?" Marduk asked.

"I'll take the princess east. There's usually wild boar in that area."

Shira looked nervous. "My lord, should I not stay with my lady?"

"She'll be fine with me," I said firmly.

Naamah's expression shifted, but she said nothing.

Marduk smirked. "Be careful, brother. Don't let the boars get you."

"Just go."

He laughed and led Shira's horse toward the western path. I watched them disappear into the trees, then turned to Naamah.

"Stay close to me," I said. "And stay quiet. We're hunting, not taking a walk."

She nodded once, her face blank.

We moved through the forest slowly,with a bow in hand, an arrow loosely nocked.

I glanced back at Naamah. She was watching everything with wide eyes, taking in the trees, for a moment, she looked almost peaceful.

Then I heard a loud cracked.

I stopped. holding up my hand for silence.

Naamah stopped immediately, her eyes on me.

I listened carefully. Birds had gone quiet. The forest felt too still.

Then I heard it. Another twig snapping but it was not from an animal.

My hand went to my sword. "We need to go back," I said quietly.

"What? Why?"

"Now, Naamah. Move."

I turned, pulling her behind me, but before we could take three steps, men stepped out from behind the trees.

Five of them. Maybe six. Dressed in black clothes, faces covered with cloth, they drew their weapons.

Bandits?

Naamah gasped and grabbed my arm. I could feel her shaking.

The lead bandit stepped forward, a short sword in his hand. "Well, well. What do we have here? A king and his pretty bird, all alone in the woods."

"You're making a mistake," I said calmly, though my mind was racing. "I'm King Ashur of Babel. Let us pass and I'll forget this happened."

The man laughed. "King Ashur? Even better. Imagine the ransom we'll get for you not that ransom is in question right now." His eyes slid to Naamah. "And the girl too. She looks expensive."

I stepped in front of her, blocking his view. "Touch her and you'll die screaming."

"Big words for a man surrounded." The bandit gestured to his companions. They spread out, circling us.

Naamah's hand tightened on my arm. "Ashur," she whispered, fear thick in her voice.

I looked at her briefly. Her face was pale, her eyes wide. She was terrified.

And I had a choice to make.

Fight, and risk her getting hurt in the chaos. Or surrender, and hope I could negotiate our way out.

If I fought, I might kill two or three of them before they overwhelmed me. But Naamah had no weapon, no training. She'd be defenseless. One of them could grab her, hurt her, or worse.

My hand tightened on my sword hilt. The bandits moved closer, their weapons gleaming in the filtered sunlight.

Naamah pressed against my back, her breathing quick and panicked.

"What's it going to be, Your Majesty?" the lead bandit asked, his smile visible even through the cloth over his face. "You going to die a hero? Or live long enough to pay us?"

I met his eyes, calculating the distance, counting the men, weighing our chances.

And then I saw movement in the trees behind them. Another man clothed in a black but something caught my eyes, he was wearing the symbol of the royal servants of Babel.

But it was just a flash maybe I saw wrong.

I kept my face neutral, buying time. "If you want a ransom, you'll need me alive."

"True." The bandit tilted his head. "But we don't need a ransom for you right now, maybe we need her alive. Just pretty enough to sell."

Behind me, Naamah made a small, frightened sound.

And I realized something I didn't want to admit.

I was worried for her, not because of pride but because I cared for her and I would kill every single one of these men before I let them touch her.