The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 31

31

They rode hard and fast over the next two days. They’d been delayed enough, and with a winter storm on their heels they needed to hurry or risk being caught in the coming snow.

When Lu let out a warning whistle, they all came to an abrupt halt. Rasha rode up beside Lu as he c****d his head and stared into the woods ahead of them. “What’s wrong?” she asked in a whisper.

“We’ve got company.”

“What’s wrong?” Jak asked.

“The royal guard doesn’t come out this far to meet or greet princesses. Besides, no one is supposed to know we’re coming today, which means they’ve been set up here for some time.”

“How many?”

Lu jumped down from his tuskin, leaving Chiza to hold the reins. He pulled out his eye gear and disappeared into the woods. None of them spoke as they waited for Lu’s return. A few minutes later, he was back.

“It’s a blockade. Three large groups waiting on the border for anyone who should pass by.”

“I could ride up ahead. Get a closer look. If they take me, it won’t matter. You’ll have the princess and you’ll know to find another way around,” Jak offered.

“Why would you do that when we could all just go around? There’s no chance we can sneak Chiza through so let’s not go the martyr route until we must,” Rasha replied.

“There might be another way,” Lu said. He had his screen out again, and he swiped through the images until the right one appeared. “There. I have a way through.”

“Through?” Jak said.

“Not exactly through, but under. There are tunnels. They’re escape tunnels for the palace but they’ve been all but abandoned for the last hundred rotations of peace.”

“How do we know that no one else has already found the tunnels?” Jak asked.

“One, the men at the border are nowhere near the exit tunnel, and they only go one way. The doors to the tunnels are locked from the inside and the only way through is if someone on the inside opens the doors.”

“If they’re locked how will we get in?” Chiza asked.

“Working on it,” Lu said as he bit his bottom lip and used his communicator, tapping out several sequences.

“Is it an electrical system, could we use one of your devices to disable the lock?”

“No, this is an original, antique locking system. There’s no breaking a code to get through it.”

“We need someone in the palace to open the doors.” Jak paced.

“Yahtz, I can’t get through to anyone.” Lu said. “The palace is packed with princesses so there’s no getting through to anyone inside.” Rasha could think of nothing more unpleasant than a pack of princesses. She looked over at Chiza, an idea forming.

“We don’t have time for this,” Jak said. “Let’s just go around while there’s still light.”

“Wait, Chiza, I need you to come with me,” Rasha said and tipped her head to the right.

“Are you going to tell us what you’re doing?”

“One step at a time. Just give us a minute.” Rasha smiled over her shoulder and led Chiza into the woods.

Rasha and Chiza returned a few moments later wearing each other’s clothes. Chiza stood transformed into a warrior princess. Rasha wore Chiza’s pink gown. It came down just to her ankles. On the tuskin it wouldn’t be noticeable if she could keep their eyes off of her feet. She couldn’t manage to squeeze her large feet into Chiza’s delicate sandals. The pink dress offered no support to her stomach and back, and the thin straps were snug over her arms, but otherwise it fit. She sat tall and kept her bare feet in the stirrups of her mount.

“What is this?” Jak asked. He reached out and fingered the bottom edge of the soft material just above her ankles.

“It’s called a plan.”

Rasha rode on her beast, keeping her distance behind Jak. He sat well in his seat on the mount, riding with a straight back and fierce expression on his face. She’d put on her best princess act and they’d stuffed Chiza into a bag. This time, though, she was fully conscious. Lu rode several paces behind Rasha, creating a buffer around her. Chiza lay draped over the mount, her arms and legs on opposite sides. When they reached the border, several men jumped from the trees in an attempt to stop them.

Jak pulled his sword, ready to fight, and Lu readied his charge emitter. It wouldn’t take down all of them but, enough to get Rasha and Chiza through.

“What have you got there?” The man said, looking over Rasha and Lu.

“We are on our way to The Choosing. The royal family of Adalu is expecting us. I have the Princess Rasha Jenchat Indari from Chilali and her manservant. Why do you detain us?” Jak looked ready to take their heads. “Well, what is your business here?” He demanded.

“We are looking for someone. A black princess traveling with a purple courier.”

Jak laughed in their faces.

“Well, take a closer look, boys. Do you see a black princess or a purple one?”

“She’s purple, but—” the man closest to him stammered, but didn’t drop his long sword.

“Is she a courier or a princess?” Jak asked leaning down over his mount.

“She’s a princess, but—”

“Jak, what is the delay?” Rasha called out, using her mother’s tone.

“Your highness, these men seem to have mistaken you for a courier.”

“A what?” Rasha moved her mount forward, looking down her nose at the man who appeared to be the leader. “A courier?”

“Lucius!”

“Yes, your highness.”

“This man on the road seems to think I’m a courier. I told you not to dress me in this manner. I look far too common. Now the prince will think I’m some kind of domestic.”

“I’m sorry, mistress. I will correct it at your convenience.” Lu gave her a gracious bow. He reached out a hand and pressed it lightly to Chiza’s back.

“We must be on our way. If there’s nothing else?” They waited a beat. The men continued to stare at each other in confusion. “Good day, gentlemen,” Jak said, urging his mount into a hurried trot. Rasha followed, with Lu beside her. She knew it must kill Chiza to be on her stomach. They needed to hurry out of view.

“We’re almost there, Chiza, hold on my sweet,” Lu said when they were out of earshot.

As soon as they reached the hedges around the palace, Jak and Rasha stopped behind a stand of trees. Lu untied Chiza from the bag and helped her to a seated position in front of him. Chiza gave them a nod when she was ready to proceed and she led them in a race toward the palace. Rasha looked over at her and realized that Chiza’s strength and bravery weren’t always on the surface, but today she was a force. Wearing courier clothes, she looked like an ancient warrior queen.

When they arrived at the gates of the palace they were admitted at once, based on Rasha’s description. They all assumed she was there as a princess to meet the prince. The confusion only worsened when Prince Bashir himself came out to meet them. He was as white as snow and his hair and eyelashes were the same. He admired Rasha, looking over her figure twice before reaching for her hand.

“My dear, what an arduous journey you must have had. I expected you ages ago. What’s kept you?” The prince bowed and placed a light kiss on her hand. Rasha pulled her hand from his and kept it at her side.

“I regret to inform you, your highness, that I am the courier and the princess and I had to engage in subterfuge to get past the border.”

“I apologize for my attire, your highness. Allow me a moment to change before making my introductions,” Chiza said.

Rasha regretted that they hadn’t thought to change her mount. Sitting on the tuskin with Lu holding the reins from behind her made Rasha look at the prince to see if he noticed anything between them. But the prince went to Chiza and took her hand.

“It’s of little matter, you are a vision in anything you wear.” He lifted her hand to his lips and reached up to help her down. “My apologies for overlooking you.” He raised a hand and two of the servants came forward.

“Please help these men with their animals, there should be a guest room available to them. Escort Princess Chiza and Princess Rasha to their rooms so they can… change.” He gave them both a knowing smile before turning to go.

Rasha had the distinct feeling he knew she wasn’t there for The Choosing and was forcing her to stay. Rasha kept her mouth closed and her eyes down as the guard escorted them, carrying both bags with ease. How stupid to think she could just show up here. She’d vowed not to be anywhere near the first kingdom during the time of The Choosing, now here she was right under his nose.

When she looked back Jak was staring at her. ‘It’ll be all right,’ she wanted to say. Halfway up the steps to the palace she couldn’t risk saying anything. Rasha pulled her shoulders back and lifted the dress and followed Chiza and the guard inside, where things only got worse.