The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 32

32

Rasha and Chiza were brought to the east wing of the palace where the princesses were staying. They entered a corridor lined with doors. They were all open, and the girls were milling about between rooms. When Chiza and Rasha arrived, a general silence fell on the group as they stopped to stare at the new arrivals.

They whispered behind their hands and looked at them as if they’d interrupted an exclusive party. As Rasha thought about it, perhaps they had. Chiza held her head high as she passed them and Rasha tried to do the same. The dress didn’t make it easy. It swayed above her ankles, showing off her large and dirty feet.

“You will be in side-by-side suites here.” The guard pointed to the doors and bowed. He refused to lift his head until they’d both entered. He shut both doors behind them. Rasha took in the luxurious room. The furnishings were not overstated, but every piece was made of precious metals or decorated with precious gems.

A knock at the small door to her right startled her.

“Open the door, it’s me,” Chiza called from the other side of the door.

Rasha opened the door and saw a similar door. Through that was a unique room on the other side. Rasha looked behind her to make sure there wasn’t another door there and found the washroom instead.

“Have you seen the bath? It’s divine. Thank the Universal this will be a comfortable place to pass the time.” Chiza strolled past her and dropped Rasha’s courier clothes down on the bed. “Oh, my goodness, have you seen this mirror? I’ve never seen anything like it.” She ran a hand over the gems and then stopped and turned back to Rasha, who was redressing in her own clothes. She’d been missing the boots and sat down on the edge of the bed to tie them on.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Chiza said.

“What?”

“The prince, he expects you to stay. You mustn’t disappoint him.”

Rasha shook her head and stood up, resting her hands on the hilts of her swords. “I’m not staying here.”

Chiza’s head dropped with her voice. “You could do what I’m going to do.”

“What’s that?”

“Make sure that the prince doesn’t choose me, so I can have Lu.”

Rasha tried to imagine herself faking her way through The Choosing. No, she’d known that wouldn’t work for a long time.

“No, I can’t. I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to be here on your own. The problem is, I can’t be here at all.”

Chiza seemed to try to work something out in her mind.

“Forget about it. There’s nothing you can say to convince me to stay here during The Choosing.” Rasha went to the door to the corridor.

“Yes, it’s fine. I just wanted a friend while I’m here.”

Rasha stopped. She respected Chiza, despite their different opinions about duty and honor.

“You have a friend here.” Rasha wished things could be different, but the palace walls were already closing in on her and she didn’t want to stay any longer than she had to.

“I need to meet with the prince to discuss my license. Now you’ve become a princess again instead of a courier, you need to see him again, too. He’ll need to hear an account from you of all that’s happened.”

Chiza rolled her shoulders back as if preparing for battle.

“Yes, you’re right. Let’s go.”

Rasha opened the door and stopped dead. The other princesses were waiting for them in the corridor.