The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 40

40

The next morning Rasha met with the council to give them her decision. She’d struggled all night. Her life as a courier was over, for now, but with the impending war with the beasts of the north it mattered little. She didn’t like being the face of Adalu. That’s what bothered her. The reluctant princess, they’d called her in the past. How true that turned out to be.

With Jak, she knew she’d be able to do anything. There wouldn’t be any beast that could stand in their way and they’d have fun protecting the palace as either couriers or royals. Everything was more fun with him. He’d been distant last night. He’d told her about Xeku being his father and he wasn’t sure how to feel about it. She wondered if he were having second thoughts about staying because of him. Jak didn’t join her for breakfast or hang out in her room, as he liked to do. He was still overwhelmed from learning he was an actual prince.

She entered the council chambers and found everyone there except for Prince Bashir and Princess Chiza. They’d been taken away to someplace safe. That was for the better. She glanced around the room and realized Jak was also not among them. She looked at Xeku and he shook his head once. Her heart sank and she felt it drop all the way to her boots. He’d gone, without a word to her. He’d just left. She bit back the hurt and anger and focused on herself. Rasha made her decision. With or without him she’d stick to her plan.

The Karmirian councilman, Gungbe, lifted a wooden staff and used it to hit the floor, signaling the beginning of the meeting. She’d learned most of their names and histories last night. If she accepted, she needed to know the council well.

“Have you come to your decision, Princess Rasha?” Gungbe asked.

“I have.”

“What say you?”

“I will stand for the ten kingdoms as princess incumbent.”

“Hear, hear.” There were cheers all around the table and she got an approving smile from Xeku.

“We will begin the ceremony right away. There are many things that you must learn and are now responsible for,” said the mermaid, who went by the name Keabasi.

“I have one request,” Rasha said, as she held up a hand to stop them from scheduling any more of her time. “I must journey to the Twinlands of Tero-Joro in order to take my friend’s things to his family. They are not aware of what has taken place and they should be told face to face.”

Rasha gulped, realizing that it was her face that was going to be telling them.

“Understood. We will commence the induction ceremony upon your return then,” said Keabasi.

“I’ll return within the week.”

“The council is dismissed.” Gungbe picked up the staff and hit the floor with it.

Rasha walked out of the council chamber trying to hurry to her room, but Xeku caught up to her.

“I’m so sorry, your highness. I did try to talk him out of leaving.”

“It’s all right. He’s a free spirit, and not everyone can fill this role,” she said, choking back her feelings.

“He’s a lot more like me than I care to admit.” Xeku placed a light hand on her shoulder. “Give him some time.”

“That’s not something we’ve got a lot of. If he doesn’t come forward, then Prince Bashir will have to stand with me. That will complicate matters when it’s time for me to step aside and for Chiza to come forward. I know how these things work.”

“Actually, no, we can find you another prince. There are several kingdoms with sons of age. Don’t worry about that. But it will be hard to be rushed through a Choosing when your heart is already someplace else.”

Rasha didn’t want to think about her heart at the moment. There were much bigger issues. The savage beasts of the north could overrun the kingdom. They needed not only a princess, but a champion. They couldn’t be worried about whether or not their champion was heartbroken.

“I’ll be fine. Make the arrangements. I’ll return shortly,” Rasha said.

“As you wish.” Xeku gave a short bow.

Rasha rode for two days with Temi trailing behind her. He was the size of a large domestic animal and still seemed to be growing into his head and paws. He would dart off into the woods and would return with game for himself to eat when they made camp. She admitted that having the beastie with her felt right. He was a part of her life with Lu, and because he remained it was as if Lu remained. She figured the beastie felt the same.

When they reached Lu’s home it was afternoon and heading towards dinner. Their hearth was burning inside. She saw the smoke coming out of the stack of the stone house. The straw roof was well insulated against the bitter winds from the north. Snow hadn’t arrived this far south yet, but it was coming. She rode up, and the family trickled out one by one.

Rasha did her best to keep her face neutral but as they scanned around her and saw she was alone, it didn’t take long for them to register why she was there. Lu’s mother was already weeping before she placed his things in her arms. She clutched them and brought them to her face as she sank to her knees. His father held her up and took her inside. Lu’s sister stomped off without a word. A moment later, the sound of things breaking could be heard all the way to the front of the house.

Lu’s father returned and invited her in. Their home was a simple dwelling. The loft had belonged to Lu. As she entered and looked up the ladder a shiver passed over her.

“Rest dear friend,” she told him silently.

“Thank you for coming, Rasha. Please tell us what happened to our Luduru.” Lu’s father sat down with his mother and waited.

Rasha cleared her throat. This was the part she wasn’t looking forward to recounting. She didn’t want to talk about her friend’s belly being sliced open by the talons of a bird-man. How he died slowly enough to have last words. It made her stomach churn to think of how painful it must have been. Instead, she focused on Lu’s heroism.

“He died saving the life of another. He could do no less or no more with his life. It happened upon completion of our last delivery. We found the kingdom of Adalu under attack by beasts of the north.”

Lu’s mother smothered a gasp, her large ears twitching with concern.

“They killed the king and queen, the prince, and all the princesses there for The Choosing.”

“That’s horrendous.”

“Yes, a war with the beasts has begun. Lu leapt in front of a friend, saving them but losing his own life in exchange.” Rasha let her eyes drop to the floor. She couldn’t reveal the identity of Chiza and keep her secret. Maybe they would assume she was the friend. “You should know his last thoughts were of you.”

“He was a loyal and good friend to you,” his father said, patting her on the back and wiping a tear from his face. His wife blew her nose in a handkerchief and nodded in agreement.

Rasha had tears of her own falling that she had to wipe away. She didn’t have to say any more about it. They’d heard enough. His mother put Lu’s things aside and returned to the hearth where she’d been preparing a meal.

“You’ll stay the night. Dinner will be ready in just ten more minutes,” she said.

“I guess we’ll put your beasts in the barn. Does your domestic do well with other domestics?”

“I don’t know. Temi belonged to Lu. He’s fine with my mount, though. They can share a stall.”

Lu’s father didn’t seem at all surprised by this knowledge and went to attend to the animals. Lu’s sister remained in her room. She didn’t come out for the meal or anything else. This also didn’t surprise her parents. They were familiar with her moods and with something this big it was to be expected.

“She doesn’t do well with change,” Lu’s father said.

“She adored Lu, admired him, more than she’s willing to admit,” Lu’s mother added.

“I’ll be off at dawn in the morning. I have much to attend to back in Adalu. Thank you so much for the meal.”

“Thank you for coming yourself. I know it must have been tempting to just send a message link or a messenger,” Lu’s father said.

“No, I respected Lu, and cared for him. I would never do his family the disservice of sending a message. This was something I had to do as much for myself as for you.”

“The loft is yours. Sleep well,” he said.