The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 25

25

Jak held her arm and Rasha’s fingers closed around the device. He wasn’t looking at her hand. He stared into her face. Rasha struggled for control over her own features. She only hoped he couldn’t read her plan, written all over her guilty face.

“I knew you couldn’t resist,” Jak said as he pulled her in and kissed her hard.

Rasha’s body went limp, and instead of pulling away she melted against his side. He turned toward her, cradling her head in the crook of his arm, and kissed her again. He bit her bottom lip, and she felt a sigh escape her lips. This only encouraged him and he tangled his fingers in her hair, keeping his mouth firmly on hers. When they came up for air, she looked in his eyes and wasn’t sure what she saw there. They were half closed, and he smiled as he settled in and fell asleep with his arms wrapped protectively around her.

Rasha only had to shift to place the tracker inside the collar of his coat. Once it was connected, she closed her eyes and pushed the sick feeling of betrayal in her stomach down.

They’d been riding against the northern winds for most of the day when they finally entered Chilali lands. Rasha had willed sleep to come, but, in the end, didn’t sleep at all. The others were careful to avoid her, as she was still prickly. With the wind in their faces they were less inclined to make small talk. The small communities of people they passed weren’t out in the elements. Many of them looked out from their windows and doors to see who would be foolish enough to be traveling north this time of year. Rasha was careful to keep her own face hidden.

“We’ll need a place to rest for the night,” Jak called out against the wind.

“This is Rash’s territory,” Lu said and then turned to Rasha. “Is there someplace out of the way we can take shelter?”

Rasha started to say something but then bit her tongue. Chiza was giving her the wide eyes of a conspirator. It was obvious she wanted Rasha to tell the others about her status. Rasha shook her head and straightened her back.

“I know a place,” she said and rode to the front. Her mind raced. How would she be received after a two-rotation absence?

Avoiding the populated areas became more and more difficult. Chilali had many developed areas, and, like in Adalu, the city center had grown and spread, while the outer edges were only a little less populated. Rasha steered her tuskin to a home that sat on the west edge of a small community. Rasha rode up to the door and gave a high three-note whistle.

It didn’t take long for the door to open. A plump woman with purple skin and a long white braid came out with a long sword in one hand.

“What do you want?” The woman asked, squinting at her.

“It’s me, aunt,” Rasha said, raising her hands but not getting off her beast.

“I know who it is. What, you think I’m blind or something? I could see you coming when you climbed the ridge. I asked, what do you want?”

“My friends and I need shelter for the night. May we enter?” Rasha asked, keeping her voice level even though she felt her insides getting cold and threatening to chatter her teeth.

“So you think I’m just going to risk my life sheltering you?” She looked them over for an agonizing minute. “Put the beasts in the barn and come in before you freeze to death.” She turned and went inside, leaving the door cracked for them to enter.

Rasha slid down from her tuskin and handed the reins to Jak. He gave her a questioning look, which she ignored. Then she reached for Chiza.

“Let’s get you inside, princess.”

Chiza didn’t seem surprised they’d separated her from the others. Rasha would have to speak to her aunt and the only person who could be there was Chiza. She also needed to warm up. This weather was no doubt a shocking change from the warm winds of the south.

“They will learn the truth,” Chiza whispered as they walked to the door. Rasha nodded, but she hoped it wouldn’t be tonight.

Rasha felt the heat of the fire the moment she stepped inside. The smell of spices and food with herbs mingled in the air all around them. Rasha’s stomach growled.

Chiza and Rasha stood at the door. Chiza kept shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

Rasha moved to the table and pulled out a chair.

“Can I get your highness something to drink?”

Rasha’s head snapped up.

“I meant the other one.” Her aunt said without looking at Rasha. “I may be old but I know my princesses.”

“Yes, thank you so much,” Chiza said with a smile.

Rasha spoke up when she saw her aunt pull four cups down to the table and poured the warm liquid into each of them. She’d made bazil, a spicy drink she remembered from childhood that could warm her from toes to temples.

“I’m grateful, for everything. We’ll be gone at sunup tomorrow.”

“I know you will. Do the people traveling with you know who you are?”

“Chiza does, but the others do not.”

Her aunt made a disapproving sound in the back of her throat. She went to the pot of stew she’d been cooking and put it on the table, along with four bowls. Rasha’s mouth watered at the sight. She’d been so nervous before, she didn’t have time to be hungry. Now the growling in her stomach grew insistent.

“You are very kind, mistress,” Chiza thanked her.

“Happy to oblige one of the royal family. You may be queen someday, and I hope you’ll remember my kindness.”

“Queen or no, I will remember.”

The door opened and Lu and Jak entered. Hesitant, they waited to be addressed. When her aunt turned around and saw them she whistled.

“Now I know why you never visit. I guess I wouldn’t either with these two handsome fellows following me around. Come on in, sit down at the table. We’re about to eat something.”

“Whose name should I use when asking for a blessing on your behalf?” Jak asked her.

“Aren’t you charming?” She reached out a hand and took his.

“This is my Aunt Sochi,” Rasha introduced her, leaving off the formal last name to avoid any questions. Her aunt caught her eye as she did so and she gave her head ever so slight a shake. Not now.

“Well, my home is your home for the night.”

“Thank you so much, Mistress Sochi,” Lu added as he took his place next to the princess and across from Rasha. She wanted to kick him under the table. Why did he have to be so obvious in his affection for Chiza?

Aunt Sochi gave Rasha a meaningful glance she could only respond to with a roll of her eyes and a shrug. She hoped it was enough, but her aunt was perceptive and outspoken.

“You two are so handsome and well mannered,” she said, addressing both young men, and added, “you shouldn’t be wasting your time with girls who are already promised to someone else.”

“Aunt Sochi!” Rasha’s tone was a warning.

Her aunt shrugged and lifted her hands palms up in surrender. “Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“You’re promised?” Jak asked.

“I’m not,” Rasha hissed.

“Really, well, someone ought to tell your parents. They’re under the distinct impression you are. I’m sure that’s why you’ve avoided them,” Aunt Sochi observed as she continued to bustle around the kitchen.

Rasha saw Jak’s back stiffen at the words, and Lu’s mouth hung open, making him look like some kind of reptile.

“What are Rasha’s parents like?” This time she did kick him under the table. “Ow!” Lu grabbed his leg and changed the subject.

“They’re parents,” she replied, putting an audible period at the end of the statement.

“I suppose they could be worse. No offense, princess, but had I a father like yours I’m not sure what I would do,” Aunt Sochi asserted.

Chiza looked up confused, “Beg your pardon?”

“It’s no secret what he’s done. Sending you off by courier so they could be robbed of their package and the princess never delivered. All so he could keep his precious gems.”

“Where did you hear that?” Lu asked as he reached for Chiza’s hand.

“It’s all over the broadcasts. How could you have missed it?”

“We came by way of the Wilds,” Lu said, looking at Jak, who shrugged.

“The Wilds? Now that’s taking your life in your own hands. Not that it matters much. They’ll be waiting for you the minute you try to cross the border into Adalu. Her father paid a handsome sum to make sure there’s enough bandits mixed in so that no one will suspect a thing. If she’s killed or something goes amiss, he’ll still get to keep his gems.”

The four sat in silence, none of them knowing what to say. Chiza was stunned and silent, neither eating nor drinking. Lu patted her hand and whispered something to her that made her nod, but otherwise not a word.

That news changed the color of the landscape. She and Lu had their licenses revoked over this job. If news got out that the entire thing was a conspiracy to keep the princess from Adalu, would the prince be grateful or annoyed to meet her? Rasha looked over at Lu, but he wasn’t thinking about their jobs. Jak hadn’t looked at her since he heard she was promised. How could she tell him that that wasn’t even the worst of it? If he knew the truth, he’d be shocked. Worse, she’d never know if he liked her, or if he had some kind of hidden agenda. She couldn’t take the chance.

The rest of the night was uncomfortable, but nothing compared to the morning. Jak still wasn’t speaking to her. She tried to engage him but with her aunt watching it was near to impossible to be herself.

Chiza was helping her aunt with breakfast.

“Eat up everyone, we’ve still got a journey yet to the palace.” She scooped up porridge and passed them around. Lu and Chiza ate with vigor. Jak played with his food and Rasha left her own bowl untouched.

The banging on the door at sunrise didn’t bode well, and they looked from one to the other and to Aunt Sochi. Sochi waved a hand for them to sit down but Rasha and Jak were already on their feet, swords in hand. Lu, thinking fast, put Chiza behind him.

The insistent banging on the door was accompanied this time by shouting. “Open, by order of the king.”

Rasha felt her heart leap and then sink to her toes. This was the moment she’d been dreading since they discovered the princess was the package. The information she never wanted out. She sheathed her swords and Jak looked at her, the confusion clear on his face. He wanted to know why she wouldn’t fight. He’d soon hear the truth for himself.

Aunt Sochi opened the door.

“To what to I owe the pleasure of such an unwarranted and early visit?”

They stormed in past her, pushing her aside. They didn’t see the fire that flared in her eyes, but Rasha saw it. She recognized it. They’d dismissed her again. She was the king’s sister, and they walked all over her.

“Princess Rasha Jenchat Indari, by order of the king, you and your companions are under arrest.” She didn’t fight when they bound her hands and took Cutter and Blade from her. Rasha didn’t see the expressions Jak, Lu and Chiza wore, but she could imagine the betrayal, shock, and confusion she’d find there.