The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 27

27

Jak was face down on the stone floor, pushing his body up and down, keeping his back to the bars. His breath came hard and fast. He alternated between that and pulling himself up using a U-shaped bar welded to the ceiling. Lu watched him as he continued to work himself into a heavy sweat. It was cold and dank as most cells were, but Jak wouldn’t be able to feel it. In fact, he’d already removed his cloak and outer clothing.

“I know you’re mad, but I’m sure she has a good reason for not mentioning it. I mean, she’s not the kind to keep secrets. I mean, not these kinds of secrets.”

Jak jumped up from the floor and looked down at Lu as if he were an insect he wanted to stomp out of existence. Lu cleared his throat.

“I mean, she’s never done it before, and she was protecting us. Considering we’re in a prison cell, I can see why we haven’t visited her folks before. I guess they don’t approve of her profession.”

Jak lay on his back now, and putting his hands behind his neck, he used his abdomen to lift his torso from the floor. He hadn’t spoken a word since they’d arrived, and Lu couldn’t stop talking.

It wasn’t like he didn’t try. He’d even used the bar on the ceiling a few times before the muscles in his arms trembled from exhaustion. He climbed trees, he didn’t lift dead weight from the floor.

“Her Aunt Sochi seemed like a decent woman. I see where Rash gets her edge. The woman seems quick, and her eagle eyes miss nothing. I mean, you heard the way she was talking to us. That’s because she knew about Rash and Chiza being princesses.”

Jak used the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. There was water in a basin with a cup for drinking. The water was fresh and Jak took several cups before he threw the cup back in the water.

“They all knew. Chiza, Sochi, and Rasha. They all knew the truth, and they kept us in the dark,” Jak said.

“Chiza wouldn’t—”

“When are you going to figure out you’re only hurting yourself?” Jak asked angrily.

“What?”

“They’re princesses, and this is the rotation of The Choosing. They are both promised to prince Bashir until he decides otherwise. We have no claims to them.” Jak walked to the bars and gripped them until his knuckles turned white.

Lu sat down on the nearest ledge and tucked his legs up underneath him. He’d been struggling with that exact problem. Lu knew he’d lost his heart to Chiza. But he hadn’t planned on sharing his feelings with anyone. Now, Jak needed to deal with it as he had. Maybe hearing about what he went through would help Jak.

“I joined Rash about a rotation ago. I couldn’t believe I was teamed with one of the youngest and most reckless couriers,” Lu said. “She takes time to get to know, but we found a rhythm that works. Honestly, I can say I was never more content away from my family than when I was with Rash. That’s until Chiza came out of that box. I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful or kind. When she meets my parents, they’ll like her too. My sister Ladi won’t, but she doesn’t like anyone. Chiza feels for me the way I feel for her. I have no doubts when I say the prince won’t choose her. She and I will be together.”

“You don’t know that,” Jak said, anguish all over his face.

“There’s one thing I know about every man in the world. What you might call a universal truth.” Lu looked up and saw Jak waiting for him to continue.

“No man wants a woman that belongs to another.” To Lu it was just that simple. Once he realized it he never had another doubt. Chiza would present herself to the prince because it was her duty, but she wouldn’t be chosen.

Lu watched Jak’s expression soften. “Rash already made her choice,” Lu said. “She won’t allow herself to be chosen. If you can’t see that her heart belongs to someone else than you’re a pumseed and a fool.”

Jak nodded. Lu watched the realization pass over his features, relaxing them. Jak didn’t say anything more. Instead he dropped to the floor and continued his circuit of training. Lu waited a moment longer than necessary, but when he realized the conversation was over, he launched into more free-form rambling.

“I hope Rasha’s Aunt Sochi is looking after Temi. I’m sure he’s a little upset about being separated from me. Does he look bigger to you?”