The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 29

29

“Come with me.”

Four guards stood just outside of Lu and Jak’s cell, waiting for them to come out. With two guards in front of them and two behind, they were led from the dungeon.

“I wonder if they’re having some kind of feast for us. Big confusion, sorry we didn’t realize you were that princess,” Lu said under his breath.

Jak was in better spirits too. He had no problem poking fun at the guards as they walked.

“I think the furry caps on their heads might be squeezed too tight. See how their faces are all pinched? Not at all a good look for these purple guards.”

Lu snickered, but caught himself when one of the guards half turned to glare at them.

“Fine accommodations you have below stairs, would you like us to inspect the rest of the castle? We’d be thrilled to serve the king and his princess,” Jak said. This time Lu laughed.

When they reached a small temple beside the castle, the guards stopped some distance away. One of the guards pointed his long metal-tipped staff first at Lu, then at Jak. He said, “You will hold your tongue. This is our holy temple. Your presence is requested but not required. I hope you understand my meaning.” The guard squared his shoulders, preparing for a fight. Lu wasn’t interested in fighting with Rasha’s people. He was too fascinated by them. Jak held his chin up but didn’t respond.

Lu was about to ask what they were doing out there when Chiza arrived. He felt his insides light up as soon as he saw her. She was being escorted down the front steps by one guard.

“You look fresh. I guess the female cells are much nicer than the men’s,” Jak said with a wink.

“Cells? You’ve been imprisoned?”

They both held up their bound hands.

“You weren’t?” Lu asked.

“By the Univers—” Chiza caught herself as she’d noticed the temple. “Of course not. I’m the princess of Sidoa. We don’t want to go to war with these people any more than they want to. I can tell you all the nonsense we’ve been through would be nothing compared to a war. If my family were to discover I’d been placed in jail, it would be worse for them than anything we’ve experienced so far.”

“Where have you been?” Lu half whispered as the guard escorted them to the temple doors.

“I’ve been in Rasha’s old room,” Chiza shrugged.

“I take it she didn’t leave a journal of her escapades and lost loves?” Jak asked her.

“Nothing of Rasha lives in that room. Nor in this castle, I’d say.”

Temi came around the back of the temple and took a defensive posture as the guards raised their weapons. Lu whistled, and the beast relaxed.

“Are we finished with these?” Jak asked raising his bound hands.

One of the other guards stepped forward and released them. Jak proceeded inside ahead. Chiza followed. Lu started in with Temi beside him.

The guard snapped, “The beast is not permitted inside.” He spat on the ground. The idea of the animal occupying such a holy place was disgusting to him, it seemed.

“As you wish, sir, he’ll stay out here with you.” Lu flashed them what he hoped was a wicked smile like Jak’s, then turned and followed the others inside.

Chiza had stepped inside the doors, but no further. Jak stood just ahead of her. It took a moment for Lu’s eyes to adjust to the darkened room. All the windows were made of colored glass, and fifty rows of benches flanked an aisle leading to the altar. In front of the altar, Rasha was kneeling in front of a glowing ball of light. Her head was bowed and her hands were clasped. Her mouth moved, but from where they were nothing of her voice could be heard.

Chiza pulled Lu aside by the lapels as soon as the doors closed behind them. Instead of entering the temple area, they stood in the back of the building behind the barrier between the servant’s corridor and the altar room. It was a space where the servants could pass unseen. This part of the temple was less ornate, made with polished wood floors and panels.

“I must speak with you. It’s urgent,” Chiza whispered.

Lu took one more look toward Rasha. Maybe he should find out how things went after their arrest. Jak was already moving toward her. Lu turned back to Chiza. The corridor ended at a wall where a round window let in light a few feet above their heads. Chiza was waving him over from beneath the window.

“Are you well?” Lu asked.

“Yes, I’m well. Now that I see you again I feel much better.”

“Me too.” Lu reached out and grabbed both of her hands. “I’ve missed our talks.”

“I have as well. This is what I came to say.” Chiza took a deep breath. “I think that I am no longer fit to marry the prince.”

Lu watched as Chiza’s eyes filled. Something inside of him clenched, and he realized she’d been in agony over this. Lu couldn’t bear to see her so distraught. He’d do anything to make her happy. If she told him to go, he’d go. If she said they could never speak again, he’d do it. Anything, if it meant removing the hurt he saw swimming in her eyes.

“I can’t marry him. I won’t.”

This wasn’t what Lu expected or wanted. It was dangerous for her to speak this way. Rasha had been right. They’d gone down a very dangerous road. Rasha had made her choice, but few would contradict her blades. Chiza was no fighter. How would she stand before the prince and declare she wouldn’t have him?

“You must go to the palace. You must meet with the prince. Let him choose someone else, but you must go. You can’t risk bearing the shame of your family forever. They could arrest you, declare you a traitor to the first kingdom, or worse. All of these are good reasons to follow through with your vow. I want you to.”

Chiza was shaking her head now, the look on her face determined. “How can I marry him when I know I’m in love with you?”

Lu stared at her a moment, not sure he’d heard her correctly. Chiza smiled and tilted her head.

“Is it so strange that I could fall in love with you?” she asked.

He smiled then. “I was thinking this whole time that I was the only one in love.”

Chiza let out a little squeak of pleasure and threw her arms around his neck. “You do?”

“I think I’ve loved you since the moment we pulled you out of that box.” Lu put a hand on her face and leaned in to her. He’d wanted to kiss her for almost as long. Now was his moment. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and her lips parted with a sigh as soon as his lips met hers. They were so soft and warm like the rest of her. She pressed up against him and his other arm reached into her coat and slid around her waist.

“I won’t marry him,” she whispered in his ear.

“I know. But you must go. I will stay as long as I am allowed. You’ll meet the prince and the other princesses, you’ll make friends. There’s nothing wrong with more friends. I will return to the Twinlands and wait for the prince to choose another. Then you’ll join me there and meet my family.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“I would do anything for you. Waiting for your return is nothing. Have you ever been to the Twinlands?”

“I have, we went there when I was a girl. My family did all the trade negotiations with the other nine kingdoms in person.”

“Then you know much about my nation already, but I hope to be your guide when next you come.”

“I’d like that,” she said as rested her head on his shoulder.

“There’s plenty to occupy our time. I’ve got money saved up and we can go visit your father.”

“Yes, my father will want to meet you.”

“Yes, I know. I have a few things to ask him,” Lu said, as he tried to rein in his anger.

Chiza pulled back from his embrace to look him in the eye.

“My father is not a perfect man. But I believe whatever he did, he thought it best for our kingdom.”

“The kingdom, perhaps, but not for you, his daughter. You deserve so much better.”

“Don’t be angry, my love.” Her words, so light, so casual and intimate made him burn with desire for her. “I’ve seen the reports and I admit his behavior has shamed us. But I won’t add to our shame. I’ll be able to fulfill my duty, but only because your promise will be close to my heart.”

Chiza leaned in and brushed a finger down the front of his forehead. Lu pulled her close again and this time he let his need for her fill him. She sighed with her head against his chest. Lu smiled as he thought about how things had changed between them. From this moment on their lives would never be the same.