The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 39

39

Jak, along with Rasha and the others watched the bodies of almost fifty people burn on the front lawn of the palace. The king and queen, along with the princesses, were in the center, while the soldiers and servants killed were laid out around them. The smell of them burning wouldn’t leave him. Jak couldn’t eat that day, but he grabbed bread and meat to save for his journey. He slipped them into his pack and flung it over his shoulder.

He walked to Rasha’s room and placed his hand on the door, listening. What would he do if she were awake? Would she be able to talk him out of leaving? Best not to find out. His heart already ached at the thought of not seeing her in the morning. The hour was late, and the patrol was out. As Prince Jak Ostari Ameenu, no one questioned his strange movements, but a few gave him sidelong glances.

It didn’t matter. He couldn’t stay. Not even if he wanted to.

He reached the west wall before he heard someone call out in the Winakan language. He stopped and turned.

It was Xeku.

“Wait,” he said.

“For what?” Jak asked.

“You feel like this is the only option, but it isn’t.”

“What do you know of what I’m feeling?”

“I know what you’re feeling. I abandoned my responsibilities once. Don’t make the same mistake I did. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” Xeku held out his hands, pleading.

“I don’t even know you, don’t think you can show up now after eighteen rotations and play the role of my father. You don’t know anything about me.”

“You’re wrong. I know why you’re running. I also know you can’t marry the princess. Not yet anyway. But that can be resolved.” He waved a hand in dismissal.

“How do you know about that?” Jak asked, his eyes narrowing.

“You think I’d have a son and not at least learn something of him? You can fix your problem later. If you leave, you’ll break Rasha’s heart and her faith in you will be lost.”

“You don’t know her. She’s strong, she’ll move on.” Jak readjusted his pack on his shoulder.

“Your mother was strong, too.”

Jak hesitated. He thought about his mother. She had been strong once, but she’d never moved on. That meant something. “I can’t stay.”

“If you leave, you’re no better than I was, and you don’t deserve her.”

Jak walked to the wall and scaled it without looking back. He was on the other side in less than a minute. He hesitated, and then he started out into the woods on foot.