The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 14

14

Jak and Lu returned leading three tuskins with them. Temi bounded alongside them. Jak’s beast looked identical to theirs. She considered that and came to a conclusion. No doubt he had followed in their tracks making it impossible for them to discover him.

Jak and Lu leaned over and reached for her at the same time, helping her from the ground. She twisted out of Lu’s grasp, and he retreated to help the princess get to her feet. Jak, however wouldn’t let go, ignoring her attempts to shake him loose.

“How long have you been following us?” Rasha asked. She knew the answer, but she wanted hear it from him.

Jak laughed. Lu and Chiza were standing there looking shocked at her brazenness. The idea either hadn’t occurred to them, or it had, but they’d been afraid to make the accusation. Temi growled as if just noticing that he didn’t belong. Jak looked at them and then back to Rasha. He would answer her. She figured he was debating about whether he should tell them the truth. Not that it mattered now, here he was. He came to the same conclusion.

“I’ve been following you since you left Sidoa.”

Lu gasped, but Chiza seemed unsurprised.

Rasha didn’t let their reactions affect her. She waited for him to elaborate.

“I’m not at liberty to share with you my mission in any detail. But I can tell you I’m not here to hurt you in any way.” He offered them a warm smile.

The three exchanged glances, then Lu and Chiza waited for Rasha to speak. Temi sniffed at his ankles, exhaling in short huffs.

She shrugged. “Let’s not debate it out here. It’ll be dark in a few hours. We need to get Chiza someplace safe.” She tried to pull herself up onto the tuskin, but Jak’s hands gripped her waist and lifted her onto the beast. Then he climbed up behind her.

“What are you doing?” she snarled at him.

“You’re not well enough to ride alone. I’ll be here in case you tip off,” Jak said. slipping his hand around her waist. Lu helped Chiza up onto Rasha’s beast. Lu mounted his own, bringing up the rear.

He had quite the nerve. Rasha was seething. She was more than capable of riding by herself. It hadn’t been her first fight. Rasha spurred her beast and the tuskins following her increased their speed to match. They hadn’t gone more than a half a mile before she was dizzy with nausea. She had to breathe deeply to keep her head from spinning.

“Ho,” Jak said holding up a fist to stop the others.

Rasha’s dizziness subsided, but only a little. Jak took the reins and clicked through his teeth to urge the animal forward at a slower pace. Her stomach settled enough for her to speak again. She was grateful, but she wasn’t ready to admit it. His arm around her middle made her squirm, and she pushed it away.

Jak laughed.

“I haven’t forgotten that you haven’t told us. Why are you following us?”

“I can’t tell you that, I’m still bound by the code. But I’ll tell you this. The road we’re on is no longer safe. It will not get you to the first kingdom unharmed.”

“How do you know where we’re headed?” Rasha turned to look at him, and got another dizzying headache for her trouble.

“You’re going to Adalu. Why else would you be taking the north road this time of year? I’m no stranger to this road. No one else takes it to visit the Twinlands. You’re headed to the first and you’ve brought enough warm clothing to survive a few days on the road until you get there.”

“Have you ever noticed that you talk a lot and say nothing of importance?”

“I’ve been known to rattle on.”

“What happened to you? Why aren’t you a courier anymore?”

Jak didn’t laugh off the question this time.

“You fight well, for a Chilalian,” he said.

“You fight well, for a human,” she retorted.

“The rumors about you aren’t true.”

“I’m not concerned with tattle.”

“I don’t find the purple strange at all. It’s extremely attractive.”

Rasha stiffened and kept her eyes forward. Jak laughed.

“Don’t be so nervous, I’m only giving you a compliment.”

“I’m hardly nervous,” Rasha gritted her teeth. His comment shouldn’t bother her. So why was she annoyed?

“No?” Jak leaned out to look at her face. Why did he have to be so intrusive?

Rasha jabbed his chest with her elbow. It wasn’t enough to hurt, but enough to warn him she wasn’t interested in being scrutinized. He took the hint but every time the beast came to a stop or made a quick movement his arm caught her waist again. She reasoned to herself that she was tired of pushing him away. It didn’t do any harm. Rasha had always imagined having someone looking after you once in a while would give you the sense of security. She didn’t feel secure. She felt vulnerable.

The sky was gold with the setting sun and one moon could be seen high in the sky when Jak stopped them at an inn.

“We can’t stay here,” Rasha said, and started to turn her tuskin.

“We can and we will,” Jak said. “I’ve got the credits, it’s not a problem.” He spoke as if he was aware of their troubles.

Rasha was debating whether to allow him to pay when the princess rode up next to them.

“A proper bath will be so nice. I can’t see prince Bashir in this state.”

“We’re staying here?” Lu asked as he joined them. “I might be able to get a proper link to the communicator and contact a few friends. They might tell us what’s up ahead.”

“Good thinking. Let’s go get settled,” Jak said.

Rasha didn’t know what to say. Her back was killing her, and she wasn’t sure she didn’t have a concussion because her head was still spinning. She didn’t know how to view his offer. Jak’s surprise arrival, tracking them, and apparently being on a mission running parallel to theirs, but they didn’t have any details. What if he planned to kidnap the princess? She couldn’t be sure until she had the truth.

What was that saying? ‘Keep the eye of your enemy in sight and your friends at your back.’ She’d do that and make sure that this Jak fellow didn’t hinder her delivery. It didn’t matter if he was a legendary courier and wielded his sword like an extension of his arm. Rasha refused to give any more thought to his skills or the lock of dark hair that fell in front of his gorgeous blue eyes when he spoke to her.

Jak climbed down from the beast first and pushed the lock of hair away from his eyes before reaching up to help her down.

“I’m not an invalid,” she said more forcefully than necessary.

“Of course,” Jak said, “but you need rest.”

He ordered them two rooms. Rasha and Chiza shared one, Jak and Lu took the other.

Rasha tried to thank Jak but the words stuck in her throat. It was Lu who expressed their gratitude. Chiza headed straight for the bath. Rasha wanted to lie down but knew she’d fall asleep. Instead she left the room to tend to their beasts. They’d need food.

Lu was already there.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be resting?” Lu said when he saw her.

“I’m not sure I should lie down just yet.”

“I see. Well, while you’re here, pass me the bristle brush there on the stool.”

“Grooming?” she asked as she passed him the tool.

“Yes, they need to brushed and their hooves checked. Small pebbles get in there and make it difficult for them to travel long distances. We’ve got a journey ahead of us yet.”

“Any word?” Rasha asked.

“No. I’ll keep checking, though. It was nice of Jak to pay for us to stay here. I don’t think Chiza could have slept on the ground one more night.”

“We can’t let Jak stay with us.”

“No.” Lu said without looking up from the hoof he was examining.

“It’s kind of him to help us, but this delivery is far more important than any one man.”

“Maybe he wants to make some new friends,” Lu suggested.

“If he wants to make friends with us, he can try when we’re not in the middle of this mess with the princess. Too many people have a stake in her arrival to the first kingdom.”

Lu nodded but didn’t answer.

“Does it matter I sort of like having him around?”

“No,” she said firmly, looking at him. When he met her eye, she gave him a sharp nod and turned to go.

When Rasha woke up, the room was empty and dark. Chiza must have gone out with Lu. They were never too far away from each other.

Rasha did herself and everyone else a favor and took a bath. The cleanliness rejuvenated her. She no longer had the nausea in her stomach. In fact, she was hungry. Rasha wondered how far Jak’s generosity stretched. Would he also pay for their meals? He hadn’t shared his plans so she’d set up a tab in his name with the barkeep. She smiled at the thought. Served him right for trying to take care of her.

She wondered why she wanted to punish him for it. Then the answer came. She didn’t trust him. She’d learned early on not to trust every person coming with an open hand and a smile. They always wanted something in return. Jak Ostari wouldn’t be any different. He wanted something. She couldn’t fathom what it was yet, but she’d find out.