The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 9

9

“Come here Temi, where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you.” Lu reached over and grabbed his little beast before they hurt each other. Lu stroked the animal, and he stopped his growling and licked Lu’s green finger.

The princess sat up and looked around the room and its furnishings. Her eyes fell on Lu and he couldn’t help smiling at her. She looked up at him through her lashes. She noticed they weren’t alone in the room when her eyes found Rasha and her mouth fell open.

“You’re purple.”

Rasha rolled her eyes. “We’re not finished,” she said to Lu before storming out of the room.

“I’m sorry, that was indelicate of me. I will choose my words better.” The princess shook her head.

“No, don’t worry about it. Rash is,” Lu struggled for a word that was honest and yet not too honest, “well, she’s Rash.”

“Rash,” The princess said.

“Rasha,” Lu corrected her, pulling the small stool over and sitting down on it so the princess wouldn’t strain her neck looking up at him. She slid down on the pillows. No doubt she was still a bit confused about what happened.

“I’m Lu, and you are?” He held up his hand in greeting.

“I’m Chiza,” she said pointing to herself and speaking slowly. Many of the newer kingdoms had not mastered the common language as his people had. They also hadn’t learned the cultural norms—she stared at his raised hand for a moment before remembering she should raise her palm to his.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, princess.” Lu lowered his head to her and watched Temi stare at him in wonder.

“What happened? How is it that I’m here in this place with you and not at the palace with prince Bashir?”

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

“My mother and father putting me to sleep. They said I’d be carried to the first kingdom and wake there. Are you my abductors?” Chiza, all at once, seemed to understand the dangerousness of the situation.

"No, we were commissioned to carry you to Adalu, but we were attacked on the road. That’s how your crate was damaged."

“I understand. Things are not going according to the original plan,” Chiza said and bit her bottom lip, a habit Lu found alluring.

“I suppose you weren’t planning on being tossed about by bandits. Do you know why these men are after you?”

“I’m from Sidoa,” she said as if that were enough.

“I don’t understand. None of the other princesses had such trouble.”

“Their lands are also not small. We are farmers by trade. When they discovered gems in the caves, it changed everything. Now the surrounding kingdoms all want to take our lands by force. The only way to do that is to make sure I don’t become the next queen.”

“Your father tried to sneak you out using less than reputable channels thinking it would keep you hidden?” Lu asked.

“I believe so. He told me he’d paid enough in gems to ensure I’d arrive and be opened by the prince like a gift.

“I can imagine his expression when he opened the crate.” Lu gave her a halfhearted laugh.

“We hoped he’d be pleased,” Chiza said, casting her eyes down to her lap.

“He will be,” Lu said, wanting to talk about anything else. “Now, let me introduce you to Temi. It seems you got off to a rough start.”

“Temi, this is Chiza, the princess. Princess, this little guy is Temi.”

“I’ve never seen another like him.” She reached out a hand to touch the top of his head and he bowed to her as Lu had done.

“Well, aren’t you a smart little beastie?” Lu said, laughing.

“Where ever did you find him?”

“In a tin cup.”

“He wouldn’t fit in a cup,” Chiza laughed as Temi rolled over onto his back and exposed his belly.

“Not anymore, he’s grown since we found him.” He reached out and rubbed Temi’s stomach until he purred.

“Your friend, she’s upset with me?”

“No, it’s not you. She doesn’t much like humanoid cargo since it’s bad for business. You see, we’ve lost our couriers’ licenses because of this misunderstanding.”

“Oh no, please accept my apology on behalf of my family. We didn’t think things would go this far astray.”

“So, you knew you were being put in a crate like cargo? I hope I’m interrupting.” Rasha entered the room carrying a bag, and closed the door behind her.

Lu popped up off his stool. Rasha gave him a glare like he’d just done something stupid. “No, I was just getting the story.” The words tumbled out as if he’d rehearsed them. Why did he feel like he hadn’t any right to be there?

“She says her father was trying to keep her hidden, out of fear for her life.” Lu forced his voice to sound controlled.

“He was right, it seems,” Rasha replied, dropping the bag to the floor and sitting on edge of the bed as if the two girls were longtime friends.

“Not at all,” Chiza said. She was far too innocent. Lu recognized the look on Rasha’s face. She was preparing to eat her alive. Lu tried to diffuse the situation.

“Chiza was telling me that their kingdom is at risk.”

“Chiza?” Rasha’s smile was a warning.

“Princess?” Lu asked. “The seventh, eighth, and ninth kingdoms are all a threat. They’d double their own lands and gain the gems along with it.”

“Well, this is more than a small problem here. I’m sure my partner failed to mention we lost our licenses due to this little venture.”

“Yes, he mentioned that.” Chiza said. She seemed almost pleased.

Rasha turned to Lu, and if her eyes could cut, she’d have sliced his head off.

“Did he also mention that as couriers we’ve renounced all loyalty to any one kingdom? This isn’t our problem.”

Lu had already prepared an answer. She wouldn’t like it but he was ready for her.

“We’re no longer couriers and if we should deliver the princess to prince Bashir, I’m sure he’ll want to make sure we get our licenses reinstated.” He said.

“We’re not qualified for this,” she snapped.

“We’re the best team of couriers this kingdom has ever seen. Our perfect record proves it. Who better than us?”

He was right, Rasha didn’t like his answer, and if her hand twitched toward her belt again, he’d make a run for it to avoid her short swords.

It was Chiza that saved him.

“Do you think the prince will be disappointed not to get his present?”

That turned Rasha’s attention back toward her.

“Don’t you feel, I don’t know, at all embarrassed to be passed off to the prince like nothing more than common goods?”

“It’s a privilege and an honor to be chosen by the prince. I’ve been preparing for it my entire life. I can’t imagine a better way to serve the ten kingdoms than to be its queen.” Chiza’s eyes glazed over as if she was seeing her life unfold in front of her.

“Your privilege and honor remind me of a decorated collar on a short leash,” Rasha told her.

The princess remained silent. Rasha gestured at the bag she’d brought in with her. “Princess, you’ll want to change into something warmer. We’ll be traveling at night and heading north. We’ll keep you as comfortable as we can but it won’t be an easy trip. The crate would have been more comfortable, but that’s no longer an option.”

Chiza nodded and pulled out a cloak from the bag. It was black with blue lining. She would look amazing in it.

“Lu?” Rasha asked.

He tore his eyes away from Chiza and raised his eyebrows at Rasha.

“Isn’t there a vehicle you need to take care of?”

“Oh, yes.” He remembered now. “I’ll return as soon as I can.” He bowed to Chiza. "Princess."

“Don’t hurry back,” Rasha said, giving him her most bored and annoyed stare.