The Courier's Quest

Chapter 5

4

AFTER WATCHING LADI FLY OFF with one of the Wola, it was clear she was working with them in some way. Rasha figured the fastest way to find her was to track her down. The mystery of the Keep would have to wait. If Jak followed the route they'd taken, he'd still be on foot and more than a day away. She called the dragon to her then climbed on, heading for his approximate location. They were already losing time and she only half understood what was really going on at the Courier's Keep. When she was close to where she thought he might be, she signaled him and flew down to pick him up.

"Did I miss anything?" he asked, taking in her facial expression.

"Only my first incomplete delivery."

"What? How?"

"She bolted. At the last second, she did a flying piko right out the window and into the arms of a Wola."

"The package?" Jak asked.

"Gone. She took that too."

"So, she went through the whole compliant thing to just leave you on the front steps of the Keep?"

"Not the front steps, the training door. I met with an instructor. There's something going on, but I'm not sure what it is."

"You look like you could use a ferm. Want to hit up Silae?"

"Not particularly."

"I'll take that as a yes."

They rode the dragon less than two hours to the pub where Silae worked. Rasha hadn't been there since she'd announced Lu's death to his sister. She'd been proving a point then, and now it seemed pointless to hang out in the place without him. Jak had been trying to get her back in there for months but she'd refused. Seeing Silae would bring the memories back and she wasn't sure she would ever be over that. Silae, as it happened, wasn't bothered at all. In fact, she was more excited to see Jak than she'd ever been to see Lu, which only irritated Rasha more.

"Welcome, Prince Jak Ameenu. Sit anywhere you like." Silae leaned forward enough to just brush his arm with her ample chest, then pulled him along, pointing out the benefits of one empty table over another.

"Seems sort of quiet for this time of day. Where is everyone?" Rasha asked, looking around at the bar.

"Sick. It's that time of year so, not unexpected. With the changing of the seasons from cold to warmer, it happens. Seems like more people than usual are dropping like pikos, though," Silae said.

"I think the small table in the corner will do just fine." Jak smiled back at her. He would because he was that kind of guy, the guy who girls fell on top of themselves for whether they had a chance or not.

"Could you get us some drinks?" Rasha asked.

Silae ignored her and continued to fawn over Jak. She'd worn her hair down today, in the Karmirian style. The black waves reached her lower back and her skin, a chestnut red, had a glimmer as if she'd used some kind of body make-up.

"So, I hear the Karmirian traitor will be sentenced for his crimes," Silae let Jak sit, then squeezed in beside him. "He might even be executed."

"That's more than he deserves," Rasha mumbled.

"He was doing it to protect his own family and kingdom. Can you really blame him for making that choice?" Silae asked.

Rasha's fist came down hard on the table.

"That muke put the whole of Bolaji in danger, not to mention he supported the torture and brutality of those animals. If it had been up to me, I would have taken a piece off of him for everyone who died because of that war."

Silae tossed her hair to one side as if they'd disagreed on the weather and changed the subject.

"Anyway, the prince will be inviting some eligible princesses and princes to the Ishola Palace in a few days. Are you planning to attend?" She slid closer to Jak and wrapped her arms tight around his right arm.

"I hadn't planned on it, no,” Jak said, his tone casual and almost dismissive. "Is there any reason I should change my mind?" He gave Silae a wink and a smile that made her giggle.

"Absolutely," Silae said.

"Ahem,” Rasha said clearing her throat. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all, you're excused,” Silae said with a wave of her hand.

Rasha was not amused. She was beyond annoyed and heading toward full on furious. What was Jak doing? Silae was incorrigible. She had no shame and no respect for herself as she threw her breasts at anyone who dared to come into the establishment. Her apron covered more of her body than her clothes did. Rasha lost her patience.

Her right hand reached for her sword and Jak gave her leg a nudge with his foot and shook his head.

"Any interesting news come through here about the Courier's Keep?" He asked, an inch from Silae’s nose.

Rasha watched as her smile grew. She tossed her long black hair behind her shoulder. Then she leaned into the table, looking at both Jak and Rasha.

"I hear Lu's little sister got herself into some trouble."

Rasha looked at Jak, amazed. This is what he'd been planning all along.

"What kind of trouble?" he asked without taking his eyes off of her.

"The Couriers have a code, as you know, and she didn't deliver. They say it has something to do with the package itself."

"Does anyone know what's in it?" Rasha asked.

Silae leaned back in her seat.

"No one seems to know that bit. She’s not even supposed to know what's inside, but she found out without opening it. At least that's what they say."

"She didn't open the package?"

Silae shook her head.

"Then how could she know?" Rasha asked.

Silae shrugged.

"The yahtz if I know." She looked over at Jak and put a hand on his chin. "You look thirsty. Let me get you something to drink."

She bounced up from the bench and worked her way across the room like a master. Silae spoke to regular customers, greeted new guests, and cleared up dishes as she moved among the patrons. She did it all with that wide smile and the short skirt that emphasized her swinging hips.

"We need to find out what was in that package,” Jak said.

"It might be easier to find Ladi and ask her,” Rasha said.

"I doubt it."

"Why?"

"She's just like you, she won't tell anyone until she figures out how to handle it or gets caught again."

Rasha rolled her eyes. He was referring to when she hadn't told him about her royal status. He'd found out when she got them all arrested by the Chilalian royal guard for refusing to go to the Choosing. She'd been made princess incumbent anyway and ruled for the months they were at war with the beasts of the north. After prince Bashir came out of hiding and took his throne, she'd immersed herself in the courier business along with Jak. They hadn't given the palace another thought.

"What are you going to do if he comes for you?"

Jak's thoughts must have followed hers. He was thinking of the New Choosing that Prince Bashir had announced. He'd all but said the whole thing was her idea. If the prince demanded she attend, she wouldn't be able to get out of it. In fact, she might even have agreed to go if he hadn't tried to force her to go. The majority of the idea was his but if she were being honest she liked the concept. Instead of choosing from the eligible princesses, he would host several gatherings to encourage all the royals to meet and choose among themselves. This worked well in this case since most of the eligible princesses had been killed by beasts at the former palace the year before.

Rasha still couldn't erase all the gory images from her mind. She and Chiza had been the only princesses to survive. Lu sacrificed himself to save Chiza, and forced her into hiding with Bashir. The prince expressed interest in Rasha but she'd shrugged it off at the time. It had been over a year already since he'd told her how much of an impression she'd left on him at ten years old. The attack from the beasts had interrupted the rest, but it lingered in the back of her mind and, she believed, Jak's as well.

"I'll do what I must,” Rasha said, and he seemed satisfied with that for the moment. Her gut told her it wouldn't be long. The prince would call for her and she'd be forced to go. The only good thing about it was that Chiza would be there, as would Jak. They'd handle it together.

Silae returned with their drinks and this time didn't sit.

"Any other news?" Jak asked before she could twirl away.

"Just be mindful of your hygiene. That horrible flu going around is taking all my best customers and you don't want to get yourselves sick," she said then dashed off to deliver more drinks.