by Juliet Lili
“Please it’s too stifling” Nara added, her voice a plea.
Calemir remained unmoved by her words. Instead, he looked over at one of the elves that had joined their once team of four who had ridden from Vessener and spoke to the elf in his tongue. The elf sharply dismounted off his horse and made his way into the carriage.
“He’s yours” Calemir clipped and stalked to his own horse. Taking his cue, Leena, Finn and the other elf saddled up.
Awkwardly, Nara made her way to the horse. She kept her head down, avoiding the accusing stares she got from the nameless coachman and the elf peeking at her through the carriage window. Leena gave her hard stare from the corner of her eyes as she swung on the horse. Nara kept her eyes forward, body stiff. Nevertheless, with the first burst of her horse, she cared less of whatever the elves thought of her. The muscle of her thighs tightened readily, feeling the strength and power of the steed. A thrilling rush shot down her spine as the wind whipping her face had her heart thumping with excitement. Her mouth split into a smile, and it stayed there even when the prince looked at her briefly over his shoulder.
***
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Uruloki
Exhausting it had been, they had arrived in Uruloki on the eve of the fourth day. The prince’s home stood atop of a hill, overlooking the houses down the slopes. The locals here were mostly garbed in military uniform and simple clothes unlike the people in the city of Elloveben. The ones who had noticed their arrival smiled and murmured welcome to the prince and his crew. They hadn’t disappointed sending stares Nara’s way either when they had seen her riding beside Calemir. As soon as they reached his home and the two elves who rode the carriage carried her trunk inside the house, the four elves disappeared into the town, living Calemir and Nara alone, standing in the entrance hall.
“Follow me” he ordered, already stalking up the stairs. Nara tailed him behind quietly as they climbed the stairs and moved passed the closed rooms. They halted in front of a room that was second to last at the end of the dim lit corridor.
“This is your room, you will find everything to your liking. Izza will show you around the house” he told her, his eyes resting on hers briefly as she listened, then motioned to the last room. “That is my room. Call me if you need anything,” he began to leave then stopped when she asked, “Who is Izza?”
“She cleans the house, she will be here tomorrow morning” Calemir replied. “Anymore, questions?” he sounded almost impatient as if he couldn’t wait to leave her presence.
“I have none,” was Nara’s reply.
Nara watched him leave, listening to his steps as he descended the stairs and the shut of the entrance door. He was gone, out of the house. Nara stepped into the room. The room was large enough to make a person comfortable with simple furnishings, a large bed, a reading table and chair, and a mirror. The room felt unused despite it looking clean. Eyes narrowing, Nara spotted collected dust on the top of the shelves and the large closet. There were no signs a person used it. She inhaled and her nose crinkled. The room felt stuffy, the air stagnant and old. Hmm... why have a room neatly furnished when there was no one sleeping in? She mused as she walked toward the window and opened it. The cool air breezed in and washed the musty atmosphere of the room. She stood and peered outside. Her room was on the other side of the house, facing the edge of the hill. A large red tree rooted itself just near the tip of the hill. It stood proudly under the blinking stars, its shed leaves glinting white under the moonlight.
Alone and a little restless, Nara made it her mission to explore the house. She peeked into the other closed room that wasn’t Calemir’s bedroom and found it was a study room. Descending downstairs, Nara found the living area, kitchen and a storage room and an armory. She decided it was best not to venture outside, so she crept back to the living room and plopped down on the couch. It was little cozy in this room despite the chilling darkness. The winds from the surrounding mountains were a bit colder in the night. Nara stared into nothing as her thoughts travelled back to her family. Where they alright? Her heart silently hoped no harm had been done to her and the crazed king was holding the end of his promise… Kalil, her body, tensed, fear to creep down her spine. She pensively wondered what the situation has become with them. She prayed the three elves Calemir had commanded to remain had installed fear in Abasi. Surely, Abasi wouldn’t dare to strike war with Murisa knowing fully well the elves have now become their allies.
She sat on the couch for an hour her mind drifting from thought to thought, and she became tired. Calemir still hadn’t returned home. She worried a little of his whereabouts only because she didn’t want to be alone in the strange empty house.
Sighing she dragged herself back to her room and shut the door tightly. She plopped on the bed and worked on getting off her boots. She then untucked her tunic and pulled the sheathed dagger she had been hiding and crawled with it under the blankets. She slept lightly that night again with the weapon close to her.
Chapter Thirty
A loud yelp had Nara waking up and jumping from the bed with the dagger unsheathed and pointed to the frightened female elf. The cold from the mahogany floor slinked into her bare feet, waking her up even more. The elf shrilled again, shouting in elvish quickly.
“Don’t move” Nara spoke keeping the dagger aimed at the elf when she took a step back. The elf froze.
Nara didn’t hear the echo of his footsteps climbing the stairs or across the hall, but her brows shot up when she noticed him standing at the door, his eyes moving from her and the new elf.
“I see you two have met,” the prince remarked in Nyr. “Put the dagger down.”
His lips thinned to a white line when she didn’t.
“She is Izza, she cleans the house,” Calemir told her. Nara’s gaze slid back to the elf who was holding her breath tightly with her eyes focused on the dagger. Slowly, Nara dropped the hand with the sharp weapon down to her side. His tight lips loosened and continued to speak in Nyr as he addressed the other elf. “Izza, this is Nara, my wife. Treat her well.”
The elf’s blue eyes widened at that, glancing back from him to her then back to him then her again in confusion.
Calemir didn’t look like he was in the mood to explain to her on how they had come to be nor answer a million questions floating the maid’s mind and at the tip of her tongue. Instead, he swiftly and soundlessly left the room before Izza could finish saying yes, your highness. The two women stared at each other, one bewildered while the other just watchful. Izza was first to break the staring contest with a quick bow and apologized in a thick accent. “Your highness, forgive me. I thought you were an intruder.”
“Just don’t ever scream like that ever again,” Nara said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Nara’s clothes were so wrinkled looking like they had been chewed and spat by a cow from sleeping in them.
“I promise on Faethurin I won’t unless I necessarily have to do it” Izza was quick to say.
Nara sniffed. She smelled of old sweat. She needed a bath as soon as possible. This was very unlike her to sleep dirty when she had access to water. And at the scold, her skin began to itch. Whenever she had travelled with the Elite team, she carried a wash cloth with her and found ways to sneak to a nearby pond, lake or river to rub the sweat and dirt that caked her skin along the way, but she hadn’t done any of that in the company of the elves.
She also couldn’t believe she managed to sleep in such a state for so long, even yesterday when they had arrived here, she could have taken a quick bath before going to bed, but she hadn’t. This set wrong with her. She frowned and mulled.
“I have to bath; may you leave please” she stood upright and waited.
“I will go prepare breakfast for you” Izza curtsied and hurried away. Nara readied herself for bathing and walked to the bathing chamber passed the small archway in her room and closed the door behind her.
After scrubbing herself clean to the point she was satisfied, she had
changed into a fresh pair of trouser and blouse she pulled out of the trunk the elves had carried to her room and had come to know from Calemir, the chest and clothes inside were gifts from the queen. She silently padded downstairs and found Izza setting the tray of food on the round table in the dining room. Izza gasped but closed her mouth quickly when she turned and found her standing in the archway of the chamber. The maid skittishly moved aside.
“I hope bread and cheese with warm milk are excellent.” Izza motioned to the food and nervously added. “I was not expecting His highness to return soon and with a guest hence the lack of variety of food.”
“The food is okay” Nara assured, moving to the table and taking a sit. “I would like to have this for breakfast every morning if possible” she added after a pause.
Izza nodded then excused herself when she began to eat. Nara ate alone, the little pangs of pots from the kitchen keeping her company.
When she was done, Izza came back and fetched the tray and hurried back to hide in the kitchen. Nara remained seated. The chirping of birds seemed to invite her outside and escape the boredom she was in. She did just that, she got out of the house, stepping on the green grass. The earthy scent wrapped in faint smoky smell wafted into her lungs. The forest green mountains surrounding the town as unmovable walls were much more vivid beneath the blue sky than she saw them the prior night. It resonated peace and security to the town. She took stock of the red rooves in small factions and the field below. The elves went about their day in harmony though she couldn’t really see them clearly from this far. Still, she felt the calmness against her skin as the breeze brushed against her clothes. If there were a danger, the air would have thickened in a tale-tell sign she had come to discern as a soldier. Besides that, she had a hunch the people of this town were no ordinary folks.
She glanced over her shoulder when she heard a loud snort. A male elf was trotting by with a horse who looked closely familiar to the one she had ridden. The elf bowed and passed her by to the other side of the house.
Mmmh…The man hadn’t shown any sort reaction to her as Izza had. It was as though he had expected her to be there. Perhaps, Izza informed him about her.
Sighing, Nara walked to the back of the house, searching for the red tree. She stalked to it when it came to her view, marveling at how tall and big it really was. Its fallen red leaves crunched beneath her boots as she sat down and leaned back onto the trunk. She titled her head up and stared the sunrays sieving through the branches and leaves still attached to it. She closed her eyes, a tremor of apprehension slithered into her bones as she thought.
Was this how her life was now going to be? Estranged from the society and slowly tortured by boredom and loneliness till she goes insane from it?
***
Chapter Thirty-one
It started to rain during midnight and went on until the morning. Unable to go outside, Nara occupied herself that morning with unpacking and arranging her clothes in the closet and tidying her room. It has been three days in this house, she might as well try to settle in. Nara felt it deep within her gut she wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, no matter how against she felt of being there. In the entire afternoon, she spent idly in the living room, staring and at books and flipping pages written in elvish. Glancing out the window, the rain wasn’t letting up, it looked it would be pouring the entire day. Izza served her lunch and went back in the kitchen. She hadn’t seen nor heard Calemir again. Finished eating, Nara climbed upstairs and into her room. Lying on the bed, she listened to the rain drops drum against the window.
***
It poured the next two days again, pissing her off for ruining her plans. She had planned to go for a ride, explore the land after being scooped up in the house for too long. As she laid on the bed idly, she wondered where he was. She hadn’t seen the prince the last five days nor did Izza, or the stable elf said a word about him. Where is he?
Jumping from the bed and out of the room, she stalked to the kitchen, finding Izza working on the counter. The servant paused and greeted then continued slicing the meat.
“Does it always rain like this here?” Nara asked, staring at the grayness outside caused by the dense clouds.
“Oh yes, this is common, though this will probably stop early by tomorrow” Izza replied perceptively. Izza had started getting comfortable around her as she has been of the elf.
“This one is very light. It usually rains a lot harder” the elf remarked.
Say what?
The pot on the stove started to bubble loudly, and the soup inside it leaked from the corner of the top lid and slid into the fire, making a hissing noise.
“I got it,” said, Nara, as she looked around for a cloth to use to carry the hot pot.
“I’ll handle it” Izza offered kindly as they both reached for the same piece of cloth hanging on the wooden rack.
“Let me do it” Nara insisted and tugged at the cloth.
“No” Izza quickly interjected, pulling back. “Your highness it is my duty I cannot let you do this work.”
“Fine” Nara snapped, letting go. She instantly felt guilty when Izza stumbled back, looking stunned and frightened yet she really didn’t care.
“Sorry” she mumbled and stormed out the kitchen ignoring the servant apologizing as if it were her fault.
She skipped the stairs two at a time to the second floor. She slammed the door to her room. She huffed, finding the calming method useless as she counted randomly…useless as she has become. What was she trying to do back there? Lessons to be a perfect house wife? She snorted unpleasantly. She was wasting here, nothing to do, her help not needed since the servants took care of everything. If she were back in Vessener with her mates, things would have been different and not have to stoop so low into trying to do mundane things. She knew her duties in the Elite, what to do and how to do them, she wouldn’t have been pacing the room helplessly as she was doing now.
Dread washed over her as the days ahead of her looked bleak.
She dragged the chair and sat, her back folding forward. She hunched, resting her elbows on her thighs and palmed her face.
Izza avoided her the following day, not lingering in her presence unnecessary. She served her breakfast, dinner and lunch. Once she was done, she bid her good evening and left.
She was beginning to be concerned of the prince. It was the sixth day, and he was still absent. Was something wrong or has anything happened to him? A deep rumbling that seems to shake the house followed by a white crackling flash that briefly lit the whole room had her heart jumping and her fingers gripping the table. The winds flap widely as the rain descended strongly from the dark skies.
The flame of the oil lamp sitting on the dining table flickered.
Nara stilled, ears picking a creaking noise. The silent shut of a door followed. Alert, she got to her feet and silently drew closer to the exist of the dining hall. Nara cocked her head and watched down the hallway and kept her eyes on the front entrance door of the house. A figure stood by the door. She couldn’t make out the face of the person because of the darkness. Her fingers reached to the back of her waist and rested on the tilt of the dagger tugged inside her trousers as the tall form of a man started walking forward in long strides. Calemir? She wasn’t too sure until she caught the unshaded blond flash of hair and the angular side of his face she knew it was him. She unclenched her fingers from the dagger but left her hand folded behind her back.
Her pupils enlarged at his state when he got closer to the light. He was soaked from head to toe. His hair wetly slicked down to his shoulder, his tunic cling on his flat torso like a second skin, as did his trousers around the muscle of his thighs down to the inside of his muddy boots.
Nara was startled when he bent his hand past his shoulder and dragged his tunic over his head. He bunched the fabric in one fist. Fair damp skin glowed over broad shoulders and lean muscle which worked, clenching and unclenching as he started to walk again.
He hadn’t noti
ced her…yet…
His head snapped. Dark green eyes glowed at her. The hair on her nape stood at the end, as the air in the manor changed to more haunting than it was before, darkening like the thunder growling and echoing within the walls when he started toward her. Nara straightened and stilled when he halted in front of her.
“You are awake,” Calemir said, his voice gruff.
“It’s hard to sleep with the storm” Nara replied, keeping her eyes on his face, and far away from his bare chest.
Calemir rolled his shoulders. “Is it just the storm or are you afraid what’s in the dark?”
Nara bristled, his closeness unnerving her.
“I am not afraid of anything” she fired back.
Calemir rose one eyebrow. “Explain the dagger your holding then,”
Nara’s stomach sunk.
“You didn’t think I have not seen it, did you?” Calemir stared at her intensely, his face brooding.
“Whether you have seen it or not, it matters little to me” she replied indifferently except it irritated her of him knowing about it. How had he come to see it, when she had been hiding and keeping it with her all the time. And from the way he said it, it appears he had known of her dagger for a while.
He smirked a smirk which could tell horseshit from dung. He didn’t believe her.
“Where have you been?” Nara asked instead.
His expression hardened and tightened. “Performing duties” he replied darkly.
“I just wanted to know. You have been gone for the last couple of days” Nara explained, seeing how cold he suddenly turned. His eyes flashed with an emotion she couldn’t pin. A burning stirred inside her, crawling its way up to her spine. She felt agitated… having an urge to smash something. Nara blinked. The need to do it continued growing.
