Amal mirrored the burning look. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”
Ashni groaned, knowing what this could and probably would, quickly descend into and that way led to madness. I don’t have the patience for this. “Get me Adira.”
Servants scrambled to do her bidding. If Adira didn’t have to interact with Amal, she would be fine and she knew Ashni wouldn’t summon her with him around. Now she had to keep her brother busy until Adira arrived.
“Let me finish this and we’ll have an afternoon of chess,” Ashni told him. And I’ll die of boredom or annoyance. Well, if the gods are merciful, I’ll die.
“Good.” He grabbed another bit of fruit, a fig this time. “Have them set up a better spread.” He walked off and she had to fight the temptation of throwing a bowl at his head. Their mother would never let her hear the end of it if she took this idiot’s head off. Would a bowl really take his head off? How hard must that head be?
Ashni glanced back at Nakia and raised her cup. “Pour some for yourself, as well.” It would be a long afternoon. Maybe she should just let Nakia drink the jug. It would be a kindness for sure.
Nakia must have already had enough of Amal, as she did pour herself a glass. They drank together. Nakia made a face at the first taste, probably finding it too sweet, but she finished her cup.
Adira took her time appearing at the palace. By the time she arrived, Ashni already had her office set up. She made sure Adira had everything she would need, so she wouldn’t have to leave and chance bumping into Amal. With that out of the way, Ashni decided confining her brother to a small area would be best for everyone. She had the servants set up one of the smaller rooms for them.
“Come on, Nakia. Let’s go suffer through a fate worse than death,” Ashni said.
“Do you really need me?”
“You’ve met my brother. You should know the best way to deal with him is drunk, so yeah, I will need you.”
Nakia didn’t argue. She clearly understood he was a pain in the ass. He was more than that, but Ashni put it out of her mind since she couldn’t do anything about it. She would entertain him and then be rid of him after the Festival of the Moon. She wouldn’t have to hear from her mother about how poorly she treated her family. Never mind the fact that Amal treats everyone poorly.
Retreating to the lounge the servants had prepared, Ashni eased onto her side on a pillow. The seat matched her pieces on the chessboard, a polished teal, gleaming like the sky. There were trays of cakes, fruit, pastries, and bread by her pillow. There were other trays for her brother by his seat. He came in as she settled in her spot.
Amal sat across from her and looked at his trays, curling his lip at the food. Ashni managed to fight down the urge to bludgeon him with a goblet. How dare he sneer at her offerings? Instead of causing him severe head trauma, she reached for her cup and silently requested wine. Nakia wasted no time pouring.
“Are you going to go, or what?” Ashni asked, eyes on the board.
He huffed and then scowled. “Don’t rush me.”
She couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “It’s only the opening move.”
“It’ll set the tone.”
“And you’ll still lose, like you do at everything.”
He scowled again, but quickly moved a piece. She managed not to roll her eyes for what she was certain was the millionth time since he arrived and countered his move just as quickly. He moved again and she countered. She could already see where the game was going and she doubted he was aware. She downed her wine and picked up a piece of cake. If he was going to repeat moves from a previous game, then she might as well gorge herself on sweets to make this afternoon worthwhile. She savored the delicious square cake while Amal definitely played a repeat game.
“Are you sure you want to move that?” she asked halfway through the game she would definitely win. After all, she had won it years ago.
Amal scowled. “Don’t tell me how to play.”
Sighing, she shrugged. “Fine. You’re going to lose in five moves.” When they played this game years ago, it would have been nine moves, but she could see her own mistakes better now. She learned from her mistakes, unlike Amal.
He gnashed his teeth to the point that Nakia flinched. Ashni glowered at him. His attention was on the board and he mucked up so bad she won in two moves. Idiot.
He hissed. “Again,” he demanded.
“Set it up.”
Instead of setting the game up, he folded his arms across his chest. Tapping her finger, Ashni considered throwing her cup at him. It wouldn’t kill him, right? She wasn’t too sure. It had been a long time since she saw him fight and didn’t know the amount of punishment he could take. So, instead, she held her cup up for Nakia to pour more wine and nodded for a servant waiting in the corner to set up the board again. Amal watched as if he thought the servant could somehow cheat for Ashni.
With the board set up, Ashni waited for her brother to make the first move. Once he did, the game was on. He was easy to read and she moved less than five seconds after each of his moves. It took very little time for him to begin scowling at the board and look like a petulant child. He grunted low in his throat when it was clear he couldn’t win this game either.
Ashni glanced over to check on Nakia. She was watching the game, forehead wrinkled in concentration. Ashni doubted Nakia knew how to play chess, but she obviously knew enough about the game to follow along. Amal leaned forward to move and drew her attention back to the game.
“I wouldn’t move that one if I were you,” Ashni said as he put his hand on a piece.
“You’re just trying to psych me out. I’ll have this game in three moves with this.” He pushed forward.
Ashni rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but I just won.” She slid a piece into place. “Checkmate.”
“Bitch,” he hissed under his breath.
Nakia gasped, but Ashni didn’t even blink as she ate another piece of cake. He had called her worse during a simple game and even worse when he thought no one of import was around. Amal wasted no time setting the board up this time and moving a piece before Ashni could say anything. Oh, so now he’s serious. A serious brat.
***
Nakia tried to follow the game, but she didn’t see the point of it after a while. She was a little surprised the Queen played chess and it had nothing to do with her being a barbarian. In her homeland, chess was a ‘thinking man’s game,’ emphasis on the man part. She knew her father played with nobles and generals, all men. She was never allowed to learn. No woman in Phyllida knew how to play as far as she knew.
Nakia used to sneak in and watch, but she never got a chance to see the game up close. From her stolen glances, she knew the winner was seen as superior in some way, like the smartest man in the room, or, at the least, cleverer than his opponent and thus better than him. Often, this ‘superior’ man was her father. It was amazing to see the Queen handle her brother with such ease.
“This is dull,” the Queen said after winning five games in a row. Nakia was inclined to agree.
Amal snapped, slapping the pieces from the table. Nakia flinched a little. The Queen didn’t even blink. She never seemed surprised by his actions, no matter how over the top. Before Nakia could contemplate why, he yanked his cup off the tray and held it up. She glanced around for the servant who would pour for him
“Wine!” He glared at her, as if she was his slave. “Are you deaf?” he snarled and his eyes turned completely black.
Nakia blinked and reeled back. She looked to the Queen. The Queen scoffed under her breath, but that was answer enough for Nakia. “What? I’m not your servant.”
Amal growled, like an animal, and appeared ready to launch himself at her. Nakia fell back, expecting to be tackled to the ground. But the Queen jumped between them, staring her brother down.
“She is not your slave,” the Queen said.
“She’s a slave,” he replied through gritted teeth.
“No, she’s not and she doesn�
��t serve you. Now, sit back and someone else will pour for you.”
For a long moment, Amal looked at the Queen, a vein throbbing in his neck. Nakia wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to pull a weapon on the Queen, but apparently he wasn’t so stupid. He sat back and raised his cup for someone else to pour wine. Another servant came and put the game pieces back on the board. Once those tasks were done, the servants left the room. Nakia wished she could follow them.
“You can go first,” Amal said.
“Nope,” the Queen replied. She made eye contact with new servants as they entered the room. The servants bowed and settled into the positions the other slaves had vacated. It felt like a dance Nakia had just been invited to, but had gone on for a long time.
“You won’t win again,” the Queen’s brother said, glaring at her as if she were the vilest creature to live.
The Queen sneered. “Of course not, because I won’t play again.” She chose another piece of cake and bit into it.
“We’re playing again.” It sounded like an order, which Nakia doubted the Queen would take kindly to.
The Queen smirked. “Are we? I don’t think so. I think I’ll only play you again if you beat…” A dark chuckle escaped the Queen and then she pointed over her left shoulder. “If you beat her.”
Nakia gasped. “Me?” Was that a squeak in her voice?
“Her?” Amal drew back and grimaced.
“Yeah, her. If you beat her, I’ll play you again and she’ll pour for you. But, if you lose, you have to pour for her.”
Nakia made a noise deep in her throat, sounding like she choked on air. The Queen had the nerve to look at her and smile. It wasn’t malicious or mocking, just a regular look. Nakia shook her head and Amal brightened like a demon took hold of his body.
“Deal,” he said.
Nakia shook her head even more. “No, I don’t know how to play.” The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass herself in front of this ass. Well, the Queen was an ass as well, but her brother more so.
“Come.” The Queen waved her over.
“I can’t play.” The Queen has just sold me down the river to this bastard, who seems to only know how to throw tantrums and objects.
“Kitten, come.” The Queen’s voice was strangely patient and she patted the pillow.
“But…but…but…” Nakia wasn’t sure how to say it plainer. She didn’t know how to play. She didn’t know the pieces of the Roshan Empire. She didn’t know how they moved beyond what she learned from watching them and spying on her father.
“Come.” The Queen’s voice was surprisingly gentle.
Nakia found herself sitting on the Queen’s pillow. The Queen moved back, so that Nakia was in front of her and in front of the board. While the Queen ate her fourth piece of cake, Amal quickly moved a piece. He then watched Nakia in a way she was certain wolves watched sheep. She examined the board, not sure what to move where.
“Move!” Amal barked and Nakia jumped, slamming into the Queen.
The Queen didn’t even grunt from the impact. She placed a hand on Nakia’s back, as if to calm her down, but it didn’t help much. With her heart racing, Nakia picked up a piece, but then changed her mind. She set the piece back down and Amal laughed. She put her hand on another piece.
“Sorry, but once you put a piece down, that’s your move. You can’t change your mind once you take your hand off of it,” he said.
Nakia whimpered. How was she supposed to know that? They never spoke that rule. But, then again, now that she thought about it, they hadn’t put their hands on a piece until they seemed totally sure it was the one they wanted to move. What is even the point of this stupid game? He just wants to pretend he’s superior to me by beating me at something I don’t know and I shouldn’t know.
Amal cackled as he moved. Her heart raced as she tried to figure out what to do. She didn’t understand how these pieces moved or why she should move them. Capture the king, she recalled. How? Rubbing her forehead, she felt like she was going to hyperventilate. And then she felt a gentle hand on her elbow. The Queen’s fingers slid up her arm to her hand. The Queen guided her to a piece and wrapped her fingers around it.
“Move that one,” the Queen whispered into her ear. The sound wrapped around her, settled her enough to touch the piece with confidence.
“Hey!” Amal barked and glowered at them.
“What?” the Queen asked.
With a snarl, he pointed a crooked finger at them. “You’re cheating.”
“No, I’m merely tutoring. Is that a problem? You think you can’t beat a first-time player with a little help from me? Well, that’s rather feeble, isn’t it?”
Amal ground his teeth together, the sound tearing through the air. Then, he grunted, as if giving them permission.
Nakia held in a giggle as she followed the Queen’s advice. From that point on, this game wasn’t so scary. When the Queen leaned against her to point at a piece, she could feel her breathing, which was soothing. She wasn’t alone in this fight. Every other move, the Queen would whisper in her ear what piece to play and where to put it. Her breath tickled Nakia’s ear, but in a good way. When she wasn’t tutoring her, the Queen ate treats and explained the game to her. In the end, they won.
“Team work always leads to victory,” the Queen stated.
“AH!” Amal kicked the table over. The board would have hit Nakia if the Queen hadn’t leaned back just a little bit, pulling her along. Amal leaped to his feet and condemned them with his eyes. “This is bullshit! You cheated.”
“She won. Pour for her,” the Queen said.
“I won’t pour anything for some barbarian bitch.”
Nakia was about to scream him down, but the Queen beat her to it. “Hey! You may be my guest, but she is under my protection and I won’t let you disrespect her. If you can’t honor your word, then never give it.”
Amal was unmoved by the words and stormed out of the room. He flipped the trays of food on his way out. The Queen sighed.
“He’s good for grand entrances and exits. Hopefully, he’ll storm all the way back to his stupid bit of kingdom and not ruin the festival for all of us.”
Nakia wasn’t sure what festival the Queen spoke of, but she wouldn’t be upset should Amal decide to leave. He messed up the whole balance of the palace and he had only been there a day. She would hate to see the damage he could do over weeks.
Chapter Eight
HER BROTHER WAS ARROGANT, obnoxious, and a pest, among plenty of other negative things, but Ashni would give him one thing. Amal was persistent and consistent. He was persistent in wanting to play chess and he was consistent in losing, every single time. It was like clockwork.
Ashni gave up on placating him a few days into his very extended visit. She let Nakia handle him. The princess should learn to play chess anyway, even if she didn’t think it was necessary. Chess was a good way to keep the mind sharp and everyone needed that.
Plus, it irked her brother to no end, playing against this ‘little, barbarian princess,’ especially since he still couldn’t win. Yes, she gave Nakia tips, but with each game, she spoke a little less. Almost two weeks in and, for the most part, she just enjoyed her cake and other treats.
She was indulging her sweet tooth, nibbling a pastry, when Nakia turned to her. Ashni checked to see where Nakia’s hand was. Studying the board briefly, she shook her head. Nakia shifted her hand to another piece and Ashni squinted. No. It wasn’t a bad move, but her brother would see through it too soon and he’d dominate the board after. Ashni took Nakia’s hand and jumped.
“Why are your hands so cold?” Ashni asked.
Nakia turned to glower at her. Jade eyes declared Ashni an idiot for even asking. “It’s cold.”
Ashni glanced at a few servants for confirmation. They shrugged. There had been a cold snap, which happened every now and then, but Nakia shouldn’t be so cold. Am I losing my mind? No, Nakia’s skin is definitely cold.
Then, it hit Ashni. “Lo
ok at what you’re wearing. Of course, you’re going to be cold wearing this.”
Nakia’s brow furrowed. She was dressed as always, in her native garb. Ashni didn’t care, except now it was cold. Typically, it was chilly at night and she had no idea what Nakia did after Ashni dismissed her after dinner. But, now, the cold weather was during the day and it was obviously more than Nakia’s usual clothing could handle.
“I’m usually hot,” Nakia admitted what Ashni always suspected.
“I’m sure you are, but now you’re exposed. Your long tunic isn’t good when the temperature is normal, but it’s also not good for when our temperature decides to plummet. Your clothing seems to be good for spring and autumn, but we don’t have those here. You have these holes in the sleeves, which are too short.”
Nakia frowned. “Those are designs.”
“But they’re not practical in this cold and you’re only wearing this one layer.”
Nakia stuck her chin in the air. “So?”
“So, when the temperature gets like this, you should have several layers covering you, keeping the cold at bay. Do you have any clothing you could layer? Any clothing without holes, even if they are there by design?”
“Hey, are we playing?” Amal huffed, calling attention back to himself. He slapped the pillow underneath him and eyed them as if they wronged him in some way.
Ashni rolled her eyes and acted without thinking. She opened her outer robe and wrapped Nakia in it. Nakia gasped, but didn’t say anything. Ashni leaned in close to tell Nakia what piece to move, but noticed something for the first time. Nakia smelled sweet, like honey and apples. So good. Ashni just wanted to breathe her in and nothing more. Discreetly, she inhaled just enough for the scent to wash over her.
“This one?” Nakia asked.
“Hmmm?” Ashni’s mind had drifted far away. What was Nakia talking about?
Nakia turned a little to look at her. “This piece?”
Oh, right, the game. Shaking her head, Ashni managed to dispel the brief enchantment, and turned her attention back to the board. Nakia picked the right piece and she directed Nakia where to move it. From that moment on, Ashni had to resist the urge to bury her face in Nakia’s hair and neck to breathe this perfect aroma. She grabbed more pastries, hoping eating would distract her, but no such luck.
Warrior Class_Sky Cutter Page 12
