“You said something about spending time together?” Nakia folded her arms across her chest. It would make for a good distraction until she could get herself together.
“I did, indeed. I was thinking a board game,” Bashira replied.
“No chess.” She would never play chess again. She had no business playing chess in the first place. She was a fool for trying.
Bashira clapped. “Very good, as I have no idea how to play.”
Nakia made a noise. “I thought it was popular here.” This is a strange barbarian.
“It is. I was never very interested. My aunt has tried many times to show me how to play, but I never took to it. There are other games. We’ll find one you like.”
Nakia nodded. If they found a good one, it might help take her mind off of things and help her keep it together for a few days. As they went into one of the sitting rooms, the servants rushed out.
“Wait! Bring food and games,” Bashira shouted to the fleeing slaves. Giggling a little, she made herself comfortable on one of the giant pillows. Nakia had an urge to tear the pillows apart, but she resisted.
Nakia wondered why the servants obeyed Bashira. Why had they let Bashira in? Surely she had some connection to the Queen.
“So many games,” Bashira said as a stack of them was placed beside her.
The servants also brought small trays of food to her and Nakia. The servants then escaped once more. Nakia kept her attention on Bashira.
“This was my favorite as a child. I’ll explain the rules to you and we’ll see if you like it as well,” Bashira said as she plucked a game from the bottom of the pile.
Nakia didn’t respond. She listened to Bashira and watched her work. Bashira went on and on as she set up the rectangular game board and the pegs. Nakia didn’t pay much attention as Bashira explained how to play. She was too busy trying to figure out what Bashira was up to.
“So, who are you really? Why are you here?” Nakia asked. Why was Bashira here if the Queen didn’t send her, and why does Bashira care? It’s not like we knew each other. She couldn’t recall seeing Bashira around the palace before today.
“I’m here to help. I understand you’re suspicious and all, but if you give me a chance, you’ll see I’m not a spy or anything. I just want to help you.”
Nakia narrowed her gaze, trying to determine if she was lying. “Did the Queen tell you what happened?”
Bashira shook her head. “I have no idea what happened to you. I just know you don’t want to see her and you’re handling a trauma of some kind.”
“Did the servants tell you that?”
“No.” Bashira sighed and then stared Nakia in the eye. “I honestly don’t know what happened. I just know you’re upset with the Queen and I’ve been told you could use a friend, nothing beyond that.”
Nakia studied Bashira more. She didn’t seem to be lying, but it was quite possible that a barbarian would look her in the face and lie to her. She’d be careful, but for the moment, she’d use Bashira to help her forget what happened and try to figure out what to do next.
“So, what are the rules again?” Nakia asked, eyes on the board. She didn’t understand what she was looking at. The board was wooden with twenty-four cups carved into it. There were twelve cups facing her and twelve facing Bashira. In the cups, were colored rocks.
Bashira grinned and clapped. “I’m so glad you asked.”
Chapter Twelve
“SO…UM…HAS BASHIRA said anything about the hellcat and how she’s doing?” Ashni asked. She and Adira were sparring in one of the quieter gardens. They’d have to wrap it up soon. So many things required their attention, but Ashni needed to relax and it must have been obvious as sparring was Adira’s idea.
“She hasn’t and you know she won’t.” Adira lunged at Ashni with her sword. Most warriors practiced with wooden weapons, but she, Ashni, and Layla had ceased that nonsense years ago. If one of them lacked the control over their blades not to kill the other or if the other was too stupid or slow to avoid being killed, it was their own fault.
Ashni sucked her teeth as she slipped by the sword. “Okay, true, but is the hellcat okay?”
Adira snorted as she avoided a sweep kick. “I think she’d be more okay had a certain monarch kept her tongue to herself.”
“I didn’t get any complaints at the time.”
“Yes, well, time marches forward and if she didn’t eventually have complaints against you, she’d be a very lonely soul indeed. I’m sure she’d agree with me when I say someone here needs to learn self-control.”
Grunting, Ashni glowered at Adira, but her mind flashed back to her night with Nakia. She had plenty of control then. She recalled the wonderful sounds she drew from Nakia and how sweet she was on her tongue. Her aroma alone haunted Ashni even now. I want more. A long, low breath escaped her.
“Ow!” Ashni hissed as she jumped back. Glancing down at her bicep, she noticed the light scratch.
“If you’re going to get lost in your fuck up, what am I even here for?” Adira asked with a deadpan expression.
Ashni gnashed her teeth at Adira. “To Hell with you. I wasn’t getting lost in anything.”
“Oh, please. I could’ve cut your head off just a second ago. I know you’re lost in thought about whatever the hell happened that night. Stop thinking about it. The girl probably thinks you’re the evilest of creatures and it won’t ever happen again.”
Ashni frowned. Adira was right. Nakia thought she violated her. There had to be some way for her to get Nakia to understand she’d never do something like that. Hell, she didn’t allow her soldiers to rape anyone during war and may the gods have mercy on them if any of them disobeyed her.
“I know.” Ashni sighed, shoulders dropping slightly. The fact that it wouldn’t happen again stung as much as Nakia thinking she was some vile fiend.
“Why the hell do you even care what she thinks?”
“Well, for one, I don’t want her father to think we didn’t uphold our end of the bargain. My word is my word and I shall never break it. I promised to treat her as a guest of the Empire. She thinks I have done otherwise.”
“Uh…you did.”
Ashni hissed. “I did not.” In fact, I treated her better than a guest. Doesn’t she know how many women—people really—would love to sleep with me?
Adira gave her a hard look, as if she knew exactly what was going through Ashni’s mind. “She was drunk. She never would’ve stayed with you if she wasn’t drunk.”
Carelessly waving her sword, Ashni sniffed. “From the wine comes the truth.”
With a smirk, Adira’s eyebrow ticked up. “For her or you?”
Ashni snarled. There was a thunderclap and she punched Adira on the jaw. Adira stumbled back, but didn’t fall. One dark eye glared at her. She’s lucky she didn’t get a lightning bolt in the ass.
“Maybe now you know how she feels. You can’t take the truth and neither can she.”
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I’ll talk to Bashira myself and find out if she’s gotten through to Nakia. I’m not going to be the one who costs us that much gold.”
Adira chuckled. “So, this is all about your father’s dream?”
“Of course.” What the hell else would this be about? We need to be able to pay our soldiers and we need that gold to do so.
“You weren’t thinking about his dream when you were between her legs, were you?”
Ashni screamed at the top of her lungs. Lightning flashed, striking a tree nearby and thunder echoed through the sky. Ashni stormed off, certain she could hear Adira cackling as she left.
Ashni had no idea where she was headed. She felt like she could go off in every direction. She wanted to lay waste to everything with her lightning, but knew that wouldn’t help matters. Damn Adira!
By chance, as far as she was concerned, Ashni ended up at the temple of Khurshid, the Great Eagle. It had been over a half year since she was there. The realization stopp
ed her in her tracks.
“No wonder I have lost their favor,” she muttered, taking in the tall statue of the Sun god. The statue was made of gold with ivory wings spread from the god’s shoulders. He held a spear in one hand and a tablet in the other. “I built you a grand temple, my Lord, but I have neglected my prayers and offerings.” She made her way to the foot of the statue to light incense in the god’s honor.
“Highness, would you like to consult the god through me?” Kal, one of the temple priests, offered. He had to dodge a few people who were praying to the god.
Ashni turned and smiled a little. “No, Kal. I would save that for my campaigns. No sense in bothering the god with my everyday problems.”
Kal smiled back. “Your problems are as grand as the gods, my Lady. Are you not their child? Are you not the Chosen One?”
“I am, but even my father had problems that had nothing to do with his destiny.”
Kal shook his head. “Would not everything placed in his path have to do with his destiny? Perhaps you should consult with your father. You do not need me for that and it has been a while.”
Ashni nodded. “I haven’t prayed to him like this since you blessed our campaign to the West. It eased my troops’ nerves to know Khurshid had given his consent.” Usually, she would dedicate more time to the gods and their temples, but she had been distracted.
“Perhaps the Great Eagle has good news for you now.”
“No, I’d rather see my father.”
Kal didn’t hold her and she walked to a smaller room in the temple. She had built the little niche in the temple for her father. He was supposedly the son of the Sun god, so she figured Khurshid wouldn’t mind sharing the temple with her father. There were people in the room, but they rushed out when Ashni stepped in. Everyone knew she preferred to speak to her father alone.
The Great Amir’s statue was not as impressive as Khurshid. It stood seven feet tall, decked out in full battle armor made of gold and gems. Ashni wasted no time lighting incense. She kneeled before the statue and pressed her hands together in prayer.
“Father, your dreams have always been my dreams. I will not stray from the path you set for me. I will not be distracted,” she vowed. Even as she spoke those words, she felt there was something amiss with them. She didn’t feel like she lied, but there was something more. “Adira’s wrong. I wouldn’t do anything to put this in danger. You didn’t stop. You weren’t distracted. I won’t be either. Watch over me, Dad. I will bring us fame and glory throughout the world. Also, if you could get rid of Amal, it might help.”
Amal had made himself scarce for a few days after the Festival of the Moon. Despite everything going on with Nakia, Ashni noticed that her brother didn’t need her attention. She couldn’t wait for him to leave.
“So much to do,” Ashni sighed. “Dad, stay with me. I’ll work through this.”
***
Nakia examined the game board, trying to figure out her next move. She had played over a dozen games with Bashira over the past few days. Some were better than others. Bashira was a good teacher and Nakia had beaten Bashira at some of the games.
“What if we went out?” Bashira said.
“Out?” Nakia put her hand on one piece, then changed her mind. Thankfully, this was nothing like chess and she didn’t have to move the game piece.
“Yeah. Instead of us hanging out in here and not really talking about anything, what if we went shopping and didn’t really talk about anything?”
Nakia blinked and looked up. “Shopping?”
“I’m sure we can find some things that interest you. Not to mention, I could use costume material anyway.”
Nakia arched an eyebrow. “Costume material?”
Bashira blushed. “Never mind.”
“Uh-oh. Someone has a secret. Spill.” Nakia found herself genuinely curious. She couldn’t remember a time she had been interested in another person’s activities, beyond spying on her father and his noblemen. Of course, that was more curiosity as to what happened in the men’s sphere than her caring about a particular person.
Bashira giggled. “It’s not really a secret.” Yet, she still blushed.
“Then you’ll have no problem telling me.” Nakia was able to get Bashira to do a lot of talking over their time together. Well, not really ‘getting’ as Bashira was a talker, but if Nakia pressed on any issue Bashira was shy about, she could get answers from her. Nakia wasn’t nearly as forthcoming, but Bashira didn’t seem to mind, never pressing her for information.
Bashira looked away and grimaced. She rubbed her hands together for a second. “Uh…well…I’m kinda part of this dance troop.” She tried to shrug like it wasn’t a big deal, but she didn’t look at Nakia.
“Dance?” Nakia couldn’t believe her ears. While she wasn’t quite sure of Bashira’s association with the Queen, she knew the blond was a noblewoman. They can’t really be so backwards that Bashira being a dancer is fine, can they? “How can someone of your status be in a dance troop?”
Bashira shrugged. “I just am. I don’t tell people and it’s not like everyone in the city knows I’m a noble. It’s not like I’m the Queen or her sister or something. Well, no, I suppose Layla wouldn’t count.” She looked up, as if she needed to think about it.
“The Queen’s sister is a dancer?” Nakia was surprised, but she felt she shouldn’t be. Layla was a little savage.
Groaning, Bashira rubbed her face. “I shouldn’t have said that. But, yes, she dances sometimes. She likes to practice to keep her flexibility.”
“I’m sure there are other ways for her to do that. She’d never be allowed to dance where I’m from.”
Bashira chuckled. “You’ve met Layla. You should know it’s hard to stop her when she’s got something in mind. I get the feeling you’re like that, too.” She smiled.
Nakia shook her head. “So, a dancer?”
Bashira beamed, shining brighter than ever. “I honestly thought you might do something like that, too.”
Nakia’s brow wrinkled. “Thought I would do something like that? Why would you think that?”
There was yet another shrug and then Bashira stood up. “You’re built like me.” She motioned to her body with a sweep of her hand and then sat back down. “It’s not exactly a warrior body, but it’s definitely athletic.”
Now that Bashira mentioned it, Nakia noticed it was true. Her body type was similar to Bashira’s, and many other barbarians, now that she thought about it. She had always been considered thin at home. She had taken some lessons on balance and poise further than they usually went. She was agile and flexible, able to do tumbles and twists. It used to entertain her during the lonely days at home. It kept her toned in a way other people at home weren’t, but seemed to be around here.
“Anyway. We should go shopping. You could help me pick out fabric for my costume if nothing else.”
“I’m not sure. I don’t have money.” Nakia had never purchased anything in her life. She made requests and then things appeared. “I’ve never been shopping.”
“What?” Bashira jumped to her feet, staring at her with wide eyes. “Come on. The Queen will be your money.”
Nakia squinted. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know what happened between you two, but I bet the Queen owes you and she likes you anyway, so you can spend her money.”
Nakia blinked hard. The Queen what? She was certain she heard wrong or Bashira was out of her tiny, little chipper mind.
“The Queen likes me?” Nakia managed to say. What the hell was Bashira talking about?
“Of course she does.”
Nakia narrowed her gaze at Bashira. “She doesn’t. If she liked me, she wouldn’t have…” Making a fist, she took a sharp breath and almost sobbed. She swallowed it down. If the Queen liked her, she never would have hurt her. The Queen was a beast and nothing would convince her otherwise.
“I don’t know what happened between you, but I do believe the Queen likes you. I
mean, she lets you get away with everything.”
Nakia’s face tensed as she twisted up her mouth a little. “Let’s me get away with everything?” Bashira has lost whatever little mind she had.
“I heard you talk to her when you first arrived, and I know you’ve spoken to everyone else around here any way you please, without consequences. Do you honestly believe everyone can do that?”
Nakia opened her mouth to object again, but as she thought about it, she realized she had been allowed to talk to people any way she pleased. She had not thought about it before, but she had even told off the Queen’s brother. The Queen wasn’t fond of him, but she was fond of her sister and Nakia told Layla off almost every time they saw each other. But, what did any of that matter? She was a princess. She should be able to do what she wanted.
“The Queen takes you everywhere, too. She doesn’t do that with anyone else, not even her sister and I know she enjoys Layla’s company. I can only imagine how much she must like you.”
Nakia swallowed around a lump forming in her throat and tears burned her eyes. “She doesn’t…” If the Queen liked her, she never would have hurt her, never would have violated her in such a cruel manner. I wish…no, she refused to finish that thought.
Bashira sighed. “I don’t want to upset you. Let’s go shopping. You don’t have to think about it.”
“I don’t care about the Queen,” Nakia said, holding her chin up. She didn’t care about the idea of the Queen liking her, but her throat burned all the same. Her heart beat a little faster, too, but she was certain that was due to outrage over the Queen.
Bashira smiled a little. “Okay. Then, let’s just forget about it and go shopping, okay?”
Nakia nodded. She’d like to see what shopping was all about and she didn’t want to think about the Queen in any way, shape, or form. She didn’t want to think about how she felt about the Queen liking her either.
***
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