Chapter 25
Twenty-Five
ZAKAI
While my mother went full swing into wedding planning, I showed Uttin around my home.
And not just the palace. I took him into the city, to the places I loved and the places I warned him to avoid.
I took him to the shop that sold my favorite breakfast, greeting the couple that owned it with a wide smile.
They had been unaware that when my staff came in to pick up my food that it was for me.
The staff kept that information to themselves to prevent poisoning attempts, dressed in such a way that it wouldn’t be obvious.
To say they were shocked was an understatement.
Since I was only staying for a while before rejoining the clan, I didn’t see the need to hide anymore.
I did take the time to go see Umaira. I found her in her parents’ home near the docks, practicing her skills with a grace I could never hope to attain.
There was only a single guard stationed outside her home, but I dismissed him upon arrival.
My parents agreed that her house arrest could end now that they knew the truth.
I didn’t need a personal bodyguard anymore, not with Uttin by my side, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to invite her to come with me once the time came for us to move on.
She noticed my arrival, and for the first time since we met, her eyes filled with tears as she strode over, gripping my arm with surprising familiarity. “My prince. You are well. I was so worried.”
“As was I. Let’s just say I know better now than to skip my lessons.”
She barked out a laugh, releasing me and crossing her arms over her chest in that stubborn way that had annoyed me before all this occurred. I’d missed it after we were separated. I preferred her scolding over being so isolated.
“Is this when I can say I told you so?”
I pointed a finger at her with a mock scowl. “No. You’re not allowed. I’m never wrong.”
A snort behind me drew my focus back to Uttin. Umaira looked worried, her hand tightening around the hilt of her blade, but I stopped her before she could try to get between us. Stepping back, I leaned against Uttin’s chest, gesturing to him with a smile.
“Umaira, meet Uttin. My intended.”
Her head jerked back in surprise. “Your… what?”
“My intended,” I repeated, a smug grin overtaking my face.
“Hameed thought he had broken me when sending me to the barbarians. His actions turned out for the best. I met Uttin, and we’re creating an alliance with the barbarian clans which will expand trade and strengthen our power against those who stand against us.
” There was plenty more, but I didn’t want to get into all the details right now.
I was just happy to see my companion unharmed.
Frowning, I admitted, “I was worried about you too. Did they hurt you?”
She made a face and shook her head. “No. They tried at first, but I held my own. In the end, it was easier for them to lock me in a room and keep me under guard. I managed to escape and was trying to find a way home when Abdul found me. Together, we returned here, and I told your parents what happened. I wanted to go and find you myself, but after Hameed ran away, the king and queen felt it was better to keep me here. I’m glad they found you.
You might be a brat, but you’re a good man.
I would have been heartbroken if you had truly wound up dead like Hameed said. ”
A low growl made me look up at Uttin, who was scowling fiercely enough that Umaira took a step back. “I am looking forward to confronting this man. He will understand my wrath when we finally face each other.”
“Why do you have to be so sexy?” I complained, snapping him out of his grump. “I am trying to speak with my friend. Keep your sexiness to yourself until later.”
Umaira rolled her eyes so intensely, I almost winced. “Ignore him. He loves to cause mischief. As his intended, I should warn you he does not handle boredom well. Give him a task, or he will go looking for trouble.”
Uttin smirked. “I am aware of this, but thank you for the warning.”
I gaped at both of them, incredulous. “My intended and my bodyguard teaming up against me! How dare you!”
They laughed, and the last of my tension slipped away knowing the people important to me were safe. Though, I was also looking forward to confronting Hameed. When we were through with him, he would regret ever betraying me.
UTTIN
After telling his friend that her house arrest was over and her honor restored, we went to check in with the clans.
There was a steady stream in and out of the city as members explored on their own.
Not every clan understood the language, but the people of Al Nuzem all spoke the common tongue, which helped a great deal in communicating.
“Zakai!” Simon shouted, waving him over as we stepped into the area where our people had set up their tents. Several of the males had gathered with their bondmates and looked ready to head into the city.
“Simon!” Zakai greeted with equal enthusiasm.
At this point, Feigrind had come to accept their friendship, despite their shared intimacy in the past. It helped that Zakai was to become my bondmate, though I understood his apprehension when Zakai sometimes chose to joke in a flirtatious way just to cause trouble.
I kept an eye on him while looking around the clan to make sure everyone was happy.
Verus clapped me on the shoulder as we joined them, his smile bright. “Relax, brother. All is well. There is a rotation of guards for the clan proper, but most spend their time in the city until the sun has set. It is an exciting time for us all.”
Indeed. I’d never been to a city such as this. It didn’t surprise me that my clan brothers wanted to explore.
“Where are we going?” Zakai asked Simon, completely ignoring my original plan of sticking around a while to answer questions from the clan. I rolled my eyes, stepping away to speak with Orthorr, who was in conversation with a handful of clan leaders around the communal fire.
“Ah, Uttin. You’re here. Good. We need to discuss a few things.
Bren has made an interesting suggestion.
Some of the older generations are struggling with the constant moving.
He is considering petitioning the king and queen for a more permanent development for one or two of the clans.
As you know, we never considered it before now because of the animosity between the towns and our people. It was safer to follow the herd.”
Given that most towns wouldn’t trade with us willingly, I agreed with him. But a more permanent development might not be a bad idea. It would spare those unable to travel and give us a place to return to without giving up our way of life.
“That sounds good. Would you like me to bring it up to the king and queen?”
Orthorr nodded once. “Since the documents for the alliance between us are still being drawn up, I feel it is a good time to do so. It may take them time to find a good place—we are unfamiliar with the terrain—but perhaps not in the city proper. It is… crowded.”
That made me laugh. That was an understatement.
I thought the towns where tributes lived were crowded with their rooms stacked on top of one another, but the capital city of Al Nuzem was more crowded than all of the towns combined.
It would be easy to get lost for days inside and never find your way out.
We discussed for a while what a true development would need, and what we could get for ourselves versus what we would need to import.
At one point, I asked Zakai to join me, but he whined and complained until Orthorr and the other clan leaders agreed to join the group heading for the communal bath.
I hadn’t known there was such a thing, but apparently Simon had found it while exploring the city, and they’d been discussing visiting when we arrived.
We went because I couldn’t deny Zakai anything he wanted, and I also wasn’t going to say no to another bath.
Despite the size of the communal one, the water was hot and clean.
Several of my fellow brothers sank into it much like I had, with groans of satisfaction and blissful expressions.
Their bondmates all laughed, having experienced true baths before, and cuddled up to their lovers.
The conversation picked up where it had left off, this time with Zakai’s input on the surrounding area and what might be feasible, and what his parents might allow.
He seemed intrigued by the notion and asked a member of the staff to fetch him a map so he could show us places that might work.
There was a vast forest not too far south from the capital that might suit our needs, but he warned that the creatures of that forest were dangerous, and not many ventured into it willingly.
Since we were used to that in the forest where we settled in the winter, it wasn’t an immediate deterrent, and I asked Rath to join the conversation to go over what he felt would and wouldn’t be an issue.
Watching Zakai as he gestured to the map, talking grandly with a brightness in his eyes that I rarely saw when we were farther north, I considered our clan being one of those that stayed in Al Nuzem.
What reason did we have to return aside from the herd?
And from what Orthorr had been told by King Zohaib, there were many animals in this country that could feed the clans.
I knew it would make Zakai happy to stay close to his home, and he wasn’t a fan of the cold.
But it wasn’t just my decision on where we would go. The clan had to decide such a thing together. I would not be a clan leader that forced them into unhappiness just because of the needs of one person. Even if that person was my bondmate.
“Orthorr.” I spoke low so as not to interrupt Zakai’s explanation of dealing with the heat no matter the time of year.
Orthorr looked at me, and a smirk pulled at his lips when he took in my expression.
He nodded once. “I know. I thought of it as well. We will bring it to the clan and see what they think. It is our way of life to follow the herd, but perhaps it is time for change. After all, accepting male tributes has led us here, to a country that accepts us and wants to make an alliance with us. Sometimes, change is a good thing.”