Chapter 1 #2
“Sir Jahar, would you mind helping me for a few minutes in my room?” Aza asked politely.
“It would be my pleasure, Princess.”
Jahar nodded to Bennu and then entered Aza’s room, closing the door behind him. By the time Jahar stood at attention before her, she wanted to jump up and down from anticipation.
“How was your time off? Tell me all about it!” She burst out.
Although part of her feared that he had met a beautiful woman, or spent time with another woman, or that he didn’t once think about her in his absence, she did truly want to know how he was and what he had been up to.
“It was quite uneventful, I regret to inform you. I spent a lot of time sleeping late into the day, fencing in the gardens, and helping out in the kitchens.”
“You spent your time off training and working in a different area?”
“I wouldn’t call it training. Fencing relaxes me, it always has. And the kitchens never felt like work either. I love cooking. I only left because I was offered this position, being your personal guard. Remember?”
Aza beamed. She knew how much the kitchens meant to him—how much of his father lived there—but knowing he chose her over that left her quietly overwhelmed with gratitude.
“Your service here is more appreciated than you will ever know. I am glad you were able to take some time to get rested and find your way back into the kitchens.”
“Thank you. How have you been, my dear Princess? Getting into trouble while I was gone?” He teases ever so slightly.
“No, never. I was very well behaved. I got quite a lot of reading in. I visited some of our outer villages, for I feared it had been too long since I had last been there. There are still a few I would like to stop by. Maybe that’s something we could do today and in the coming days.”
“If that is what you desire, I do not see why we couldn’t make that happen.” Jahar paused for a moment, seemingly in contemplation, then his voice softened, “I heard about this morning. How are you feeling now?”
Aza didn’t want to talk about it now. She was in such a good mood now that he was here, and she didn’t want it to get ruined by those awful images again.
“I am doing much better now. Thank you for your concern.”
“Of course, my dear Princess.”
“I…” she hesitated. “I’m glad you’re back.” Aza finishes, unable to say what she truly feels.
“It is good to be back,” Jahar states plainly, making it hard for Aza to determine if he meant it or not, or if he is reverting back to his guard persona after claiming that she was fine from this morning’s episode.
Before Aza can say more, a knock raps on the door.
“Come in,” Aza shouts.
Two servants enter the room, each holding a silver tray. They walk over to Aza’s center table and set the trays down.
“Breakfast is served. We hope you enjoy it. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask,” the servant said before exiting.
“I will take my leave now so that you may enjoy breakfast,” Jahar says and begins walking to the front door.
“Wait!” Aza called out, before lowering her voice again, “You can stay, you know. And you’re welcome to have anything you’d like.”
“That is kind of you, Princess, but I will be taking my leave now.” Jahar states before walking back out the door.
Yep. Back to full-on guard mode. She’d have to crack him again later.
Feeling her stomach begin to grumble, Aza begins eating her meal. After getting her fill, Aza cleans up her mess and stacks her dirty dishes to make it easier for the servants who would pick them up later. She grabs her bag and heads out the door.
She told Jahar she wanted to visit the village of Vassor, one of the few villages left on her list to check in on.
Although it wasn’t one of her official duties as the Princess, she still loved to do it.
She loved her people and wanted to make sure they were faring well.
She knew her father sent men at least every month to check on the villages, but she just figured having a woman’s touch and eyes there, too, would be beneficial.
Aza, Jahar, and Bennu made their way to the stables, where the horses and carriages were kept.
There was no need to take her royal carriage, so they settled on a small travelling one instead.
Jahar, Bennu, and another guard rode alongside the carriage on horseback.
Aza watched out the windows as they made their way through the terrain of her kingdom.
The Khazai Kingdom.
Miles of sand and scorching heat stretched in every direction.
There were very few areas located throughout it that had anything other than sand dunes.
Very few areas had grass or trees at all.
There did happen to be a smaller mountain range near the end of her kingdom’s border.
For the most part, she was the princess of the desert.
She loved it nonetheless. She smiled at her palace as they marched away, and all the bustling people of the inner city and market. Aza loved her home, and she couldn’t bear the thought of having to leave it one day. But that was not something she was going to dwell on right now.