Chapter 42 #2
Aza nods her head, “I love the woman I have met today. Thank you for finally telling me.” Aza can’t stay angry with this dying woman, and she didn’t want to have regrets when she passed.
She wanted her to pass, knowing that Aza didn’t resent her, even though she was angry; she didn’t want it to end like that.
“Will you see Mama again when you pass?”
“I hope so.”
“Tell her I love her and miss her.”
“I will, my child.” She places a shaky kiss on Aza’s forehead, “I wish I had more information to tell you, but I know where you can go to find it. There is a hidden valley in the Duatian mountains where three sisters reside. They are elder spirit guides meant to help other spirit guides. Only a spirit guide can find it. You’ll see rows of black roses.
Make your way through the hole in the rose bushes.
You’ll find a circle of large rocks. Keep moving forward.
There will be an opening ahead; walk through it.
It will take you beyond the veil. Only you and one you trust with your life may enter.
Go get Jahar from the dungeon, take him with you.
Get away from here for now. I will speak with your father.
I will tell him the truth. I will convince him to hear you and Jahar out by the time you come back. ”
“How will you get to the castle?”
“How did you get here?”
“I rode a horse, but you shouldn’t do so in this state.”
“Nonsense, I may be dying, but I have a new reason to keep fighting until my last breath. We should hurry, child. Your Jahar is in a lot of trouble. Any other king would have had him executed by now for defiling the Princess.”
“That’s not what happened!” Aza defends.
“I know, dear, but that is how your father will see it. Your father is a good man, though; I will make him see reason. Now, let's go.”
Aza takes them back on her horse, going slower than she’d like but not wanting to risk hurting Jaddah.
When they finally reach the castle, Aza helps her off the horse, yelling at a stableboy to take care of him.
Jaddah tells her to go and not worry about her.
Aza takes off, knowing what she must do, who she must find.
She runs through the back hallways. Aza searches and searches for Bennu.
Trying to stay as hidden and inconspicuous as possible.
She takes a sharp turn around the corner and bumps into someone, falling backwards.
They catch her, and she looks up into the dark brown eyes of Zhou. She pulls away and backs up.
“Aza, wait! Please! Let me explain. I didn't turn you guys in.” Zhou speaks frantically.
Aza doesn’t respond, but she nods her head at him to continue.
He swallows a lump in his throat before continuing, “I was coming to warn you.
I'm sorry, I was too late. I went to speak with your father in the morning, to make sure everything with the marriage alliance was finalized, and I saw and heard Abasi there with him. Abasi told him lies. He caught me and Li together. I didn't think much of it. I didn't know who he was at first, or just how much of a conniving asshole he is. He told the King that our future marriage was a sham. That Jahar had been seducing you and tricking you for years. Said he was pulling the strings, and you would go with whatever he said. He made the King believe that you were marrying me, so that Jahar would have control over us, that he would out me to everyone and out you for being a disgraced princess if we didn’t go along with what he said. The King tried to tell him he was wrong, mistaken. But then, one of your guards came out. I don’t remember his name. He had dark hair. He told the King that what Abasi said was true and that he was with you in your rooms. He was furious. I tried to come directly to your room when the King ordered his guards to get you and Jahar. But I... I got lost, and they beat me there. I am so sorry. I understand with everything that just happened, if you don’t believe me.
But believe that I love you. You're the friend I always needed. I would never do anything to hurt you."
Aza knew in her heart that he was telling the truth. Everything had come as such a shock; she didn't know what to believe at first, but she never should have accused him.
Aza couldn’t help but want to scream at the fact that one of her guards, someone she trusted, betrayed them.
But who? As far as she knew everyone loved Jahar, or at least respected him.
But that was something she would deal with later.
She still had to find Bennu. Despite everything, she still knew she could trust him.
"I am sorry that I ever accused you. I-I just didn't know what happened. I didn’t know who to trust. I have obviously been fooled, and I am only just learning about this. I don’t… I just… I never know what to do." Aza begins crying into Zhou's shirt, and he wraps her in a tight embrace.
"You go and break him out of the dungeons. And then you steal a ship. You can lay low in my kingdom until we figure out how to deal with this situation and your father."
"No. I can't do that. You would be harboring a fugitive. That would never be forgotten or forgiven. There is somewhere I need to go, somewhere I can hide us. I have someone else helping me as well. I will explain more later, I promise."
"I understand. Go! Do what you need to. I will try to fix this mess with my father and yours. I will be here when you need me."
"Thank you. Please, be careful."
Aza gives him one last tight hug, kisses him on the cheek, and takes off again.
Aza searches and searches for Bennu. Try to stay as hidden and inconspicuous as possible. She finally finds him. Stationed to guard the back entrance of the castle.
Aza steps out of the shadows, "Bennu."
"Princess?! Where have you been? Are you alright? Everyone has been looking for you.” He looks her up and down, checking for any injuries.
“I am fine. Bennu, I need your help, please.”
“Princess, I need to take you to the king.”
“No, Bennu! Listen to me! I need you to help. Jahar needs your help. Your best friend needs your help, please. I know you know the truth. I know you're a good man. Do the right thing.”
“What do you need, Princess?”
“I need the keys to the dungeon.”
“I… can't, that's treason. I cannot let a prisoner out.” He exclaims, guilt crossing his face.
“It's Jahar. It's your best friend. It's one of our guards for goddamn sake! Where are the keys, Bennu? I'm not asking you to open the lock. I just need to know where the keys are so I can.”
He contemplates briefly before saying, “There in the armory. They’re on the wall.”
“Thank you, Bennu.”
“I didn’t know Aza, please tell him that. I didn’t know they were going after him. I would’ve…”
“You would’ve stopped them?”
“I would like to think I would have. But this is me making it right. Get him out of here until we can sort things out.”
Aza nods and takes off into a sprint to the armory. She tries to dodge everyone. To stay hidden. She makes it there, and she finds the keys hanging on the wall. She snatches them and runs to the dungeon.