Today was the last day of courtship for me. I managed to learn nothing about the device Mr. Fredrick spoke of. I made it a point to find Shahadi. If I needed any information he would be the first one to start with. I can't say it was easy to find him, but of course he was somewhere not as common for other men to be, in my family, the kitchen.
"Shahadi?" I asked to get his attention.
"Princess Aza, can I help you?"
"I hope, I was curious about your goods you find across the lands." He seemed to turn to me with interest.
"Oh yes we have many and they are what you might say great in value as well as culture."
"Do you have one befitting a princess?" I asked.
"Well yes, we have many."
"Did you bring some?" I asked moving closer.
He seemed to be getting nervous. I saw him tighten a grip on his robe.
"Well, I only have a one with me that was suppose to be bought by someone else." He said.
"It would be ashamed if I couldn't see it." I said with a little expectation of him denying me.
"Well, that shouldn't be a problem."
The amount of times he says well reminds me of a child saying the possibilities of a punishment. He walked toward the back door to the kitchen towards outside.
"Follow me." He quickly dashed.
I followed behind him. He moved a sneaky as a rat. As if he really did have something to hide. We actually grew closer to his quarters where a gazebo was and a pond.
"Look." He motioned to the water. Was this some trick, what could possibly hold its credibility while under such conditions?
I peaked over almost afraid of what I might find. Within was something that glimmered gold.
"I can't make it out." I said.
He slowly reached his arm into the pond and pulled a gold ball. I didn't look impressed.
"A piece of gold?" I said in disbelief.
"Not just a piece of gold, The piece of gold."
"Long ago after Ra created the worlds, he desired a partner, it is said he then took 27 days to create the perfect wife, the perfect mother to inhabit the worlds. She was so beautiful that the other Gods fell for her as well, and with a being created from so much love, she also wanted to give so much love. Ra jealous of the attention she gave, casted her into the body of a human. The Gods thought of the humans as inferior to them, nothing more but creators of pedestals to give endless one sided love. With the perfect woman now equal with the human race, she endured similar hardships. Ra once again cherished his little human who in all the same was decorated with the same beauty as his perfect God. Again the woman succumbing to human nature fell in love with men of her own stature, denying Ra of his love, and such abandoning once more. As his final straw of betrayal, he casted a curse on her generation and the generations to come. That they will lose the love they cherish through betrayal."
The story was not one I am well familiar with but interested.
"So, what does this gold have to do with the story?" I asked.
"Well, when Ra's perfect human died, her body may have rotten but her soul did not. She remained a loving creature to the end and therefore her soul was molded into a gold cast like shell that emits the power that was infused into her." Shahadi finished.
"Why would you give away such a valuable item, and nevertheless what would they gain having that instead of it being given to the empire?" Shahadi seemed to shutter and dropped the gold back into the water, the shiny glow that once surrounded the gold ball was dimmed,
"Well, throughout time it is questioned if that power still exists, there is no telling who the descendants of the wife is."
"So ignorance gains you another coin?" I said with a sharp tone.
"Aza, there is much you wouldn't understand." He left.
I stared at the water. I didn't understand the power of the ball, so I let it be. Maybe if I told Ahkmad, he would know what to do. I left back to the hall. I walked with a determination. A part of me still felt embarrassed and wronged. Was I a fool? Another girl. Surely he wouldn't treat his own friend's sister in such a manner. I know he wanted to hide what happened in the garden but to the extent of insulting words, I couldn't forget it. I want to demand answers but what if I make matters worse? As I entered the hall, there were bags and items packed. The princes must be returning back to their homes. I can't say I'm not happy but then again I did enjoy the personalities that surrounded our meek home.
"Princess Aza, you came to see me off?" I heard Adam cheerfully ask.
"Is it that time already?" I said half heartedly.
"Unfortunately I can't whisk you away with me back to my home." I felt a sense of disgust.
"I am where I belong." I responded.
"You are an acquired spice that is needed over there, do allow me to host you one day." I nodded and turned away.
My father stood in a group of other men along with Ahkmad. Shahadi stuck to his father side, I didn't have too many good words for him anyway.
"Aza!, bid your farewells." My father screeched.
Ombte was there facing me with a warm smile.
"It was a most pleasure to meet you, your people have a good leader to look forward to." He nodded.
He reached out for permission to my hand, which I granted. He pulled it to his head and tapped it before releasing.
"It would be an honor to lead with you princess."
The moment I was most anticipating was waiting for me. Ratuk. He laughed with one of his men. I approached slowly, not quite sure how I wanted to start.
"Princess Aza." The man said with a bow.
"Oh please stand, who am I but an Incompetent lady." I stated to him.
I looked up Ratuk whose head was down. Now he even can't look me in my eyes. I can't believe this is how I little I treated myself in the end.
"Prince Ratuk." I said with a quick bow, as I walked away.
"Princess Aza." He spoke in a low tone.
"Good bye." I stated as I marched away.
I left the hall and crossed the courtyard to hide in the library. I heard shuffling behind me.
"Aza!" I turned.
"How dare you, you will not call my name as if we are well acquainted." He walked closer.
"Are we not?"
"No, I'm incompetent, and wouldn't be a good fit as a wife." I said.
He reached out to grab me, I pulled away.
"Aza, what would you have me do? You jumped in front of a sword for me, there would have been talk, It was better to appear as a wounded prideful man and you as uneducated, then have others look at you as worse." I somehow felt relief to know he had a motive behind it.
"You talk of love and how great it is, love brought you to do that?" I asked angrily.
"Actually it did." He said quickly.
"Stop talking nonsense, just go let's pretend this didn't happen." I tried to walk away again, before he grabbed my wrist.
He grabbed my hands.
"Aza, you said you want to be in love? I can help you." He says almost in a desperate tone.
"If it involves calling me names I don't." I turned away and pulled my hand away.
I continued across the courtyard. Suddenly I felt a sting in my chest, a worry that we wouldn't see each other anymore. Is that not what I wanted?