Below the Peak (Sola)(69)

Nara didn’t hear the echo of his footsteps climbing the stairs or across the hall, but her brows shot up when she noticed him standing at the door, his eyes moving from her and the new elf.

“I see you two have met,” the prince remarked in Nyr. “Put the dagger down.”

His lips thinned to a white line when she didn’t.

“She is Izza, she cleans the house,” Calemir told her. Nara’s gaze slid back to the elf who was holding her breath tightly with her eyes focused on the dagger. Slowly, Nara dropped the hand with the sharp weapon down to her side. His tight lips loosened and continued to speak in Nyr as he addressed the other elf. “Izza, this is Nara, my wife. Treat her well.”

The elf’s blue eyes widened at that, glancing back from him to her then back to him then her again in confusion.

Calemir didn’t look like he was in the mood to explain to her on how they had come to be nor answer a million questions floating the maid’s mind and at the tip of her tongue. Instead, he swiftly and soundlessly left the room before Izza could finish saying yes, your highness. The two women stared at each other, one bewildered while the other just watchful. Izza was first to break the staring contest with a quick bow and apologized in a thick accent. “Your highness, forgive me. I thought you were an intruder.”

“Just don’t ever scream like that ever again,” Nara said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Nara’s clothes were so wrinkled looking like they had been chewed and spat by a cow from sleeping in them.

“I promise on Faethurin I won’t unless I necessarily have to do it” Izza was quick to say.

Nara sniffed. She smelled of old sweat. She needed a bath as soon as possible. This was very unlike her to sleep dirty when she had access to water. And at the scold, her skin began to itch. Whenever she had travelled with the Elite team, she carried a wash cloth with her and found ways to sneak to a nearby pond, lake or river to rub the sweat and dirt that caked her skin along the way, but she hadn’t done any of that in the company of the elves.

She also couldn’t believe she managed to sleep in such a state for so long, even yesterday when they had arrived here, she could have taken a quick bath before going to bed, but she hadn’t. This set wrong with her. She frowned and mulled.

“I have to bath; may you leave please” she stood upright and waited.

“I will go prepare breakfast for you” Izza curtsied and hurried away. Nara readied herself for bathing and walked to the bathing chamber passed the small archway in her room and closed the door behind her.

After scrubbing herself clean to the point she was satisfied, she had changed into a fresh pair of trouser and blouse she pulled out of the trunk the elves had carried to her room and had come to know from Calemir, the chest and clothes inside were gifts from the queen. She silently padded downstairs and found Izza setting the tray of food on the round table in the dining room. Izza gasped but closed her mouth quickly when she turned and found her standing in the archway of the chamber. The maid skittishly moved aside.

“I hope bread and cheese with warm milk are excellent.” Izza motioned to the food and nervously added. “I was not expecting His highness to return soon and with a guest hence the lack of variety of food.”

“The food is okay” Nara assured, moving to the table and taking a sit. “I would like to have this for breakfast every morning if possible” she added after a pause.

Izza nodded then excused herself when she began to eat. Nara ate alone, the little pangs of pots from the kitchen keeping her company.

When she was done, Izza came back and fetched the tray and hurried back to hide in the kitchen. Nara remained seated. The chirping of birds seemed to invite her outside and escape the boredom she was in. She did just that, she got out of the house, stepping on the green grass. The earthy scent wrapped in faint smoky smell wafted into her lungs. The forest green mountains surrounding the town as unmovable walls were much more vivid beneath the blue sky than she saw them the prior night. It resonated peace and security to the town. She took stock of the red rooves in small factions and the field below. The elves went about their day in harmony though she couldn’t really see them clearly from this far. Still, she felt the calmness against her skin as the breeze brushed against her clothes. If there were a danger, the air would have thickened in a tale-tell sign she had come to discern as a soldier. Besides that, she had a hunch the people of this town were no ordinary folks.

She glanced over her shoulder when she heard a loud snort. A male elf was trotting by with a horse who looked closely familiar to the one she had ridden. The elf bowed and passed her by to the other side of the house.

Mmmh…The man hadn’t shown any sort reaction to her as Izza had. It was as though he had expected her to be there. Perhaps, Izza informed him about her.

Sighing, Nara walked to the back of the house, searching for the red tree. She stalked to it when it came to her view, marveling at how tall and big it really was. Its fallen red leaves crunched beneath her boots as she sat down and leaned back onto the trunk. She titled her head up and stared the sunrays sieving through the branches and leaves still attached to it. She closed her eyes, a tremor of apprehension slithered into her bones as she thought.

Was this how her life was now going to be? Estranged from the society and slowly tortured by boredom and loneliness till she goes insane from it?

***