"I can't believe you two." Mani shook his head.
"We were out of options, Mani." Raaz tried to explain.
"And," Vihr said, gulping down the last of his dinner, "I think it's safe to say it worked out just fine."
Mani looked Vihr up and down. He was covered in bandages, and sported a black eye. "Yeah, sure. Fine, you say."
Vihr rolled his eyes. "Look who's talking."
Mani looked down at his own bandages. "Hey, what I did was-"
"Far more reckless than what Raaz and I did. I mean, what were you thinking? It was obvious Bidod was trying to provoke you." Vihr reached out to grab some food out of Laaj's plate, but Raaz slapped his hand away.
"What was I supposed to do then?" Mani raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know. Maybe you shouldn't have attacked him without a second thought. What good did that do?" Vihr countered, caressing his hand and glaring at Raaz.
"Oh, and trying to sneak into the Prince's cabin was so wise? Quite literally the most guarded room here?"
"We were trying to save you."
"By almost getting yourselves killed?"
"Killed? I mean, sure we got hurt, but-"
"Okay, stop. Both of you." Raaz interrupted. "Can we not fight here?" She said, gesturing to the tavern.
The little tavern was restored to its former glory. The tables were no longer kept in the corner and the chairs were now longer lined at the back. The tables were now spread out in the tavern, with about four or five chairs surrounding each. The counters and shelves were once again filled with delicious-smelling food and drink. The little lamps were so much brighter now, or maybe that's just how it looked to Raaz. Singing and laughing could be heard from everywhere. Bidod's departure was being celebrated in full swing, and for good reason.
Raaz couldn't help but smile, happy to join in, in spite of her initial reservations.
After the hearing, the four of them had headed to the infirmary. Once they'd gotten their wounds tended to, they'd returned to the housing camps without a word spoken between each other. The next day, with permission, they'd skipped work and slept in. By evening, they were starting to feel a lot better, in more ways than one.
Vihr was the one who suggested dining at the tavern that evening. Initially Raaz was against the idea, as she felt going back to the tavern would distress Laaj, and was rather surprised when Laaj was first one to second Vihr's idea. Mani hadn't opposed it either. Deciding that it might just be a good idea for her friends to see the place in a different way, and to find it more cheerful and lively than it last was, Raaz had agreed. It was probably worth spending a little money, even though a little money was all they had.
Up until then, Mani had no idea about Vihr and Raaz's visit to Prince Faiz's cabin. Raaz had contemplated not telling him at all, but later decided against it. Needless to say, he wasn't really enjoying the narration. He'd almost pushed a mug off their table on impulse when they first told him.
Laaj was mostly quiet the whole time. She smiled whenever she thought someone was looking at her, but Raaz knew she would need time to come out of what had happened. Her friend was brave, with a strong heart, but it was still just a human heart.
"I'm not fighting." Mani said, flexing his shoulders. "I just think your idea was ridiculous. What if he got you arrested too?"
"Relax, Mani. He didn't, did he?" Raaz raised an eyebrow.
"Fortunately. But if he had? I just...I don't even know what to say to you. It's just-"
"Ridiculous. Yes. We heard." Vihr rolled his eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me. I'm incredibly displeased." Mani huffed.
From the corner of her eye, Raaz saw someone enter the tavern and smiled. "Something to be pleased about."
"What?" Mani looked at her quizzically.
Raaz nodded towards the door. "Look who just came in."
Mani turned around, and the lines on his forehead disappeared, his lips curved upwards slightly. Zuma noticed him looking, and smiled. His smile grew bigger. She waved. He waved back, looking as if in a trance. Raaz shared a look with Vihr and Laaj.
"Invite her over." Laaj spoke up. Mani turned to look at her blankly, and turned back as if she'd said nothing.
Raaz rolled her eyes.The tavern would close for the night, everyone would leave, the night would pass and the sun would rise the next day. And these two would continue to smile and wave. Standing up, she waved at Zuma. "Care to join us?" She called out.
Zuma jumped a little, like she'd snapped out of a trance. She smiled at Raaz. "Of course."
She walked over to their table. Mani straightened, suddenly looking very conscious. Raaz elbowed Vihr in the ribs. "Get off. Let her sit."
"Why don't you-" Vihr stopped when he realised who was sitting on his other side. "Oh. Right."
Vihr got up and offered Zuma his seat. With the tavern full of people, they couldn't find a single empty chair. Vihr elbowed Raaz to move over, and soon they were awkwardly sharing a chair.
Zuma laughed. "I can just stand. You don't have to do that."
"Oh, trust me, we're fine. Please, have a seat." Raaz insisted. Zuma sat down between Mani and her, and Raaz sighed when she noticed Mani stiffening a little. The awkward oaf.
"It's nice to see you lot here. I've been wanting to check up on you. We didn't get a chance to speak after...you know, everything that happened yesterday."
Laaj reached out and placed her hand over Zuma's. "I'm so glad you came, Zuma. I didn't get a chance to thank you yesterday."
"What's to thank, Laaj? It was the least I could do to help."
"You say that, but I know it wasn't easy. Going against Bidod like that." Laaj said.
"Speaking of, what really happened yesterday? I mean, how did Bidod get a hold of you? Was that bracelet even yours?" Vihr said, holding on to the side of the chair so he wouldn't fall off.
Raaz elbowed him again. "Easy. Not so many questions at once."
Zuma laughed. "That's alright. I can understand your curiosity. Yes, the bracelet is mine. A while after you lot took Laaj to the infirmary, Bidod showed up at the clearing with my bracelet in his hand, asking around about who owns it. He'd probably broken into our luggage to look for something valuable enough to accuse you of stealing it, the slimy pig. When I told him it was mine, he pulled me aside and told me he'd recovered it from a thief, and that I'd have to testify against said thief in a hearing that evening. It was after he grumbled something about getting hit on the head with a shovel that I figured out what was going on. So I agreed, hoping to change my statement in your favour before the Prince. I thought if that could help save you, Laaj, then why not."
"It did. If it weren't for your statement, Bidod would've...I can't even imagine." Laaj reached over and hugged Zuma.
"I'm just glad you're okay." Zuma rubbed Laaj's back gently. Laaj pulled away, and reached for a handkerchief for her tears.
Raaz patted her friend on the back, and Laaj gave her a small smile. Something occurred to Raaz then. "I don't get it. Why didn't he just throw in something that belonged to him and accuse Laaj of stealing that? Why go to the trouble of finding something that belonged to one of us?"
"I don't know. He was an odd, greasy, slimy little animal with crooked teeth and fingers to rival that crookedness, and thank heavens he's gone." Zuma said, earning a chuckle from all four of them.
"He supposedly 'found' Laaj in the women's housing camp, according to his story. So I guess for the story to make sense, this was the best course of action for him." Mani suggested.
"Could be. But I don't know. He was pretty careless with most other details of his story." Raaz shrugged.
"That's because he expected Zuma to lie for him. He wouldn't need to make up stories if she had." Laaj said softly.
Mani leaned forward. "Thank you, Zuma. I...we owe you."
Zuma leaned forward almost mechanically, placing both elbows on the table. "It's really no big deal."
"But if the Prince had sided with Bidod, you'd have been in big trouble."
"It's a good thing he didn't, then."
"And if he had?"
"It would've been worth it." Zuma smiled.
"Oof."
Mani and Zuma jumped at the sound, startled, and relaxed when they were met with the sight of Vihr sitting on the floor, frowning.
"Geez. Can't keep your balance?" Raaz laughed as she offered her hand.
"Not when you're hogging the entire chair." Vihr scowled as he took Raaz's hand and pulled himself up.
"The entire what? Look, I'm sitting on the very edge."
Zuma laughed as she stood up. "I best be going, before Vihr breaks some more of his bones."
"Oh, no. Zuma, stay a bit longer." Laaj insisted.
"Yeah. Don't mind this. It's just Vihr being Vihr." Raaz said.
"No, that's all right. I'll just," Zuma smiled at Mani, "I'll just go for a stroll. By myself."
Not a moment after she left, Mani turned to his friends. "I....it's really crowded. I'm going to get some fresh air."
"Uh huh. Yeah, sure." Vihr nodded with mock sincerity. Mani got up and hurried out, bumping into people and things on his way out.
Raaz laughed. "Well, that was...subtle."
Laaj yawned. "I think it's sweet."
"You're exhausted Laaj. You need rest." Vihr noted.
"Come on. I'll take you back to the housing camp." Raaz helped Laaj stand up, and the three headed back to the camp.
"There's something I wanted to ask you." Vihr said, two hours after they'd left the tavern. Laaj had fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but Raaz couldn't sleep. Stepping out for some fresh air, she had found Vihr sitting a short distance away and had joined him. The air was clear, and the sound of the rushing river could be heard faintly.
"You're asking before asking? This must be serious."
Vihr chuckled. "Just curious about something."
"Yeah?"
"Why were you so certain? That the Prince would help, I mean. You risked your life to reach him."
"As did you."
"That's because you sounded so sure. Right then, with all the urgency, that was all that mattered to me. But now…"
"I don't know...he said he owed me."
"You believed him? Just like that? A claim? That's it?"
Raaz laughed. "You seem mortified that I got you into so much trouble for just that."
"No, it's not that. I know why you did what you did. But I'm just finding it hard to believe that you found it so easy to believe him. Given your experience with Royals, and knowing what happened with Laaj and Mani, I would've thought you'd be a little sceptical."
Vihr had a point. After all, everything Raaz had lost, and everything her friends had to lose, was because of Royals who just wouldn't listen. "Yeah, I would've thought so too. However, at that moment, when I first spoke to him...he seemed... how do I put it? Sincere? Earnest, perhaps. Whichever, but it made me want to believe him. Besides, we've never had any prior concerns with this particular Royal. It would be unfair to conclude anything based on his background. So...when we needed help, I thought maybe..."
Vihr caressed the back of his neck. "I can understand that, I suppose. After all, where would I be if the world kept bringing up my background?"
Raaz sat up straight. "Vihr, that's not what I-"
"It's alright. I feel a little better, actually, about going with your ridiculous idea." Vihr shrugged.
"So you were mortified."
"Initially." Vihr smiled with feigned innocence, earning an eye roll from Raaz.
Raaz was busy at work the next day, when the guard approached them. Maha tapped her on her shoulder. Raaz looked up quizzically.
"You're Raazan?" The guard inquired.
"Yes, that's me."
"The Prince has asked to see you."
"Me?" Raaz pointed at herself.
"If you're Raazan, then yes. You."
Raaz gave Maha a look. She found the guard's wry attitude amusing. Placing her shovel on the ground, she followed the guard to the Prince's quarters. Ironic, these very guards were keeping her away from the quarters not very long ago. What could the Prince want from her?
A thought struck Raaz, and she almost froze in her tracks. What if the Prince had helped her out so that he could later 'collect' a favour in some twisted deal, as Royals had been known to do. What if Mani was right about the Prince putting up an act? But would he really go that far, and expel his supervisor for it? He seemed like he was genuinely trying to help out, but Raaz wasn't taking chances. She felt for the little sheathed dagger tucked underneath her tunic. She would handle it. Yes, she would handle it.
The guard knocked on the cabin door. At the Prince's affirmative response, he opened the door and led Raaz inside. The Prince sat on the edge of his bed, and stood up when he saw Raaz enter.
"Raazan, glad you came. Please, sit."
Raaz held back a laugh. 'Glad you came'? This wasn't an invitation, it was a summon. She sat down on an armchair facing the bed. Faiz signalled the guard to leave. The guard obliged, stepping out and closing the door behind him.
"I..uh..how..how are you? And your friends?" Prince Faiz sat back down on the edge of his bed gingerly.
"Fine. We're fine. Thank you for letting us miss work yesterday. And today, you know, for Laaj." Raaz said.
The Prince smiled gently. "Of course. It's the least I can do, after...after all the..the trouble."
Raaz drew in a deep breath. No harm in saying it, she decided. "And thank you. For what you did at the trial. You saved my family"
"I told you before, Raazan. I just did what I was supposed to."
"Thank you, anyhow."
"You're welcome." Prince Faiz looked up, and his brown eyes twinkled when he smiled. It was a good look on him, Raaz couldn't help but notice.
"What did you wish to speak to me about?"
"Oh right. Yes, that." He chuckled awkwardly, looking away. "I..uh," another awkward chuckle, "If I may, I would like to ask you...a little about yourself. "
"What would you like to know?" Raaz asked, trying to not let her scepticism show.
"Well...I suppose, I wanted know...", he looked out the window and then back at Raaz, "Why..uh..why did you enrol to work here? At the extension site?"
Raaz wasn't sure of what the Prince expected. The obvious answer was that people needed work to earn money, which they needed to buy food and clothing, which in turn, was needed for survival. Of course, this wasn't the obvious answer for a Royal who got everything he wanted when he wanted it without having to work a single day for it. Yes, the real question was, why was he working there? Especially when he seemed like he was uncomfortable with everything and everyone almost all the time. What purpose did this serve for him? What was he working for?
She looked at the Prince and realised he was awaiting a reply. Clearing her throat, she replied, "They called for workers for the extension site around the time when we were looking for work. It seemed like a perfect opportunity."
"We?"
"Yes. Mani, Laaj, Vihr and I."
"So, at the time, all of you were unemployed?"
Raaz tried not to look offended. What was it to him? "Not all of us. But here, we could all work and stay close to each other."
"Right. Um...how, and I don't mean to pry...how are you related? The four of you?"
Raaz's eyes widened slightly. Prying, he was. "Foster home. We grew up together."
The Prince's eyes softened. "Oh." Raaz wanted to sigh out loud. There it was. The pity for an orphan.
"And..uh...you're.." He cleared his throat loudly. Raaz scoffed inwardly. He'd been rather intrusive so far, so why hesitate to ask anything else.
"You're...literate? I mean the basics, numbers and accounts-"
"Yes, I am. A little more than the basics." Raaz cut him off. She realised she was entering dangerous waters with her cold demeanour, but the Prince's questions were starting to get on her nerves.
"Good, that's good. That's..perfect." Prince Faiz nodded, mostly to himself.
"Pardon?"
"The reason I called you here...I want to make you an offer."
An offer. Raaz casually placed an arm over her dagger. "Yes?"
"As you..uh," he gulped audibly, "as you know, after Bidod's….departure, we have a vacancy for supervisor. If I wrote of this to the Palace, they would...they would send someone not unlike Bidod. I don't want anyone else with the mere experience of...ordering...ordering around and being ordered around. I'm of the opinion that...that someone from around here...you know, workers and commoners...and..and by commoners, I mean someone who's not from the Palace, it's a purely objective term...not..not meant to offend...anyhow, I'm of the opinion that someone from among you lot would be...better suited. And…" He paused, squeezing his eyes shut as one would if they were praying intently.
"And?" Raaz prompted. Part of her already knew where this was going, but the rest of her refused to believe it.
"And..uh...you know, with what..what I've seen...until now, I believe...you would...you would be perfect."
"Pardon?" Raaz leaned back involuntarily.
"What I mean is...I suppose, what I'm trying to ask...Raazan, would you…..would you consider taking Bidod's place as supervisor?"