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Chapter 8.
Azriel waited by the door while the ladies took their baths. Heather was the first to finish. She did not take much time like Kielee. Stryga came back earlier than his twin. He entered the room that was meant for them.
"Bathroom is not interesting like I thought," He said with one of his hands holding the door halfway. The other had a cloth in it.
"What did you expect from a bathroom, Stryga?" Azriel asked with concern. He brought them here and he wished to cater for them. He did not want to leave them like Kielee's father who abandon everything that he had, including his family. "The water is not enough, I will go down and fetch more."
"It is not about water, brother" Heather patted his back gently. "he wants a whore in the bathroom as well. Do not pay attention to their silly cravings."
Azriel let out a sigh. He looked at the twin who he had called brother all these years. Stryga laughed and closed the door "He is crazier than I thought. Sigurd is way cooler…"
"Please, do not bring him up" She pleaded. If there was anyone who always step on her toes then it would be Sigurd. He annoyed her in all possible ways…even the impossible ways!
Azriel was about to say something when the door opened. Kielee came out of the room. Her face looked way better than the last time they saw her. Her hair was loosened unlike Heather's, it fell on both of her shoulders.
"There we go, a-again" Heather rolled her eyes. She thought Kielee would listen to her. The hair was supposed to be tied up. Now, all men will look at her as an attention seeker.
Kielee could not look up. Her heart pulsed through her body as she waited for a compliment. She was not sure if Azriel would utter any. But as for Heather, she will say the opposite.
"You look good, do not be ashamed by my sister's word" Azriel gave a warm smile. Just what she needed right now. Her lips curled into a precious smile. Butterflies sprang up in her lower stomach as he tendered them.
"Thank you," She said still standing by the door. Sigurd finally join them. He was done with the task assigned to him. Azriel permitted him to take his bath. It was getting late and they were all hungry.
It took the gentlemen a few minutes to bathe. The twins stayed with the ladies while Azriel went into the bathroom. He was afraid that Heather would cause trouble if any man approach her. She was not the kind of lady that gets flattered when a man approach or compliment her. She was the opposite of a woman!
They sat at the table next to a bunch of countrymen. They spoke about the princess all night. Azriel did pay attention to them. The way they spoke about the princess, he had imagined her to be a great warrior with unlimited skills. She was loved by all and nobody utter a word against her. He wanted to know her weakness before meeting her tomorrow.
It seemed she was perfect. Nobody was ready to talk about her in that manner…or were they afraid?
Food was served with a lot of Ale. They ate to their satisfaction for the first time in weeks. They avoided meat because it was the only food they ate on their way to Akkad.
The barman did not ask for a penny. He insisted they keep their money because they were the Emperor's guests. Azriel wished he would take it.
"Do you know what the princess looks like?" he asked the barman.
The man shook his head "I saw her long ago…when she defeated her cousin in a tournament. The princess fought like a man… she is wise, they say."
Sigurd nodded "we were not expecting to meet a fool. She should be interesting."
The barman was confused. However, he bowed "excuse me, your highness."
"Why did he address me that way!" Sigurd asked looking at the rest for answers but they were concerned about ale. He changed the topic when he noticed that they were not interested in the first "So what is the plan now, Sargon? Tomorrow is almost here."
"The plan still stands" Azriel declared. "Make the princess fall in love with me then we get married…I will kill her on my wedding night…"
"Slay everyone including her family" Stryga added. He was thirsty for their blood all his life. The training he had received from the best teachers in the world was because of this day. The day of reckoning has come.
"What if you fall in love with her?" Kielee was worried. It was not as easy as they said. There should have a second plan to save them.
Heather placed a hand on his shoulders. Her brother was no fool. He has passed through hell just to get to where they were today "He is not a love type. Don't you see how his past relationships went?" Kielee nodded. "But if he falls in love I will do the killing."
Laughter echoed in the room. The twins knew he was the type of person that never fall in love. Azriel came here to get his revenge and justice. That was all that matters to him…to them.
"The second plan will come in if I see that the first is not working" Azriel added. His grip tightened on the cup and he took it to his mouth drinking the content of it. They deserve more than this to have come this far.
"So what will be my role in the palace?" Kielee asked. She was worried not just for herself but for all. The stories told about the princess scared her. She must have been a very beautiful lady. Azriel might be intrigued.
"Maids," Sigurd informed. The emperor did not invite females to the ball. The ladies in his country must have been enough.
"Really? you are going to introduce me as your slave?" Heather was surprised. Nobody told her about this. Now she understood why her brother insisted they get new clothes by tomorrow.
Azriel stood up and explained in a low tone "The Emperor is searching for a husband and not a wife for his daughter. Now, do you understand why the women from royal families were not invited?"
Heather nodded. Now, they were sitting at the table and Stryga was nowhere to be found. She looked towards the stairs and found him talking to one of the beautiful women of the inn "The Arseling will never stop whoring around."
"He is a lucky man" Azriel laughed. He turned to Stryga and asked, "What about you?"
"I'm a married man, Lord. I would love to remain faithful to my wife and…" He raised the cup above his head "and to ale" they all laughed. "You should go."
"I'm not interested," Azriel said. He wanted to have a look around the city. Maybe they would be able to find out something useful. "You should come with me, Sigurd."
Heather shook her head when the men left. She turned to ask her friend if she noticed that Sigurd was a good man. He loved his wife unlike the other men "What happened, Kielee?"
The skin between her forehead pinched. She fought with the tears that kept on coming "Azriel… I'm scared that he might find someone here."
Heather sighed. People fall in love only to frustrate their lives. Kielee was here thinking about her brother who was comfortably enjoying the cool breeze of Akkad and had no idea that she loved him.