Centuries ago,
By the time she was done changing from her wet dress and fixing herself for the morning, Lord Kamaz was ready to go to the mountains for his training.
His beast had not reared its essence since she began the last time but Zelda still had to go everywhere with him.
"Get on!" Kamaz urged impatiently as he looked down at Zelda who was standing close to one of the other horses like it could suddenly grow fangs and tear her out.
Her hand was tightly holding onto her dagger by her side and Kamaz was concerned that she could desire to slash one of his horses if the horse dared neigh at her direction.
She rubbed the back of her neck before shifting from one foot to the other.
"I uhmm… I have never been one to…I do not know how to saddle a horse" Zelda finally found her words. Kamaz looked at her like she had spurted the greatest lie ever told by mankind.
She wanted to bury herself in the earth.
Her father is a physician who owns about five horses but never for once had she thought of riding on her own. When she was younger, her mother was riding one of the horses with her seated in front when the horse had suddenly turned angry and thrown the both of them off its back.
Her mom had fallen and hit her head on a rock. She had lived but her mom had died and she never truly forgave herself. Especially when she recollected being the one to have nagged her mom so much that day about riding a horse.
The sharp judgemental pierce from Kamaz' eyes could very well send her to hell.
He was used to being by himself but now, it was a Royal order for the both of them to be seen going everywhere together. If he didn't take her along with him, the King was going to be furious and as much as he wanted the attention of his Father, it wasn't in that light.
"I do not have the desire to teach you how to. I will enrol you for the classes when we come back but for now…" Kamaz said as he stretched out a hand to her.
She looked at his outstretched hand for a second before she reluctantly placed her hand in his. She placed her leg on the stirrup and was aided to straddle the horse.
Kamaz said nothing to her.
He wanted to know if she would allow her fear of him stop her from seeking safety as she still maintained a relative distance from him on the horse. But as the horse reared its forelegs, Zelda was about to slip and she quickly interlocked her fingers around Kamaz' waist.
Kamaz smiled at her action but Zelda did not see it as she was busy trying to balance herself.
With a small kick start groan and a 'ready' command with the lunge rein on the horse, the horse began to gallop away from the Palace and to the mountains.
Since the Fifth Prince is considered an outcast, he was made to stay in the last building before the other buildings of the eunuchs and some subjects. His beautiful black horse rode swiftly across the other buildings of the other Princes and some of them saw Prince Kamaz and his maid flash past them. They had barely begun their day as some of them lazed on their balconies.
They - Princes, their wives and children, palace attendants - all wondered who the girl Kamaz willingly allowed to have hands on him was. And amongst them was Prince Acheron.
He knew Kamaz was going to train. He also knew that Kamaz had gotten a new maid whose father wasn't poor neither was it the lassie's wish. But what caused a stir to his brows more was that the girl had a Pipa tightly strapped to her back.
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Zelda clung onto Kamaz so tight that she almost merged herself with him.
Kamaz could not explain how he was feeling regarding the girl that was holding onto him like he was a lifeline. He could perceive her leaked out fright and how much it made every nerve in her tensed.
He had planned on building more strength this day but instead he found himself building more patience because instead of racing at his usual wind speed, he had to slow down to beyond half of his usual speed because of her.
He was beyond grateful when they finally made it to the mountain and the sun was already high up in the sky but as he tied his horse to the biggest tree at the base of the mountain, he could not help but notice how she had turned slightly grayish.
"We ascend…" Before he could complete his statement, she turned away from him and hurled the contents of her stomach to the growing shrubs and grasses.
He placed his hands on his hips in exasperation. He couldn't tell if he was the maid or she was because it seemed he had to look after her.
To Zelda's surprise and stun, Kamaz came from behind her and took the tail of her packed hair in his hand. She tried to jerk away from him but like he perceived her action, his hand held her firmly in place.
Her stomach rolled again and she doubled.
When she was certain that nothing could come from her again, she washed her mouth with the small guord of water she had brought along and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Thank…" Before she could complete her words of appreciation, Kamaz was away from her side and was beginning to walk up the mountain path.
'He was just by my side. How did he? Why did he..' She paused her train of thoughts as she realized she had to follow him if she wanted to know her way around the strange environment she was in.
When she finally made it to the top of the mountain Kamaz who had not broken a sweat or panted harshly when he had climbed, was already a good way into his training but that could not be said about her.
The upper part of her apparel was soaked with her sweat. Her lips were chapped and she looked like she could die if any external force should act on her.
She could not believe that he had not waited to ensure that she found her way. 'I didn't ask to be here!' She screamed in her mind.
Just as staggered to find a place to sit, a young man in a commoners' outfit steadied her.
"You must be the new maid.
Nice to meet you, my name is Falkur"