Page 10 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
“They don’t, they fear you,” Shayan explains. “They think you could unleash the weather on them anytime when they do wrong. That day you had such a strong glint in your eyes, a grim expression. You were a child, yet you weren’t scared at all. It just proved their point.”
“Does Father think the same?” I want to know.
Shayan’s face falls. “I don’t know what King Naseem truly thinks or believes in.”
“I always thought you were friends,” I say.
“That was long ago,” he argues. Shayan is younger than my father, and I’ve heard he rose through the ranks fast when he was in his early twenties, due to his skills and his diligence. Then during one battle Shayan lost one of his eyes and his left hand. They tried to replace his hand with a prosthetic, at least Father made sure he got the best doctors to work on it. Shayan never wanted it to look like a real hand, so they went for a fantastic design out of a dark-gray shiny material.
He recovered most of his mobility, but his active days in battle were over.
“Was it because he degraded you to look after me,” I ask quietly. “Is this the reason your friendship broke?”
Shayan looks at me sadly. “Becoming your protector and guardian was a gift, my princess. I wasn’t graced with a family of my own, so you and Simin are the closest I have to children.”
Simin giggles. “I got adopted by you, too?”
I put my arm around her. “We are a package deal, aren’t we?”
“Tell that to the man you will choose as your husband. I bet he will be overjoyed,” Simin says dryly, and for the first time in a long while I have to laugh. Even Shayan smiles at her words.
five
Meeting the Wolves
*AZADEH*
“Princess,” Shayan approaches me with a frown on his face. We have stayed overnight here to regain some strength before we continue our path. “I checked out the way ahead of us, and I’m afraid our carriages won’t fit through.”
Simin and I exchange a gaze. We have just had some tea and breakfast, keeping to ourselves inside the tent so as not to bother the warriors with my presence. At Shayan’s words I stand up. “Can we get the luggage through?”
“Yes, we can attach it to some of the horses,” he assures me.
“Then, it’s fine,” I say. “Simin and I can ride, too.”
“But Princess,” he looks torn. “Azadeh, I can’t ask you to-“
“Of course, you can,” I smile. “I might have grown up secluded from everyone else, but I am still a Desert Princess. I am not going to ask everyone to take a massive detour, just for their spoiled princess.”
“You are anything but spoiled,” Shayan insists.
“Let’s continue on our original path,” I tell him.
A hint of respect flashes in his eye and he smiles at me. “Very well, Princess.” He steps out of the tent with me and Simin following him. “Everyone, the Princess has decided to join us on horse. We will leave the carriages behind and ride the rest of the way.”
His statement earns me a few curious gazes, but as usual, they keep their words to themselves. The few who have looked at me, make sure to tear their gaze away. Well, it can’t be helped.
“Azadeh,” Simin whispers, shifting around nervously.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, just…” she pauses.
“Oh, I forgot. I’m so sorry.” I squeeze her hand. Simin is scared of horses and of riding, ever since that traumatic incident she faced as a young girl. “I am sure General Shayan will keep an eye on you,” I gentle her. “And if you can’t do it, we will take the detour. We can still-”
“No,” Simon says. Her voice trembles, but she looks firm. “We won’t make a detour for me. In this new life I want to tackle my fears.”
I leave it at that, taking her at her word.
