Page 29 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
*AZADEH*
The moment the door closes behind us, Simin runs and jumps into my queen-sized bed. I’m used to comfort, but what King Gillean has provided for me here is beyond anything I expected. My room is actually three rooms big: a bedroom with a wardrobe that’s filled with clothes my size, clothes warm enough for this region; a little library and reading corner with a loggia attached to it, so that I can sit in a rocking chair and read while watching out of the window, and a little study or office, depending on how I want to use it.
Simin jumps up from my bed and hurries to her own room, just to return a minute later, her eyes wide. “Mine isn’t this big,” she stutters. “But… for a mere servant… I’ve never had such a beautiful room. There are cute curtains and a little loggia, too.” She twirls around. “I love it here! And everyone is nice.” She pauses. “I’m sorry for being so awkward though.”
I sit down on the little chaise in my room and wait for her to calm down. “You are you,” I say. “You are just shy with people you don’t know. They will soon realize that you are such a sweet and fun person.”
“But how?” she groans. “The moment someone talks to me, I’m dumbstruck. Well, unless it’s you or General Shayan.”
“How about you start with taking Princess Alana up on her offer?” I suggest. “She seems to be truly interested in getting to know you better.”
“But then, I’d need to learn how to ride a horse properly,” Simin sighs. “Well, sacrifices.”
I chuckle.
“Do you need help with unpacking?”
“No, just go and get some rest,” I say. “And, sleep well.” Before Simin can leave, though, I call her back. “I…I’m really thankful that you decided to accompany me. The Everlasting Desert was your home, too.”
In a flash, Simin returns and gives me a hug. “You are my best friend and like a sister to me. The only family I have. Wherever you and Shayan are is my home.”
“You are like a sister to me, too,” I say quietly.
She smiles at me. “We’ll make sure to be happy here. Not everyone gets a second chance in life. And aside from it being freezing cold here, I don’t think this place is bad.”
“You are right,” I say. “Let’s make a real effort.”
Simin nods and waves at me shortly before disappearing from my room. Silence falls upon me, and while I start unpacking I can hear some low noises coming from my left side, where Kilah’s room is. It sounds like she is practicing an instrument, the flute, I think. I need to ask her about it tomorrow.
I don’t need long to unpack, as I only brought my most necessary things along, and some sentimental items. Once done I decide to battle my initial fear of the bathroom. To my surprise, it’s fairly easy, as there are two strings with warm and cold water, respectively, and I make sure to take a steaming hot bath to warm up from the long ride outside.
Once I’m done, I switch into my nightgown and decide to go to sleep. When I blow out the candles and lie down in my bed, the lingering darkness seems to catch up with me. My own father hated me so much, he would have sold me as a slave. I just got lucky to be here. A land full of strangers that accepted me more than my own home ever did.
Tears fill my eyes at the thought.
Princess of the Sun.
My eyes fly open when I hear the voice in my head, the tears momentarily forgotten. “Who is there?”
Princess…
The voice gets lower and less distinctive until it’s just a whisper and disappears fully. I sit up, feeling my heartbeat coming down. What was that?
*SHAYAN*
“General, good morning!” I have barely made it out of my room the next morning, when I bump into the tall, bulky warrior who accompanied us from the pack at the borders to the royal pack.
“Good morning,” I say, trying to remember his name. I have only ever met Ita; he was a new acquaintance to me. “Tynan,” I say. Good thing I remembered it. Wouldn’t want to offend one of the elite warriors here on my first day.
To my surprise, Tynan smiles brightly. “Here,” he says, handing me a small bag.
“Well, thank you,” I frown. “But, allow me the question what-”
“It’s beef jerky, the meat from my last hunt,” Tynan says proudly. “The chef prepared it for me.”
“And, why do you give it to me?” I ask.
“As a welcome present,” he says. “You are going to stay here after all.”
