Surprise Visit

Over the days, Khari hoped that something miraculous would happen to keep Wren from going forward with his plans but to no avail, nothing changed. The day had arrived, and Khari sat in her bedroom, a whirlwind of emotions swirling around her. She felt a butterfly flutter in her stomach, but it wasn’t the excitement she would feel when she and Azim were together. This was fear. The fear of saying goodbye to Azim and embracing a future of uncertainty with Wren. She rose from her bed and made her way to the closet. She ran her hand along the braille tags of her clothes and pulled out a bright yellow dress, knowing that Wren would likely tear it off her body later that night. She knew that once they slept together, her dreams of being reassigned were over. The light at the end of the tunnel had been extinguished, leaving Khari feeling hopeless.

She padded softly down the hallway, her heart rate accelerating with each step. She rounded the corner just outside the dining room and could discern the low familiar voice of Wren, “Good morning, Khari,” he said warmly.

She stopped in front of the doorway and closed her eyes, steeling herself for what lay ahead. With her chin raised, she cleared her throat, barely able to choke out the words, “Good morning, Prince Wren.” Her tone was flat and emotionless, despite the raging storm of feelings that threatened to consume her.

“I told you, just call me Wren,” he said, his voice as steady as his stare.

“I can not,” she shook her head, “It physically ails me to do so,” she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of a thousand broken promises.

“I deserve that,” he dropped his head, the apology dying on his lips.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice cold with resentment and exhaustion. She was fed up with his faux pleasantness and starting to miss the ruthless side she had grown to despise.

“I know it may seem that I’m forcing you to do this, but it’s the only way you will remain mine. I’m trying to show you that I care.” He reached out a hand towards her, but she stumbled back in surprise at the unexpected contact and out of his reach.

Khari’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. Her mouth twisted into an unamused scowl. “All of a sudden you care?” she scoffed. “You’re like a child. You were content to ignore me until you saw Azim pursuing me.” She folded her arms across her chest, her frown deepening as she awaited a response.

A wave of recognition washed over his face as he admitted, “You’re right. It wasn’t until my brother expressed interest in you that I realized how much I wanted you. I’m jealous, Khari, and I hate him for trying to steal you from me.”

“And what about me? What about what I want?” her question hung between them like a thick fog, each syllable prickling like needles on his skin. Her voice raised steadily in anger, “How is it fair that you’ve treated me like gum on the bottom of your shoe, and now you expect me to overlook all of that and let you have your way with me?” He remained motionless, not daring to look at her. His gaze locked onto the floor as he tried vainly to focus on anything other than the disappointment in her voice. She shifted her weight, the anger and hurt in her eyes so intense he could feel it pressing against his chest. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Nothing he could say could undo the damage he had done. The silence was heavy as she crossed her arms and let out a hollow laugh. “I’ll take your silence as your answer,” she said quietly.

Khari stepped into the brightly lit dining room, preoccupied with her thoughts. The clanging of dishes, the chatter of guests, and mellow piano music in the background faded into a dull hum. Breakfast at the palace was always a joyous occasion. Though it was a ritual, it always seemed brighter when the family was together; the King, his sons, and their court jovially chatting and taking their places around the long, grand table. But today, she couldn’t be delighted as nothing seemed to lighten her mood. Azim approached her, “How are you feeling this morning?”

Her voice cracked as she spoke, and her lip quivered. She paused, biting down on her lower lip to try and keep the tears that welled in her eyes from spilling over. “Hopeless,” she whispered after a few moments of silence, her throat tight with sorrow. “After tonight, we can no longer….”

Azim grinned, his teeth a brilliant flash of white. He crossed his arms and cocked his head to the side, a silent challenge in the tilt of his chin. “Don’t count me out yet, Khari,” he said.

She heard the smile in his voice, and despite her worries, the corners of her mouth twitched upward. Azim had a way of doing that. No matter how bleak the situation, his unwavering optimism was like a buoy in a stormy sea. He almost seemed to be daring her to see the bigger picture. “How can you be so confident when the writing is on the wall?” she asked.

He stood tall and proud, his gaze sharp as he spoke. “Because the writing on the wall is wrong,” he declared. “No one can tell the future. I choose my own fate. I’ve seen too much during the war to accept defeat unless it’s my last breath,” his voice was stern but edged with a hint of optimism as he finished his sentence.

Khari admired him. His response only made her more resolute as she stood up straighter, finding newfound boldness. “Okay,” she declared, her voice unwavering, “Until the end.”

“That’s the spirit,” Azim’s voice was warm and encouraging. He ventured a smile her way, and then, with a sideways glance to make sure the coast was clear, he reached for her hand and gave it a light, reassuring squeeze before pulling away.

King Nashir strode up to them with a measured, regal gait. He stopped and greeted them with a broad smile, “Miss Khari, how delightful to see you. Did you receive the books I had my servants leave for you?”

Khari’s cheeks went pink as she bowed and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” he said with a warm smile, his eyes twinkling as he adjusted the royal cloak on his shoulders. “Running a kingdom doesn’t leave much time for reading, but I still cherish good books,” he paused and chuckled. “I’m glad to share my love of literature with you. I hope those braille books were in good shape.”

“Yes, like new,” she replied.

“Great!” he said, his eyes widening with delight as he spotted an elderly man sauntering into the room. He waved energetically, “Ahhhh. Look who decided to drop in. Duke Reign! Over here!” The older gentleman, dressed in a tailored suit and polished shoes, smiled and walked through the crowd to join the group.

Khari’s heart stopped as she heard her father’s name. It had been such a long time since she’d last seen him. Her stomach dropped, muscles stiffening in panic. Out of the sight of others, Azim clasped her hand. He held it tightly, giving her the silent assurance that everything would be okay before letting it go as her father approached.

“Your Majesty,” Duke Reign bowed deeply to the King, his regal attire dropping into disarray with the movement. He was a distinguished man with salt and pepper hair and a well-trimmed beard. His blue eyes crinkled around the corners, and he wore a gentle smile on his face as he spoke. “I apologize for my tardiness.” His eyes flicked to the side at his daughter, and he said, “I hope Khari is serving the court well.”