Tasmina's Tale

8. Haggling For Dates

Tasmina

When I got home, Mama gave Ruki and I three bronze coins and sent us to get bread. I knew she wanted to speak with Faris and Felan alone, so I left quickly. 

“So, you went to the palace. How was it?” Ruki asked, curiously. 

Over the past two days, she had slowly opened up more and more, but was still rather quiet. 

“It was… very big and white. The gardens were beautiful,” I said. 

“My Ma used to say that a false king sits on the throne. That he has done for many centuries,” she said, quietly. 

I knew all about the Rai mystics. They were taught to us young mystics as a cautionary tale. We sought power in light, channelling the power of the God Flame, or what most people prefer to call the sun. Rai mystics, however, were known to channel Dark. It was considered the greatest form of blasphemy, the highest treason against Goddess herself. They had served the ancient king, the last king of his bloodline, Alpha Saurus Gul. History remembered him as a cold man, a cruel leader, drunk on his own power. He had been stabbed in the neck by his Beta’s mate when he had tried taking advantage of her. I didn’t think it was the right time to give Ruki a history lesson. I shrugged noncommittally. 

“But if a false king sits atop the throne, don’t you want to be rid of him? So that the rightful king may once again rule?” 

“Keep your voice down,” I murmured, glancing around quickly to make sure no one had heard.

“If the people of Daro hear you speak this way, they will tear you limb from limb. They are loyal to King Iza.” 

She shrugged nonchalantly, but I saw her eyes dart around all the same. 

“Ma spent some time in Lira, with Lord Silas. He is—”

“Descended from the Gul line, I know,” I hissed. “Everyone knows. They haven’t stopped harping on about it for the past few centuries.”

She giggled slightly and I grinned at her. 

“Why are we talking about these politics, anyway? I get enough of this from my daily lessons with Mama. Tell me, you’ve been in Daro for three days now. Any boys caught your eye? Any girls?” 

She smiled shyly before shaking her head. 

“No, but even if they did… no one will want to be entangled with a Rai mystic.”

“Oh, we’ll soon see about that,” I said, winking at her. 

“And what of you? Do you have many lovers in Daro?” she asked.

My mind wandered to Prince Rikom. His dark eyes, his straight, long hair that fell over his eyes in just this way… 

Without even realising, I had found myself in a complete daydream about the prince. Well, that was awfully strange, I thought, shaking my head quickly. I turned to Ruki and laughed.

“Between training, alchemy lessons, history lessons, astronomy lessons and practising my healing, Mama gives me very little time to have lovers,” I replied, laughing. 

“Do you think… perhaps, your Mama will teach me? I, too, used to train as a mystic, though not quite as thoroughly as you do,” she said, smiling. 

I thought about it carefully.

“I don’t see why not! Why don’t we grab the bread and ask her. In fact, here, you get the bread,” I said, placing a single bronze coin in her hand. “I see my friend, Malaka, over there. I’m going to say hello and then to haggle for some dates.”

—

When we got home, Felan and Faris looked stricken as I walked in, both of them looking at me as though I were completely foreign to them. 

“What?” I asked. 

Mama shot them a warning glance, gesturing with her eyes to Ruki. 

“Nothing, Mina, we were just starving,” Faris said, smiling at me. 

“Well, you’re in luck! I managed to get nearly a kilo of dates for just one bronze coin,” I said, grinning widely. 

“Who fell in love with you this time?” Felan asked, rolling his eyes. 

“I used my wits, not my t**s,” I retorted.

Mama shook her head, but laughed anyway. Even she didn’t have the strength to scold me after the day we’d had. 

“Right, come on then. I’ve got okra on the stove and Faris managed to bring us home a leg of lamb, which has been roasting for most of the day.” 

“Lamb!” I said, excitedly. 

We didn’t often have meat in the house, not that any of us particularly minded. But it was a well known fact that lamb was by far my most favourite.

“Happy born day, little sister,” Faris said, smiling at me widely. “It was with my first wage from the blacksmith,” he said, smiling shyly. 

I ran to him and hugged him tightly. Just last month, he had become an apprentice to the blacksmith of Daro, an esteemed position but we all knew it was very hard work. 

“Thank you, brother,” I said, squeezing him.

He laughed shyly and patted my back. 

“Come on then. Let’s eat!” 

—

We ate heartily until we rolled around on the floor clutching our stomachs. When Mama rose to pick up the dishes, Ruki stood quickly.

“No, please. Allow me. It’s the least I could do…” she said, her eyes downcast. 

Mama smiled widely.

“Why, thank you, Ruki. I shan’t say no to a night off tonight.” 

Ruki smiled at her and picked up the rest of our plates. 

“Give me another ten minutes before you bring out the dates,” Felan groaned. 

“How can you even think of more food?” Faris asked, his eyes wide. 

“I said ten minutes, not right now,” Felan insisted. 

We laughed loudly. He had that effect, spreading laughter wherever he went. We spent the rest of the evening gently ribbing each other, while Ruki watched on, occasionally laughing. I helped her clean the kitchen and we both tidied up together before we dragged ourselves to bed, exhausted. 

“Your family is kind,” she said, quietly. “But I shan’t overstay my welcome.”

I turned to her in bed, reaching out for her hand under our shared blanket. 

“You’re welcome here as long as you want to stay.”

Her smile was small and grateful. She fell asleep quickly but I lay awake for a while staring at the ceiling. Two years. Two years and I would have a decision to make. I urged for sleep to come and I forced myself to close my eyes. 

Hello, Tasmina. 

I nearly jumped clean off the bed as Prince Rikom’s voice filled my ears. Now that we had met, he was able to link me at will. What was I supposed to say in return? I went with the obvious.

Good evening, Prince Rikom. 

I hope I didn’t wake you.

It is rather late to be linking young women, wouldn’t you say? 

Would you say? 

Was he… flirting with me? 

Well, I am in bed.

Oh goddess, was I flirting with him? I hadn’t meant it in that way whatsoever. I was, quite literally, in bed. 

As am I. What did you eat today? 

What? 

I answered him. This back and forth went on for some time. His voice was soothing, reverberating in my mind as it had done in the Hall of Judgement. He was easy to talk to, so to speak. Before I knew it, the conversation was flowing and I realised that it was merely an hour or two until dawn. 

Forgive me, I have kept you up all night. I hope to speak with you again tomorrow. 

Goodnight, Prince Rikom.

Goodnight, Tasmina.