Tasmina's Tale

6. Mystics Don't Mate

Tasmina

“She is too young,” Mama argued, shielding me behind her.

“She is my son’s mate,” Queen Maha said, calmly.

“She is a mystic. Mystics do not have mates,” Mama said, raising her voice.

My eyes widened. My Mama, the picture of etiquette and decorum, was raising her voice at the Queen of Zamee. I felt a tinge of pride, but an overwhelming sense of terror at what was unfolding.

“The King of Zamee has not had a mate for seven generations. This is not a mistake,” Queen Maha said, calmly.

“I am well aware that Goddess does not make mistakes,” Mama snapped.

She closed her eyes then, taking a deep breath.

“A mystic cannot be the Queen of Zamee,” she whispered, clasping my hand in her own. “This is unprecedented. It has never happened before.”

“I will teach her all she needs to know,” Queen Maha said, patiently.

“Will you teach her of the cruelty of this world? Will you protect her when this kingdom rejects her? Will you put your body on the line for my child?” Mama asked, angrily.

Queen Maha considered us carefully.

“I had heard of the bonds that mystics share with their daughters, but I have never before seen it with my own eyes…”

“Two years,” Mama said, abruptly.

“Two years?” Queen Maha repeated, questioningly.

“Give me two years. Her training as a mystic is not complete, she is on the cusp of womanhood but has not yet crossed it. When she is ready, if my daughter so wishes, Prince Rikom can claim her as his mate.”

My eyes widened. I didn’t think I’d ever be ready.

“Two years?” Prince Rikom repeated, outraged. “I refuse to wait two years for what goddess has given to m—”

“Listen boy,” Mama hissed, rounding on him so suddenly, even he shrank back slightly. “For sixteen years, I have waited by the door feeling as though my soul may leave my body when she is merely a few minutes late in getting home after dark. For sixteen years, I have kept my child alive and happy and healthy, all the while carrying a crippling pain in my heart that something still may go horribly wrong, despite my greatest efforts to keep her safe. If you think I give a flying f*ck about the opinion of a young, arrogant little boy who has barely come into his beard, just because he has wanted her for all of five minutes, you are sorely mistaken.”

It was my turn to gasp as Mama gravely insulted the Prince of Zamee. His eyes widened in shock for a brief moment and I saw a flash of respect cross over them, before his brows furrowed in anger. Before he could speak, Queen Maha held up her hand, silencing him.

“Two years is enough time for us to decide what will come of this. I only ask that you allow my son to see his mate from time to time.

“No. I cannot have him interfering with her training.”

Prince Rikom bristled with anger, but he either respected or feared Mama enough to not interrupt her.

“Then give them permission to link, at least. I ask only this, Miya, that you let them meet if the opportunity arises. It is cruel to keep them apart for too long.”

Mama considered this carefully.

“We cannot have anyone knowing before it is the right time. I will pray and consult with Goddess. But if we are to do this, we do it on our terms. I can’t just have a royal prince traipsing into my home whenever he wants. Their mate bond is not yet strong enough for this separation to harm them, they are still young. If I can safely do so, I will arrange a meeting or two for them in the next two years. But I will not have terms dictated to me by a petulant child.”

“Of course, Miya, that is understandable,” Queen Maha said, calmly, eyeing her son as though daring him to speak.

Mama’s brows were arched, and she still shielded my body with hers from both the Prince and the Queen. She turned around to look at me and her eyes were deeper the Indigo Sea, with a sadness so vast, it threatened to consume me.

“What say you, daughter? Are you alright with this arrangement?” she said aloud.

Tell me if you wish to run, girl. We will leave Daro tonight and never look back. There is no force upon you here.

I took a deep breath, squeezing Mama’s hand. A mate? This certainly hadn’t been in my plans. It would definitely explain the lingering scent of fresh banana bread, though. I looked at Prince Rikom, his eyes hard and unwavering as he looked at me. But there was a hint of something, almost like… a plea. He waited patiently for my response.

“How will Prince Rikom visit me? For surely, I cannot come to the palace unnoticed,” I said, quietly.

Mama smiled at me sadly.

“The Prince will need to disguise himself. Perhaps wear a cloak. I shall put you in touch with my sons, Felan and Faris. They will aid the Prince in finding our home.”

“And in two years, Tasmina will come to the palace?” Queen Maha asked.

Mama turned to me, her eyes questioning. I would never make my Mama run from our home. If this was a part of my duty, so be it. My heart broke at the thought of leaving behind my room, of leaving my family. But I still had two years. I gave Mama a small nod. Her eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, as though she was making sure of my decision.

Then she turned back to Queen Maha, ignoring Prince Rikom entirely.

“Yes. In two years, Tasmina will return to the palace. You have my word,” Mama said.

I exhaled slowly. A mystic’s word was binding. Queen Maha nodded, her eyes unreadable as we bowed in front of her and Prince Rikom.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Tasmina Miya Kaiz,” she called after us.

We walked out quickly into the palace gardens, hand in hand, my heart thudding loudly in my chest.

“Tell no one of this,” Mama whispered. “I will speak with your brothers myself. No one else must know. Not even that girl you have invited into our home. Do you hear me, Mina?”

“Yes, Mama,” I murmured quietly.

“I have always told you, my girl, life is not easy. Well, yours is about to get infinitely harder. How did I not see this? Why has goddess not warned me?” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

“It will be alright, Mama,” I said, trying to sound reassuring but still somehow managing to sound only naive and childish.

Mama stopped walking and turned to face me, cupping my face in her hands.

“It will be alright, my darling girl. We’ll make sure of it, won’t we?”

She smiled at me warmly, and there it was again, that feeling of ease she brought when she met your eyes with her own.

“We will, Mama,” I replied, as I felt my fears and worries ebb away.

“I have two years before I am mated to the Crown Prince,” I said, causing some of the panic to creep back into my chest.

“Mated? Oh, my dear girl, did you not hear me? I vowed to bring you back to this palace in two years' time. I said absolutely nothing about you being mated to the Crown Prince. That is not a vow to be made. That is a choice. A choice you alone will make, my love. Nobody will take choice away from my daughter.”

I gasped, my eyes widening as I realised what she had done.

“Mama, have I ever told you that you’re the cleverest woman I know?”

Her beautiful eyes crinkled from the smile that lit up the world.

“My darling girl, you clearly don’t know enough women.”

As we approached the gates, I turned back to look at the Hall of Judgement. My breath caught as I saw Prince Rikom standing tall between the pillars, watching after us even as the gates of the palace closed behind us.