The King And His Goddess Of War

Chapter 12: Tattoo

Zuka’s POV:

Princess Jasmine was scheduled to arrive today, so I snuck out of the castle. I haven't done it in months, and I am only usually allowed to leave to go to a nearby village like Greenwood or River Valley. By today I wasn't going to an innocent town for bread or maybe a nice new word from one of the blacksmiths.

I was going to a rebel community.

Toothy hated going to these villages since men of these lands are more brutal than most and thieving is normal. Thankfully, Toothy will be armed with metal that I bring up. I will make sure no one can take him while I do what I'm doing.

My parents will be furious when they find out what I'm about to do. 

I held the picture of Arianna and I in hand with her name written in a beautiful font. I smiled at the memory as Toothy continued to sprint forward at an amazing speed towards a rebel community. Strange creatures were inside these communities that you wouldn't normally find anywhere else. Most black market trades happen here and creature capturing is what they're known for. Even soldiers without mounts come here for cheap and powerful creatures to ride into battle. 

That's the only reason my parents haven't arrested every man here.

Toothy stopped in front of the building I told him to and I slid off his back, bringing up metals from the ground and creating a cage-like thing that was connected to the ground. Well, a ball of dense metals was what it was really connected to. It would take days for someone to get through. But I only needed a few hours.

Once Toothy was secured I walked up the steps to the building, opening the door and stepping inside. Many large men were in there, the smell of ink was very strong. A man approached me, an eyepatch covering his left eye and gloves on his hands.

"Zuka, we have been expecting you," he said, leading me forward to a chair and a table in the corner, away from the larger men here. Needles lay on the table with ink cartridges, but it was expected.

The man sat in the chair beside me and I described what I wanted to him. 

Roses with Kleine Rose placed in small font beneath it. I wanted that on my shoulder. As for my wrist, I wanted Arianna's name in the same font.

The man showed me his drawing that he was going to place on my body and I nodded, accepting the gorgeous art to be placed on my body. Then, the artist came over and adjusted some things before beginning the whole process.

***

I walked out of the building with a wrap around my shoulder and wrist. I wore my sweatshirt over it to conceal it from my parents until the skin healed in a couple days. Now her name was tattooed on me forever, her nickname and roses just adding to the memories I shared with the woman I wanted instead of a pampered princess.

Thankfully, Toothy had not been taken, so I released him from the cage I placed around him and we rode off as fast as we came, passing strange people and creatures on the way out.

I had taken off my shirt and I'm cleaning the tattoo with the solution the man gave me. Some of the soldiers have recommended this tattoo parlor to me before, so I trusted that it wasn't going to infect my skin. They have tattoos of their own from that place, so I had no worries. 

I placed the solution on a cotton circle and rubbed gently across the tattoos, removing excess ink. My skin turned slightly pink when rubbed, but it faded quickly. I placed a new wrap on them and put on a plain t-shirt, ready to go to the soldier's quarters for lunch. But I was interrupted.

My mother burst into my room, her dress large and flowing behind her like always. Her crown was elegantly placed on her head to impress and I assumed my father was dressed similarly. "Where have you been, Zuka!? The princess arrived an hour ago and we came to find you and you were nowhere to be found!" Before I could reply she looked at the wraps on my arm. "What did you do to yourself?"

"I got some scratches on the training course, nothing major," I replied, running my hand through my hair. Thank Vargrum, I was good at lying. "Where is the princess now?"

"She's in the main room, waiting for you," Mother replied, her hands on her hips.

"Then I will go to the opposite side of the castle," I muttered, moving past my mother and going to the soldier's quarters, which was away from the main area. Mother tried to come after me, but with those horrid heels and large dress, I'm sure she didn't make it that far before she stopped. 

In the soldier's quarters, everything was like normal. Tyson and Colby sat, having light chat like always. But now, there was no Ari to make witty comments or insult Tyson. There was no Ari to steal food from. Just me, my brother, and Tyson. I sighed and sat down in my bean bag.

Colby's eyes immediately bugged out of his head. "What did you do?"

"You sound like Mom," I chuckle.

"You went to go get tatted, didn't you?" Tyson said, crossing his arms. I noticed he was no longer in a full cast, but in a very expensive brace. I nodded, rubbing my wrist where Arianna's name was. 

"What did you get that was so big?" Colby asked softer, his eyes filled with curiosity. I pick up a smoothie that I would usually take from Arianna and sip some before removing my wraps that I had just put. The tattoos were fine, but I would have to wear the wrap for maybe another day or so. I want to avoid infection. Colby's eyes immediately found the name on the inside of my wrist. It was more red than my shoulder due to placement, but you could tell how much time was put into the tattoo just by glancing at it. It took about three hours to get it all done, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I didn't regret putting her name on my wrist or the roses or Kleine Rose that I associated with her. 

Tyson didn't seem surprised that I had her now all over my right arm. He just smiled. "Great artist you got at that parlor. He's my favorite."

"Why would you tattoo her on your arm when you're betrothed?" Colby asked.

"Ari is the person I love, not Princess Jasmine," I explained simply. 

Colby had a spark of jealousy in his eyes but it wore away quickly. "Then what are you going to do about your engagement? The First Elder directed it and there's no way you can get around that. And what will happen if Mom sees this? I know Dad will understand, but Mom will have a cow."

"Exactly," I reply, drinking the rest of my smoothie.

Tyson sighed and Colby shrugged, eating the rest of his sandwich. But he nearly choked on it when Dad came into the room, his eyes blazing. Tyson stood up as best he could and grabbed his crutches, leaving the room before things got heated. Colby stood and left as well, the rest of the soldiers following him.

My tattoos were exposed completely.

Dad found them quickly and stormed over to me, his eyes blazing with anger. I stood up and faced him, not intimidated at all. "Your mother said you had an injury from the training court! Zuka, when and where did you get this done?"

"Rebel village, and a couple hours ago," I replied. "Beautiful art, isn't it?"

Dad now blew up. "Your mom will kill you! And I.. I think you're dedicated," he sighed, gesturing to my wrist. "But your future wife isn't going to like this. She's rather... picky."

"I refuse to marry her," I growl, narrowing my eyes. 

"Even I can't stop this, son," he said quietly. "Your mother agrees with the elders and together, they overrule my judgement."

"Just give the crown to Colby and he can marry the princess," I say, making my hands into fists. I clenched my fists until my knuckles became white. "I am going to Africa."

"At least talk to the princess before you leave," Dad asked, his eyes understanding. "I don't agree with forced marriage and I have seen enough. You may leave if you don't tell your mother I let you. In fact you have to sneak out. And you have to present your tattoo to your mother as well."

It was the fastest agreement I have ever made. "I'll be gone by the time you wake up."

"But you will still be King, Zuka. You must have a wife three months before your twenty-first birthday," Dad said. "Colby is too much like your mother to be King. Too sweet in the beginning, but power-hungry when they get a taste."

"You and Mom aren't..."

"We were arranged as well, Zuka. There is no love," he sighed. "First Elder proposed it then as well. It's like he's wanting to rule the country by choosing the leaders, the countries to combine with, getting things we don't need."

"Damn old people nowadays," I joke.

"But that's exactly why I want you to find love. I have never been in love, and your mother hasn't either. But I want you to have a chance while you have it," he muttered. "Now go meet the picky princess."

She was from my nightmares. 

Her fake face, covered in makeup and her hair dyed blond with brown undertones. Her contacts were so fake I thought I was going to throw up. Who wears those fake blue colored contacts? She wore a pink dress for her first meeting with me, a matching crown placed upon her head. She wore the brightest pink shoes I have ever seen, nearly making me cringe.

It was just me and her in the room, only one of us ready to have a conversation.

I sat on the opposite couch that she was sitting on, but she transferred to my couch, smiling at me, biting her lip. I pretended to take no notice of her shameless behavior and decided to greet her.

"I'm Prince Zuka," I say, not wanting her to get any closer. She did.

"I'm Princess Jasmine," she said breathlessly. "Now, what's gonna happen?"

"A conversation," I reply. Her hands snake up my left arm, her fake nails nearly scratching my skin. Her skin looked like she had too many rounds of spray tan. Looks like she used the whole bottle. I grab her arm and push her off. "Are you usually like this?" I ask.

"Nope!" she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Only around you."

I was done already. I stood and started to leave. She grabbed my right hand and stared at the name tattooed on my wrist. Her frown was ugly, not sad. She looked angry like every crazy ex-girlfriend from the movies. "Could you get off?" I ask, snapping a little.

"Who is she?" she asks, her nails close to digging into my skin. I shake her off and stare at her, sitting on the couch staring right back at me with full on jealousy. 

"She's the one I love," I reply, walking out of the room and back to my room.

Now, I start packing for Africa.