Page 3 of The Promise Born
“But she is… beneath you,” the aide said, making full eye contact with me.
“She will serve her purpose. That’s all that matters.” The prince answered, but there was a softness to his tone that betrayed his dismissive words. Were there other motives behind his choice?
“Excuse me?” I couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t going to just stand there and let the man talk about me like an inanimate object.
“Did you need something?” the aide took a step to insert himself between me and the prince.
“I need to understand why you’re talking about me like I’m not close enough to hear you.” I rolled my eyes.
“Our discussion isn’t about you. It’s about the prince and his future. Maybe you would benefit from quelling your ego.” again the aide spoke, but Prince Asante held his hand up, quieting the man.
“My ego is just fine. Maybe you would benefit from not assuming women are morons.” I scoffed. “I have no interest in whatever it is you think is going to happen here. Choose another woman for the job.”
“How could you say you have no interest in the prince?” The aide spoke, and Prince Asante said nothing. “Do you know who you are?”
“Yes, I do. I’m a woman who makes my own choices. And right now, I’m choosing to end this conversation.” I looked the prince in the eye. “Find another girl to hang on your arm. Look around, there are plenty who want the chance.”
I turned, stomping off, dirt covered and proud of my response. The prince of the fire dragons could kiss my ass!
Chapter 2
Withadeterminedstride,I left the prince amidst his fawning supporters, the murmur of their voices fading as I walked away. One glance back found him already swallowed up by the swarm. Everyone wanted a chance to get close to the prince. I hoped he would find someone else to entertain whatever twisted thoughts rolled through his head, or that his aide would convince him to choose one of the other women. But there was something about that look in his eye that told me this would not go away easily.
Once back at my cozy home, I cleaned up the dishes I’d used to start my day and sat on the small chair in the sitting room. Already my body ached, but I knew I wasn’t physically tired. It was a mental weight that made my shoulders tighten and my legs throb. The prince was in town and now had his eye on me and, once again, I longed for home. I wanted to be with my people, but I knew I could never return there.
Whenever I missed my true home, I’d open the shuttered windows of my simple cottage and listen to the sweet songs of the lily willows. Delicate little birds with twisted beaks that made their songs sound like the jazz music the ancient humans brought to Lunaterra when they crashed into our world all those years ago. I had never interacted with an actual human or any of their direct descendants, but my father had. And he raved about the beings that so many others wanted to demonize.
It had been five years since I last heard my father’s shaky laughter. When something amused him, his entire body became an expression of joy with chaotic jerks and violent shaking. He couldn’t help it. He would have outbursts unbefitting someone of his position, but he didn’t care. And neither did I. My favorite moments were those spent laughing with my father. My mother complained that I inherited my expressive laughter from him. She tried to train it out of me, but the habit persisted, like a weed refusing to die. At least that’s how my mother saw it.
I went to the window, leaned on the sill, and let out a long sigh. The scent of fresh tea hung in the air. When I closed my eyes, the birds almost sounded like her. My mother. I could see her soft eyes and full smile. Yes, she was a mother who wanted the best for her daughter. She was strong-willed, and sometimes pushy, but she was also joyous. She would sing whenever she could. Anytime I found my mother alone, she’d be humming a song and daydreaming about being a performer. I missed everything about her.
It’s hard to walk away from everything you know and start over. Especially when you have to do it in secrecy. It’s not the way I wanted my life to go, but I saw no other way to live a life I designed for myself. My parents wanted more for me than mysimpledreams. They actually would have been happy to find out that a prince like Asante had chosen me, even if it was only to appease his mother. They wanted me to be educated, to marry well, to have babies and to live a life where aides helped me do everything.
I wanted a life I could actively participate in. Where I could work long hours doing things I loved. Where I didn’t have to hide in corners to sing my melodies. My mother’s heart longed to be a singer, to perform in front of crowds. My heart ached every time I had to remember how she gave that all up.
After an hour of thinking about things I couldn’t change, I headed out. I couldn’t spend the day wallowing. There was work to be done, and customers who depended on me to do it. I pinned my long locs up into stacking buns at the back of my head. Splitting the weight in two meant fewer headaches and a style that would last through long days.
I had to get a head-start because things were a little more difficult for me. Most shop owners in Clayhorn could warm up their equipment with the breath of their dragon. I had to use other means, and I had to do it in secret. I was a woman of ice hiding in a world of fire.
I didn’t keep it hidden because anyone would shun me for it. Ice and Fire often intermingled. But I kept the detail to myself because I felt it added another layer of protection. The fewer people who knew, the less likely someone would go digging into my past.
My doors opened just in time for my first customer. That same gray-haired old woman.
“Hello Mesi!” I greeted her cheerfully.
“Happy to see you opened on time.” She smiled. “Those other slackers are still trying to get over the shock of our unexpected visitors.”
“It’s a rare sighting.” I shrugged. “I understand it.”
“I suppose. Still not sure why he’s here.” She pursed her lips. “He’s barely shown any interest in the women out there. And trust me when I say they are doing everything they can to get his attention.”
“Have they not gone yet?” I couldn’t help the frown that spread across my face. “That’s surprising.”
“No, the prince is taking his time. Meeting with the elders of the community. I could have stayed, supposed I should have considered the number of grays on my head, but I have a routine to keep. I need my morning delights.”
“Well, I’m happy to be a part of your routine.” I smiled.
“You know how addictive your treats are. It reminds me of things I had long ago.” she paused, giving me a look that made the hair on the back of my neck stand. “That was a long way from here, though.”
