Road to Ruisea

❆ ❆ XXII. JAE ❆ ❆

Jae's more used to stealing things, then not returning them. Not returning them.

But it feels pretty nice to see the king so happy when he hugs his daughter tightly, and she returns the gesture, in what would've been a bone-crushing grip to anybody else, but for Huveni, was just the right amount of affectionate.

"I'm so tired," Kumari sighs.

It's way, wayyy past midnight, judging by how low the hour-counting candles have melted by the king's throne. Jae's tired too, he feels his arms ache because of the rope-swinging and his legs ache due to outrunning that boulder (which now sits safely outside of the pyramid — surely it'll attract the attention of tourists.)

"You may rest in the castle," Mfalme says. "As my honored guests, and the rescuers of my daughter."

Uzuri had been kind enough to not tell them what had really occurred. Or maybe she just didn't want her daddy to know that she could've escaped at any time.

So they stay in the castle together, but in separate rooms, and he's relieved he won't have to hear Chiro complain to Kumari about Jae's snoring in the morning at breakfast.

And what a breakfast.

"This is practically a banquet!" Jae whoops as they're invited to eat with the royals in the dining hall in the morning, all sorts of exotic — to Jae, at least, to Huveni they're just local — fruits and brews and sweets.

Akara. Ampasi. Kenkey. Mandazi. Putu pap. Pumpuka. Poi.

"I can't eat that much," Kumari laughs at the sight. "My stomach's too small!"

"Take as much or as little as you like!" Mfalme laughs with her. "There's plenty of food for everyone, and plenty of everyone for food."

"I'd recommend you all eat," Uzuri says, taking a huge bite of bread. "Too skinny."

Once they're all full — repeatedly insisting that they couldn't possibly fit in a bite more, not even Jae — they make their way outside, Jae standing with Kumari and watching as Uzuri helps Chiro practice the spell.

"You read the parchment I gave you, yes?" Uzuri asks.

"Several times..."

"You still have it?"

"I do. It's in my jacket pocket."

"Good. Don't you dare lose it, it's very hard to find a Cevalonian translator these days, and I'm definitely not doing it for you."

"Kumari's pretty good with—"

"Kumari's, sadly, leaving."

Yes, in the short amount of time they'd had together, Kumari had managed to become fairly close to Uzuri. They were nothing alike in Jae's eyes, save for both being princesses, but Jae was quite happy about the whole deal.

Kumari needed friends that weren't books. He stood by that opinion.

"But seriously," Uzuri pokes Chiro in the chest, and Jae chuckles as he sees him flinch. "Don't lose it. Memory isn't always as reliable as we like."

Chiro nods, and they stand together, looking at the boulder in the front of the pyramid.

"I'll teach you to protect this rock. Then, we can both protect the train. It's a lot bigger, so you're going to need more than one magician — I'll help you."

"Arigato."

"I don't speak Qilucan, boy."

Chiro smiles, "Thank you."