Asher

I stood up and my eyes widened in shock. Ahara seemed as if she was going to kill someone. Those eyes overflowed with fury and excitement. I had to stop her before she hurt herself or someone else. When I made it to the arena, Josh was hugging his chest as if all the bones in his body shattered. Ahara who had just been standing there finally calmed down then rushed over to Josh and sat him up against the wall. “Ahara!” I shouted. I ran up to the two and then kneeled beside Josh as the other soldiers ran over carrying a stretcher. I helped them lift Josh up and gently place him onto the carrier so that they could bring him to the infirmary. As I watch Josh give me a thumbs-up while the soldiers carry him away, I let out a frustrated huff then turn back to face Ahara. “What happened Ahara?! Why on earth would you do that!?” I hollered, unable to control my temper.

“I’m sorry. When I get too worked up like that I tend to react without thinking.” 

“Well because of your reckless behaviour, whether you were in control of yourself or not, we now have one of our best soldiers injured and I have to report this to the Queen. You better pray that she is in a good mood right now Ahara,” I scowl. Using my hand I gesture over two guards to take Ahara over to the queen. “You two take Ahara over to the royal courtroom but do not enter before I get there. I need to check on Josh first,” I sighed. The guards shifted and shoved Ahara’s shoulder “Get moving.” 

I arrived at the infirmary where Josh had been sitting up on one of the beds wooing a nurse. I let out a little acknowledgement. “Oh hey, Asher!” waved Josh, “Come in come in.” 

My presence did not affect his conversation with the nurse as he just carried on flirting and laughing with her. “So Josh, how's your arm and ribs?” I pointed to his arm which had been dangling from his neck using bandages. 

“Oh, this? It's totally fine. The nurse here did a wonderful job” chuckled Josh as he poked at the nurse. 

“Well, I’m glad you’re ok. I have to go attend some business but make sure to get lots of rest,” making my way to the door. I look over my shoulder and roll my eyes at Josh’s flirtatious personality. 

At the entrance of the royal courtroom stood Ahara and the two guards that escorted her. “Sire, the queen awaits inside for you,” said one of the soldiers stepping forward.

“Okay, I can take it from here. Just wait out here and make sure no one interrupts” I order as I open the doors. Mother was sitting on her throne with her eyes closed as if tired. “She looks stressed,” I think to myself, “This isn’t going to end well.”

“Mother, I’ve come to report an event that occurred this morning on the training grounds” I bowed,

“What happened this time?” exhaled mother

“Ahara won the battle against Josh but she lost control and badly injured him in the process”

“WHAT?!” yelled mother bursting up from her throne in fury

“Josh’s arm was thought to be broken but luckily was just badly sprained. As of his ribs, two are fractured and three are bruised” explained Asher, “From his past injuries, I presume that he will make a fast recovery.” 

Asher had bowed the entirety of his speech and finally rose when the queen spoke, “Ahara” she spoke in a low but bold voice, “What will be your punishment for such actions?” the queen asked rhetorically.

“300 flogs and 1 night in the dungeons” demanded the Queen. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a smile grin form on Ahara’s face as if amused. This girl was crazy, how can get beaten by a big stick 300 times and spend a night in a filthy cell not bother her?

“Mother,” I said, “Isn’t 300 flogs a little extreme? Especially for a new soldier” 

“I chose this punishment especially because she is a new soldier. We have to show them their place and if they step out of line there must be penalties” glared mother, “I have made up my mind. Guards take her to receive her flogs then throw her in a cell for the night. Asher will take her tomorrow morning.” I stood there and watched as Ahara was taken away by the two guards outside and strangely I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. My mother had already gone to sign papers and schedule meetings with some other important suppliers. As I walked through the sumptuous halls I couldn’t help but feel guilty. I’m the one that made her feel like she had to win to continue her time here as a soldier. Wait, why am I thinking like this? She's the one that wants to be a soldier. Letting out a scoff I rake my hand through my hair in frustration at my strange behaviour. Behind me, in a dark corner, I hear a set of footsteps. The sun had set a while ago and there was nobody but me in the halls anymore. In a hurry, I picked up the pace, eager to get back to my chambers. The footsteps had not gone away, and in fact, they seemed to be getting closer with each passing moment. My throat felt tight and my body began to feel heavy with every step I took. The hallways appeared to darken and my chambers seemed to move farther and farther away as I hurried. 

Finally, my eyes locked onto the doors in my room which wasn’t far from here. Reaching my hand out for the handle in a panic, I feel someone grasp my shoulder and pull me to a stop. My breath had quickened rapidly and my heart was pounding too fast for the rest of me to keep up. “Sire?” I turned to see one of the maids holding up Ahara’s soldier I.D., “I noticed that this fell out of your pocket and you were too deep in thought to notice so I picked it up and followed you. I apologize if I startled you.” placing the I.D. in my hand.

I let out a breath of relief, “It’s fine, and thank you for returning this to me.” The maid’s face flushes with a soft shade and pink as she bows to tilt her head away, praying that I hadn’t noticed it. 

Thanking her once more I enter my bedroom closing the door behind me. My back slams onto the wall and I slowly shrink down to the ground, clutching my legs to my chest. The gel in my hair had sweat gone, and I was panting hard like a dog. What's going on with me? I feel so vulnerable and alarmed. This could be because the Zartari fugitive is still out on the loose. I’m being too paranoid, this palace has over 100,00 soldiers and there are more out looking for the guy. I stumbled over to the bathroom turning on the faucet to splash my face with water hoping it’d wake me up. “Ahh” I’m taken by surprise by how cold it is. I stood there trembling, my hair drenched in water. I filled a bucket of ice-cold water and raised it over my head soaking the rest of my body. I look at myself in the mirror. My hair has parted in the middle and hung in my face like Josh’s. The now transparent white shirt I had been wearing clung tightly to my abs and lean features. 

A few moments later I finally snapped back to my previous self. “It’s freezing! Why did I do that?!” I complain. “And now there's a huge mess in my bathroom!”

I called over some maids to clean the mess after I had changed into some warm dry clothes.

Later that night I sit on my bed flipping Ahara’s I.D in the air and catching it. Maybe a bodyguard isn’t a bad idea, but Josh is in no condition to fulfill that duty. Catching the card in my hand once more, I flick the card to the front side. “I think I might have an idea,” I say with a smirk.

I woke up at 4 a.m. the next morning to have a meeting with my mother. Swiping Ahara’s I.D. off the table I walk out the door back to the royal courtroom.

“Enter” called mother from behind the large wooden doors. “Good Morning mother” I bow, “I’ve come to discuss my bodyguard matter.”

“Right, Josh is still recovering from the mishap” sighed mother taking the glasses from her face. “You can take Bryn Core from sect 1. I believe that you are familiar with her.”

“I have someone in mind.”