Ahara

The dungeons were cold and damp but luckily I did manage to get used to it after the 300 flogs. There was a little wooden bench in the corner of the cell and a bucket in the other. I sat with my legs crossed on the bench exploring all of my intrusive thoughts. My back was still a little sore and it was getting more noticeable as the minutes passed. There's no doubt that I was bruised and blood-soaked, but my endurance training as a child had finally become useful in times like these. Wei may have been the most important person to me but when I messed up or talked back, he’d always find a new punishment to ‘train me’. He did not hold back nor did he intend to. That kind of training was to increase my durability to most types of torture. If only there was a lesson on how to not piss off a queen. The latch on the door shifted with a clack and my head jerked up to see who had come. “Ahara!” cried Bryn flying at me with her arms reaching to me,

“Are you ok?! Did the flogs hurt? Was the night cold??”

“I’m okay.” I laughed as I stood up. Bryn released me from the embrace then took my arm and pulled me out of the stuffy cell. As soon as we were in the hall, she suddenly stopped and spun me around to lift my shirt and check my wounds. “Ahhhh! I knew it! You are hurt!” Bryn wailed.

Max came from behind her and shoved a slice of bread in her mouth. He pushed his way through Bryn and Josh then held out his hand, “Here Ahara, we brought you some bread.” 

“Thanks.” Gratefully, I took it from his hand and started pulling it apart using my dirty calloused hands.

Finishing up the last of my bread I looked up to find another person added to the group of people who awkwardly watched me eat.

“How’d you enjoy your stay here?” Asher said sarcastically. I clapped my hands together in amazement at the first joke I heard Asher say. 

“Wow, I didn’t know the mighty prince could even make jokes.” He glared at me with his icy blue eyes. Two can play that game. I glared back at him, squinting at the bright light just behind him.

“You guys need to cool down and hurry up. Breakfast is going to end soon” Josh said, joining Bryn and Max up the stairs. Hmph, I shoved past Asher and then bolted up the stairs, happy to finally get to see the sun again.

The steel door screeched open and a beam of light bleeds onto my skin. Shielding my eyes with my hand I followed my friends out of the prison and back into the palace. All of a sudden, Bryn latched onto my arm, “I’m going to take Ahara to get bandaged up. We’ll meet you guys in the cafeteria.” Everyone agreed and we parted ways. The two of us headed to my room so that I could get cleaned and bandaged up. 

“You go shower, I’ll get the med-kit for you” called Bryn. I grabbed the towel hanging over the vent and a black shirt and a pair of shorts.

I turned off the water and dried myself off. Before putting on my fresh shirt, I took a moment to check the wounds for myself. Most of them were just skin wounds, but the big slash down my back looked to be deep and would most likely scar. I had quite a few scars on my body, most from past training with master Wei. 

“Hurry Ahara! The guys are waiting for us in the cafeteria” shouted Bryn. Slipping on my shirt I walked out to meet Bryn holding ointment in one hand and bandages in the other. She patted the bed, gesturing for me to sit, and I did. Rolling up my shirt Bryn dribbled some ointment onto her cupped palms then vigorously rubbed her hands together. Bryn gently applied the ointment onto my back so she would not cause me any pain. As she started to wrap up my back with bandages she cleared her throat and spoke, “Did- did it hurt?” Bryn asked quietly.

“What?” I asked, snapping out of a daze.

“Did the 300 flogs hurt?” she repeated. 

I laughed a little then proceeded to answer her question. “No, the soldiers there were quite weak.”

“Well that's good” sighed Bryn, finishing up with my bandages. I got up and turned to face the mirror to examine her skills. “Pretty good” I applauded. 

Bryn beamed, as she took in my complement then collected everything off of the bed and placed it back into my drawer while I changed into my armour.

We met up with the guys and got a proper breakfast in the cafeteria as planned. I chose a seat next to Josh who had been sitting across from Josh and Bryn sat on the other side of the table with Max. 

“So how’s your arm doing Josh?” I said with a full mouth.

“It’s healing pretty well, the doctor said that I could start training again in two weeks” Josh smiled. I looked up to see Asher staring at me, darting his eyes back to his food as soon as I had noticed. My jaw clenched and I balled my fists tight to keep from jumping over the table to strangle the life out of him. How dare he even have the gall to look at me with what he has done. 

Asher cleared his throat then spoke, “Ahara you’re my new bodyguard.” I coughed choking on my food and almost spit it out in utter shock. His bodyguard? I’m not someone he can boss around. 

“I’m not someone you can boss around!” I snapped. 

“I’ve already spoken to my mother and we both agreed that you’re the best choice.” claimed Asher adjusting his posture to seem less awkward, “I’ll give you your I.D. back if you agree. Whether you choose to say yes, you will be treated better and you’ll be able to be given special privileges.” 

I paused to think then when I couldn’t think of anything I turned to the others for advice. They all simply shrugged and went back to finishing their meals. 

“Fine.” I agreed, “But first, I have a question. Does being your bodyguard mean that I will always be beside you?” I asked curiously with a smirk growing on my face.

 Asher looked at me strangely, “Yes, you would always need to be with me in case of any mishaps.”

Being his bodyguard would give me a whole bunch of opportunities to finally get on with my mission and leave this place. But I couldn’t make a stupid move and get caught. He was still wary of me and that's not good. I had to earn his trust before I did anything else. 

“Hello? Earth to Ahara” Asher waved a hand in front of my face, “So do you accept my offer?”

“Alright, now give me my I.D,” I demanded, holding out my hand. Asher reached his hand into his pocket and placed my I.D. onto my open palm. “Since this is settled I still have other matters to attend to.” Asher stood from his seat and took his tray and left.

The four of us finished our breakfasts then went to our training in the arena. The heat was thick and we boiled in our armours as the day rolled around. The end of our lesson neared as we all were panting and drenched in sweat. 

Bryn was on the floor groaning and complaining as usual. I took off the top half of my armour and continued to train by myself as everyone cleared. I switched from sword to bow to spear then without weapons. 

The empty halls of the palace echoed my footsteps. 

Standing in front of my door I set down my sword to punch in the passcode then waited for the little green light. Red. I typed it in again, this time paying more attention to the number under my fingers. Red again. What’s going on? I tugged on the door handle, probably making myself look like a fool to those who passed by. “Ahara?” I looked behind me still holding onto the door handle. There stood a soldier from training looking at me with the most concerned expression on her face. “Oh hey, Olivia!” I chuckled in embarrassment.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“What do you mean? I live here.”

“I saw Prince Asher this noon and he was with some other servants collecting all of your belongings from your room,” explained Olivia. 

What was going on? Did I do something that the Queen didn’t like? 

I ran out into the hallways then turned the corner almost slipping on the cold marble floors. My feet slowed down as I got closer to Asher’s doors. “Sorry ma’am, the prince isn’t seeing anyone right now.” She held out a hand from one of the guards. My knuckles turned white from my clenched fists. Reaching out for the guard’s arm, Asher spoke from inside the room, “Let her in.”