Tales of Love and Power

Chapter 13: Mahaila

By the next morning, Mahaila had regained her health and became her own joyful self once more. Abzalin saw her at first sunrise. Mahaila sat up from her bed and nearly rushed from her bed to hug him. "Don't stand, I don't want you getting hurt when you are still healing." Abzalin implored as he sat next to her.

"I am healed in your presence. If you kiss me I just might live forever."

A blush crept unto Madam Rozar's cheeks as the two embraced and she excused herself from their presence.

"You've embarrassed your healer." Abzalin joked.

Mahaila kissed Abzalin again with a playful smile upon her lips. "Madam Rozar will recover." She spoke smiling against his lips. She felt joy against his touch. Her heart fluttered and her pulse raced. Her mind could focus on nothing but his presence.

"Seeing you like this feels like a dream," Abzalin said moving a curly strand of her hair behind her ear. Their eyes were fixated on each other as passion flew around them. "Are you sure that you are well?"

Mahaila took a deep inhale as she placed her hands on his lap. "I am well Abzalin. Have no fear, you will not lose me." She comforted him seeing his shaky continence.

Abzalin brought her hands to his lips before laying her hand back down.

She was no longer in pain when she was in his embrace. She was no longer afraid when she was in his embrace.

Abzalin looked upon her his eyes finally finding peace in the knowledge that she was well again.

A knock came to the door to which Abzalin ordered for them to enter.

In came two girls carrying in a table of breakfast food.

"What's this?" Mahaila asked. "We will have breakfast together before I leave for my duties." Anakaztia smiled as the servants placed down their table by her bed. Abzalin picked up a slice of bread tore off a small piece of it and dipped it in honey before lifting it to Mahaila's lips. She smiled and opened her lips taking a bite of the sweet bread while running the tip of her tongue on his thumb.

The two girls giggled softly watching as the two ate their meals sharing affection between them. The time flew too quickly as they ate and talked. When a different knock came to the door followed by Zukul's voice Abzalin knew that their time together had to come to an end. "I want to see you tonight but only if you're feeling absolutely perfect."

"I wouldn't dream of not spending a night with you."Mahaila sang to him as he stood from the side of her bed. Mahaila watched with much pleasure as he walked away and sighted when he was no longer in her presence.

Madam Rozar and the other healers returned to her side once again as the two servants took away her food tray. The healers returned to examining her and documenting her progress. When noon came Mahaila received her first visitor in the healing rooms.

"Yuruza!" She exclaimed as her friend approached her and hugged her. "Mahaila! Thank Azlah you're alive." She said swinging her from side to side.

Madam Rozar stood and went to the hugging girls. "Yuruza be gentle. She was at death's door yesterday."

Yuruza looked between Madam Rozar and her friend afraid and saddened by her words. "I can't believe I almost lost you." She said with a despondent shock.

"I'm fine now so please do not be sad. I hate to see your pretty face so unhappy." Mahaila took her hand as she sat down across from her.

Yuruza smiled briefly at her friend before asking her about what had happened to her. Yuruza gasped in shock as Mahaila explained the details to her. 

"I can't believe that she sent you to the dungeons. She has gone too far this time." Yuruza sat at her bedside more than shaken as to what Hazeda had done.

"Has she done this before?" Mahaila asked, her eyes curious.

"One time, she used the excuse that a concubine had disrespected her to have her servants leave her in the forest for the entire night. It was almost winter and by the time the girl found her way to the palace." Yuruza grew uneasy as she remembered the events that she had once witnessed. "I can only say that she was in no place to serve the king. They moved her to the old palace when she recovered. No one ever heard from her again."

"Poor girl." Mahaila said looking downcast.

"Yes, but let's not talk about that anymore." Yuruza moved closer to her almost whispering. "I heard the king was here. Did you see him?" Her question came out like a song as she elongated her words.

"He stayed with me until I fell asleep and he saw me this morning before he left. He said that if I am feeling all better then he'd like me to come see him tonight."

Yuruza gushed and smiled as Mahaila retold the events of the previous night. A few minutes later, the door opened, and a maid walked inside holding a tray of wine and cakes. "What this for?" Yuruza asked.

"Concubine Hazeda is sharing this with the Harem..." the girl announced, smiling proudly. "In honor of her pregnancy. Another prince is on the way."

To say that Mahaila was speechless would be an understatement. She felt as if her body had lost every ounce of strength that it had. She fell into stunned silence as Yuruza told the maid to leave with the drinks.

"You shouldn't worry. Concubine Hazeda has most likely been pregnant for a while, she'd only reveal it now if she thinks she needs a pregnancy to secure his majesty's favor. Concubine Hazeda would only do this if she felt threatened. She just wants to flaunt her pregnancy so that everyone knows that she still holds his majesty's favor." It was smart advice, but it was easier said than done.

Logistically, Hazeda had the best weapon a concubine could have. A child on the way. Now she was truly untouchable.

"I know you are right. But I suppose I'm sad because now he'll probably want to spend more time with her than with me."

"I'm not so sure about that. When he returned to the palace, the first person he wanted to see was you. He has a responsibility to her as the mother of his child, but it is you he loves." Yuruza's words comforted her. As they finished speaking, the doors opened, and a supervisor arrived with a note in hand. The supervisor informed Mahaila that Abzalin had a special message for her.

Mahaila smiled as the supervisor gave her the message and she read it out loud. It was a poem, of love, desire, and tenderness. 

Mahaila clung the poem to her chest as she fantasized about his touch placing the ink to paper. "See, he can't even go an hour without thinking of you. It's clear who he loves." A blush crept to her cheeks as she thought of getting to see him again.

"Alright now, Yuruza. You've stayed long enough." Madam Rozar insisted. "You two will have plenty of time to chat, but for now Mahaila must rest."

Reluctantly, Yuruza agreed Mahaila needed more sleep. "As you wish Madam Rozar, but I'll be back to help you prepare for tonight." Mahaila waved goodbye to her friend before she attempted to find some sleep.

However, full of excitement, Mahaial did not sleep even after Yuruza left. Though she did not feel the fatigue while she prepared to see Abzalin after a few minutes of waiting in his chamber her eyes began to close. She found herself crawling into his bed drawn by how comfortable his sheets looked. She wrapped her arms around the large pillow and waited for Abzalin to return. Minutes turned to hours and she did not know how much time passed before sleep took command of her.