The Nameless

Chapter Nineteen

*** Elias ...

I bolt up, gasping for air. I glance around through watery eyes, they're gone. I stand up to my feet and the room turns around me. My chest singes as I make my way to the doorway. The sun has barely risen but it is just bright enough to see. Looking down at my chest, the wound is bleeding, probably infected. I should find a stream to bathe in.

I wander for only a short while before I find it, a stream leading out into a little river. I take off the loincloth and walk into it. The water is bitterly cold but by the time the water level gets to my chest, it is cooling against the heat. After a short bath, I walk out to scurrying within the trees and giggling. Quickly, I put the cloth back on.

"You should look around before cleaning." Anya.

"Noted." Her maids curtsey, snickering between themselves.

"Your cloth is dirty, how will you make them believe you have...wealth?"

"I'm only working with what I have, Anya."

"Hm." She turns to one of her maids, "Find him proper clothes." The girl curtseys, quickly handing the basket she's holding to the girl holding the clothes. Then barely meeting my gaze, she gestures for me to follow her. Anya is smiling as I walk past her, her gaze rolling down my frame.

"Thank you." I mutter. Glancing back as I get to the trees I see her stopping before the water to undress. I turn back, stumbling.

***

*** Anyanwu ...

"So you saw him naked?"

I look up to find her gaze on me as we walk, her maids picking straws, trying to avoid my glare for talking. She's grinning.

"No. I only saw as he covered himself."

"Right. Excited of the possibility of being married to him?" I frown at the ground beneath us.

"No, I'm still marrying Ikenna." Why would I be excited? "Hopefully."

"You're worried about my brother."

"He has the wealth and power, shouldn't I be?"

"Hm. Perhaps you two can run away." I turn to her.

"Really?"

"Oh no, you'd be executed when found." She laughs. I scoff. "Nameless...?"

"Your highness."

"Marry Amaechi." I halt.

"Excuse me?" She takes a few more steps before stopping and turning to me. Her maids, noticing the shift in our tone, hurry ahead down the forest path.

"You have to know how this would aid you in your situation." I stare at her, "Additionally nothing good ever comes from Amaechi loosing."

"What do you mean?"

"Amaechi doesn't like to loose...at anything. I fear what would happen if he were to loose something this important to him." She takes a few steps towards me to take my hand, "Marry him, you'd be honored with power and wealth... you'd keep your friend's life..." A little smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. "And you get to stay here...with me." Silence sits for a while.

"Take her advise." I jump, grabbing at the hilt of my cutlass as I turn towards the voice. The prince walks out of the trees and onto the path, his guards by his sides. He smiles, the teeth that closes around the middle ones look pointed. I don't think it always looked like that. Did he sharpen his teeth? "No good can come from me loosing you."