Born And Bred Loyal

Five

Ayesha drew back the curtain of the carriage window. The sky had started to lose its brightness but it remained uniquely beautiful. Ayesha was the only one in the carriage, with some of Asal's belongings. Fariba and Asal were in another carriage. Ayesha had honestly thought Asal was going to take Bulbul along.

"Stop the carriage!"
The sudden halt of the carriage caused Ayesha to hit her head against the window. The horses neighed loudly, terrified.

"Protect the crown prince and princess!"

Ayesha could feel a headache coming. It seemed like they were under attack. But what did the guard say about the crown prince? She hadn't seen him at all. Unless...

The clashing of swords interrupted her train of thoughts. If this had happened eight years ago, then she would have confidently stepped out of the carriage to fight but now she could only slouch and hug herself to the bottom of the chair.

After what felt like forever, everything outside quieted down. Ayesha was quite surprised that no one came near her carriage.

She got up slowly and peeked outside the glass frame on the door. When she saw no one in sight, she opened the door slightly and peeped.

"Prince Feroz!"

Ayesha's heart stilled as her hand gripped the door handle tightly. She heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

"Where are Asal and her companions?" Feroz asked.

"They are safe with the rest of the guards."

"How many of our men are down?"

"Three and two of theirs. One of them fleed before we could attack. They were targeting the princess's carriage."

"They must be people familiar with the arrangements made for today."

Ayesha blinked. Twice. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to attack Asal on the day she was leaving for the palace.

"Was there anyone in this carriage?" Ayesha could hear her heart pumping. She unintentionally took a glance outside and she could spot the legs of a certain someone. When did he get so close?

Without any warning, he pulled open the door of the carriage which caused her to withdraw her hand immediately.

Ayesha stared helplessly as Feroz's gaze collided with hers. His lips parted slightly as his eyes surfed waves of different emotions.

"Prince Feroz?"

Ayesha used that opportunity to grab her veil which she had removed since the start of the journey. She was thankful to the guard that had distracted Feroz temporarily.

Feroz turned back to her to see she was tying her veil.
Wordlessly, he turned around and began to walk away.

"Oh! You must be princess Asal's handmaiden. You can step out now. It's safe outside."

Ayesha gave him a small smile even though he couldn't see it. He walked her to where the others were just few metres away from where her carriage stood.

"These are the two people who were taken down by our men. A male and a female."

Ayesha slowed down her pace as the guard led her past Feroz and some other guards. She could see Fariba and Asal under a tree, the latter was seated and wrapped in a blanket.

Ayesha stole a glance at Feroz but he didn't even look in her direction. His eyes were on the bodies sprawled in front of him. Ayesha lowered her gaze briefly and what she saw made her freeze on the spot. If she remembered clearly, these dead people were from the ones who attacked them. Then why was Bulbul one of them? Ayesha moved back gingerly as she tried to regulate her breathing. She was on the verge of breaking down when his eyes found her glassy ones. It stung her to see a trace of suspicion in them but she managed to comport herself.

She headed to where Asal sat with Fariba hovering over her. Asal turned slightly to look behind her when she heard ruffles of footsteps.

Ayesha dipped her chin downwards in acknowledgement. As she put a good distance between herself and Asal, the image of Bulbul lifeless on the ground reappeared in her head. She placed her palm on the trunk of the tree closest to her. She had no idea what she was going to say to Asal.

In the end, she decided not to mention it to her.

They continued with their journey, Ayesha now in Asal's carriage and Fariba on the back of a horse.

They hadn't gotten very far away from the scene of the attack when Asal rapped her knuckles rapidly against the interior of the carriage. Ayesha watched in confusion as the carriage slowed to a halt.

"Get out." Asal's words were so calm that Ayesha thought she misheard. "I need some time alone."

Ayesha gave a flat nod and stepped outside despite being unsure of what Asal was thinking.

"What happened?" Fariba's tone was harsh but she was obviously worried.

"You don't need to go in. She said she wanted to be alone," Ayesha stated when Fariba made an attempt to dismount her horse.

In an instant, the guard that Ayesha had seen with Feroz appeared in front of them.

"The attack probably took a toll on her. She might need some time to get comfortable again," he said. "Do you know how to ride a horse?"

It took a while for Ayesha to realize he had directed that question to her.

She had climbed horses very well when she was still quite young. As the only child of her father, she had to learn how to defend herself and her family. So, she had been trained how to fight on horseback.

However, she hadn't done this in a while and presently she wasn't wearing any riding gears.

The guard jumped down his horse and landed firmly on his feet. "I could give you a boost." He lowered himself to the ground and joined his fists together.

Ayesha lifted her skirts slightly.

"What's going on at the back?" Feroz's voice came from the front.

Hearing his voice without him showing himself infuriated Ayesha in the least. She grasped her skirt tightly and marched past the guard relentlessly.

She stopped when she was few steps beside Feroz's horse. There was another horse next to his which had no rider. One of the guards had been guiding it through the journey.

Ayesha could feel a rush of excitement coursing through her veins. Without thinking, she bounced on one foot and then swung it over the horse's back.

Fariba rode next to the carriage with about four guards positioned at the back of the carriage.

Feroz stayed silent as Ayesha rode next to him. She wanted him to acknowledge her or ask how she had been fairing. She also was stubborn to speak first. Her stubbornness soon turned to anxiety and she found herself riding behind him unintentionally.