Gods and Guardians

Chapter 30: Nimrod and Gayna

Reports gathered on Nimrod and Damian did not reach His Majesty before breakfast. King Sairus sliced through a loaf of livened bread with a small knife and stuffed an omelette between the slices.

'I hope we are not boring you with a routine of similar dishes,' said His Majesty.

'Of course not, Your Majesty,' Zola said through full cheeks, his voice almost muffled. 'My escorts were telling me this morning how much I've been growing fat since I came. And...' he swallowed hard. His voice was now clearer. '...to think that I've only spent two days.'

'Then we'll have to stop feeding you so you don't get confused with someone else when you return. We don't want them arresting you under the suspicion of being a Meinz posing as the royal messenger.' Sharzah commented.

'Aah... Not a chance Your Highness,' Zola said to mild chuckles from everyone.

'So much flattery,' Sairus remarked. 'I imagine how easy it was for you to woo your wives.'

'I didn't. They wooed me.'

'Really?' Sharzah was incredulous.

'They said they wanted to marry a slim fine man.'

'Strange,' observed the king, the loaf halting halfway between a bite. 'And they married you?'

'I tested their love by growing fat.'

'Oh,' Sharzah said.

'And I realised they all loved me anyway.' He wore a boyish smile.

'I've always wanted to add more weight,' Sairus said. 'But I fell ill when I ate more. So I gave up. The Great Lord didn't bestow me with that ability.'

Zola nodded, then he humbly added, 'But it is even an incomparable blessing to be bestowed the responsibility of ruling an Islander kingdom.'

Sairus acknowledged his flattery was good. He soon changed the topic though. 'Your escorts don't seem to talk at all. Did you eat all their words as well?'

Zola chuckled courteously.

'Denny.'

'Yes, Your Majesty.'

'How are you enjoying your stay in Zoan?'

'It's splendid... to say the least.'

Sairus fixed a curious gaze on his eyes. 'Well, if you were only going to stay longer, we'd have convinced you of how splendid it could be.'

Nimrod wished it were possible, he wanted to stay forever.

'Perhaps,' Sharzah entered, 'we'll marry you the prettiest girl in Zoan.'

Nimrod blushed, knowing Sharzah was referring to his question about Gayna.

'And Savion too,' Sairus pushed. 'Sharzah, have I told you? He says he finds Selina attractive?'

Sharzah's eyes widened with approval. 'That's beautiful. He has regal taste.'

'Savion?' Abel called. 'Do you really like Selina?'

Damian was not sure how to answer. Nimrod saw the face and wanted to laugh. He hid it behind his cup.

'She's... she's.... beautiful...'

'I didn't think anyone will find her attractive,' Abel pushed.

'Abel, you are talking about your sister,' Sairus said.

'Yeah, my ugly little sister.'

'My little princess is the prettiest princess in the world,' Sairus defended, 'and if Savion says, she's attractive, it is because he has good eyes.' He turned to Damian.

'She is... really.' He realised that he really meant it. Selina was beautiful. She was tall, moved with learned cat-like fluidity and grace. She had gentle eyes, and an even gentler voice. Her eyes always sparkled with something he has never seen before.

'If we were at peace, I would have said we meet your family.'

Damian now felt like dying. It was the same feeling as the time Sairus called Selina to the platform that day. Then he felt it wasn't fair that the king kept making subtle hints at match-making them like that.

'How about Denny? Doesn't he deserve a bride too?' Abel found this entertaining.

'I thought Sharzah just mentioned selecting the most beautiful girl for him.' Sairus beamed a smile at Nimrod.

'Yes, he did,' Nimrod said, squinting sideways at Sharzah.

'I will. Just give me twelve more days.'

They broke into laughter.

'That is so unfair Your Highness,' Zola said.

'He intends to send her to Zainox I suppose,' Nimrod said.

'Or keep you here longer,' Sairus interjected. 'Which do you prefer?'

None. He wanted to stay forever. 'I'll think about it.'

'What about you, Savion?' Abel asked.

Damian felt it was unfair. If he liked Meinz better, he was betraying Zainox. But if he liked Zainox better, he was not being a good guest. 'I have only one option.'

'Even if we marry Selina to you?'

'That is not fair,' he finally said.

Everyone laughed.

Of the three Meinz royals on this table, only Abel didn't know Nimrod and Damian were being investigated. The reports were currently on the judgment table. The Commanding Law Soldier and the Lord of Security too were already involved. Sairus would review this after breakfast.

***

The cue sounded eight times. Gayna's inn was near the edge of the street. It was a two-storey building. Its façade was a set of semi-circular steps leading up to an arch-topped entrance. The doors swung two ways and returned after a little vacillation to their closed position. The lower half of the doors bore flowery carvings. The upper half was a set of leather blinds. They stayed open nearly always. Two capitals covered in engravings held up the arch. The front building was a single floor, flanked by the towering stories.

As he started up the steps, the doors swung in and there stood Gayna. She had a restlessness that was quickly fading; her hair fell in smooth compact curls around her neck. Her velvety skin shone with tenderness. When she smiled, Nimrod found the greatest peace he has never known.

'I've been waiting for you,' she said.

She was aggressively beautiful, shattering his thoughts and submerging his heart into a rhapsody. Suddenly she felt familiar. Time and space felt meaningless and he was in a bubble. He was in a bubble with her. Just the two of them forever. She was the one he had always loved. She was the one in the hollow, nebulous but known, bidding the time to materialise.

He engulfed her in an embrace that lasted a thousand heartbeats.