Tales Of The Heart

(46)

Shahzaib adjusted the hood of his cloak, shielding his face from the early morning sun. The chill of dawn clung to the air as he glanced back at their modest cottage. Inaya stood at the doorway, Eira by her side. She waved at him, her smile warm but laced with concern.

"Be careful", Inaya called out softly, her voice filled with adoration.
"I will", Shahzaib replied, trying to ease her worries with a confident grin. "We will be back before you know it",

Zaid stood beside him, adjusting his tunic. "Let's go, my prince. We have got a world of work to find."

"Just Shahzaib now, Zaid", Shahzaib corrected gently, not wanting to draw attention to his true identity.

Zaid nodded hesitantly, he still wasn't used to their current situation of addressing each other informally.
"Whatever you say...Sire", he rather said. Shahzaib shook his head in defeat as Zaid looked away sheepishly.

Shahzaib and Zaid walked side by side, the quiet morning streets of the town slowly waking with the sound of vendors setting up their stalls and shopkeepers unlocking doors. The modest cottage they left behind was a contrast to the life Shahzaib once knew, but the thought of Inaya waiting for him gave him strength.

The market bustled with life as the two men entered. Shahzaib glanced around, observing the flurry of activity, fishmongers hawking their catch, blacksmiths hammering metal, and bakers stacking fresh loaves. The surroundings reminded him how far he had come from his princely duties, but his resolve to build a new life was stronger than the doubts clouding his mind.

Zaid broke the silence, his tone upbeat. "This is it, Sire. A fresh start. We shall find something soon",

Shahzaib glanced at him, grateful for his unwavering loyalty.
"I hope so, Zaid. We need to",

And they began their search for work, blending into the crowd, just two men determined to make their way in the world.

●○●○●○●○

The first day of job hunting was harder than they expected. As Shahzaib and Zaid walked from shop to shop, market to market, they were met with cold stares and uninterested shrugs.

They stopped by a bakery as Shahzaib said with a polite smile,
"We are looking for a job. Do you have anything for us?",

The burly baker studied Shahzaib with judging eyes as he laughed heartily at the sight of Shahzaib's elegant hands and posture.
"Have you ever kneaded a dough in your life, young lad", he mocked.

Shahzaib still kept the polite smile, his frustration hidden beneath a mask of composure.
"Perhaps not", he replied, glancing at his own hands which were calloused due to handling swords but it was still elegant as he was royalty, "but I can learn",

The baker chuckled again, slapping his flour-covered hands together. "Learning takes time, lad. Which I do not have. Now off with you before I find more work for these 'elegant hands' of yours", he was extremely rude and Zaid was fuming yet they kept their composer.

Shahzaib nodded and stepped back, but Zaid wasn't ready to give up so easily.

"I can carry those sacks", Zaid interjected, motioning to the heavy bags stacked near the door. "And I can knead dough too. Let us prove ourselves",

The baker raised an eyebrow, sizing Zaid up. "You have got the look of someone who can handle it, but you are only as good as your partner. You think you can teach this one to lift his own weight?", he jerked his thumb toward Shahzaib.

Zaid grinned curtly. "We work as a team. Give us a chance",

The baker hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Not today, lads. Come back when you have got some grit on those hands", he waved them off, turning back to his oven.