Shadows of Avarice (BxB)

Chapter 39

Xia followed Dariya around the market as she picked up the supplies she needed. He kept glancing around to make sure the merchant wasn't watching him. After their interaction, he doubted that man would bother him for a while. He should leave him alone after Xia threatened to let the sultan know about him. Xia would have liked to use his own power to make that merchant back down, but he couldn't deny the authority Osiris' name carried. Still, Xia didn't want a man to save him. He had always been strong and independent without relying on someone else.

Once Dariya got everything she needed, they left the market. As they walked back to her home, she turned to Xia and asked, "So, what is it you need my assistance with? We talked about me letting you know when I would be leaving again, but that won't be for another two weeks. Is something else on your mind?"

"Well . . . perhaps it's a lot to ask, but there's somewhere I need to go in the desert. You see, towards the southern part of the desert, there's a cave. It's by one of the abandoned temples. I need to go there, but I need a guide to take me there." Xia didn't want to give too many details. She didn't need to know the reason why he wanted to go to the cave. It wasn't anyone's business but his, and he didn't want word to get to the sultan. Osiris would never let him go if he found out.

She looked at him skeptically. "Do you realize how many caves are in the desert? A cave towards the south and near an abandoned temple isn't helpful. Besides, why do you need to go there? Without knowing more details, this is a dangerous task, even for me."

Xia crossed his arms. The location was vague, but the noble didn't give him any more details. Perhaps he should have pressed for more information, but Xia wasn't thinking at the time. Xia was only worried about his night with Osiris instead of focusing on what was important. He cursed himself for being so stupid. He shouldn't have been distracted by sex with Osiris.

"I'm sorry, but that's all the information I was given. As for why I need to go there, it's to help someone," he answered. He wished he had a little more to go off of. With such vague information, he wouldn't be surprised if she denied his request. He added, "Even if you don't help me, I still have to go. I need to do this."

Regardless of what help he received; he was determined to save Osiris. He would do this alone if he had to.

Dariya shook her head. "I'm not going to make you do this alone. Letting someone venture into the desert without a guide would weigh on my conscience. Besides, after finding you stranded in the desert, I couldn't possibly allow that to happen again. I just wish there was a little more to go off of. I could ask my father for assistance. He could point us in the right direction."

Hearing this helped relieve Xia's worries a little bit. He was glad he wouldn't have to go alone, but part of him felt bad. He didn't know how useful this information would be. There was always the possibility that they would go into the desert for nothing. There was no guarantee that the cave had any traces of the witch still there, or if it even existed in the first place. The nobleman could be sending Xia off to his death for all he knew. But Xia needed to try. He wouldn't give up on Osiris.

"Let me guess . . . is this about the sultan? Everyone knows the rumors about him and since you are his fiancé, I can't think of who else you would want to help so desperately," Dariya spoke up.

He didn't want to admit too much, but her guess was correct. "He . . . means a lot to me."

"So much that you would be willing to risk your life to save him?"

Xia nodded. All he wanted was to save Osiris. If he could find a way to lift the curse, then they could build a life together without worrying about Xia's life being in danger. As long as Osiris was cursed, there would always be the chance that something could happen to Xia. He was already hurt, and Xia was lucky the curse took over in the middle of them making love. He dreaded to think about the outcome otherwise.

Dariya sighed. "Well, I certainly won't deny someone in love."

Her words made Xia blush. "I-I am not in love with him."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure you aren't. Anyway, since you roped me into this, mind telling me a little bit about our sultan? Besides the rumors, I don't know much about him. Everyone makes him seem like an awful person, except for you. All I know about him is how people say he killed his ex-fiancée, and after that, he stopped caring about his kingdom."

She was missing a few details, but Xia didn't want to talk about the rumors. While those rumors were true, they didn't summarize the sultan as a person. He was much more than the gossip made him out to be. Not everything they said about him was true either.

"He's much kinder than everyone makes him out to be. He does care about his kingdom, as he's with his court most of the day. While yes, he lost his ex-fiancée tragically, I think he's recovering, and he is trying to make Rasea a better place. I've already shown him what my life used to be like, so he's seen how some of his citizens are suffering. I also plan to help him through it once we're married. I know the slums better than anyone, and once I have power, I can make a difference. Osiris will want to make a difference, too. Someone as nice as him doesn't want to see his people suffer. He is a good person, despite what everyone might think of him." There was more Xia could say, but he felt as though he already talked her ear off. Besides, everything else he wanted to say revolved around his feelings for that man. He didn't want to sound lovestruck.

Dariya listened to everything he had to say about the sultan. She saw his eyes light up the more he spoke about that man. She chuckled to herself. "I see. I don't know what's in the desert that could possibly help the sultan, but I'll help you. However, it will have to wait until after my next trip. Since I'm leaving soon, I won't have much time to prepare for this quest with you. I hope that's okay."

"Of course! I don't mind waiting for you to return." Xia was just glad that she agreed to help him. Now he didn't have to worry about going alone. Her approval helped put his mind at ease.

They stopped outside one of the homes in the noble district. There was a sign about the services provided, and now Xia knew where to find Dariya when he needed her. Her home had a good view of the palace so it wouldn't be hard for Xia to find his way back home.

She smiled at him. "Well, this is my stop. If I don't see you until I return, then stay safe, Xia. Don't be a stranger."

After saying their farewells, they went their separate ways.