Kissed by Chaos

Kissed by Chaos (21) - Fascination and Fear

Kissed by Chaos

Chapter 21 

No matter how hard Raafi tried to get the words out, they simply would not come. He was at a loss for words, completely stunned by the enchantingly beautiful woman standing beside him. Amira leaned slightly over the balcony, staring with awe out at the kingdom of Mirzan stretched out before them. A few metres behind her stood Rasheed, Hamza’s advisor, who still appeared to despise Raafi. Whenever Raafi turned around, he was met by Rasheed’s protective glare. Amira appeared not to notice how possessive the old man was of her.

Rasheed was not exactly standing close to them but he still remained within earshot. Raafi reminded himself that he should be thankful – either Rasheed or the whole of Hamza’s party could have stood with Raafi and Amira. Raafi decided that he would take whatever small privacy he could get.

Raafi cleared his throat, preparing to speak. As soon as he opened his mouth, however, he suddenly noticed how parched he was. He hurriedly closed his mouth, realizing he had blown yet another chance to speak. Amira beat him to it.

“Your kingdom is magnificent,” she breathed, so quietly that it was almost inaudible.

“I cannot call it my kingdom,” Raafi replied. He blundered on thoughtlessly, not stopping to consider his words. In his nervousness they rushed out of his mouth in a jumbled mess of syllables. “Fathers my… I mean, my forefathers, my… they made it great. I, I simply, I mean I, I want to make it, sorry, want to build upon its greatness.” He wished he could jump off the balcony and never have to speak ever again. Behind him, Rasheed stifled cruel laughter with a cough.

Amira glanced at Raafi with concern. “Are you alright, your Highness?”

Raafi wanted to kick himself in the head. The girl probably thought he was deranged. “I’m sorry,” he replied in an attempt to recover. “I’m fine, it’s just that I’m a little tired.” He mentally congratulated himself for making it through a sentence without mumbling like a brainless idiot.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed. “I should have realised that you would be tired from your long journey. Please, your Highness, get some rest. Do not strain yourself.”

Raafi could get used to the way Amira was looking at him right now. Her eyes were wide open and bright with worry. It thrilled him to think that that worry was for him. He firmly told himself that there was no way he could ruin this chance for himself, and for his kingdom, with Amira. He took a steady breath in and, laughing softly, Raafi replied, “Please do not apologise, Princess Amira. I wish to be here, speaking with you. It is no strain.”

A slight blush rose in Amira’s cheeks, making her appear even more beautiful, if that was possible. Raafi wondered for a moment if he had been too forward in saying what he had. In Claire’s society, Raafi had heard that it was not remarkable for a woman and a man to be conversing freely, their words mingled with laughter and smiles. However, it was not something completely natural in the Arabian world. Amira’s family was quite lenient for letting her speak to Raafi almost alone at all.

He was glad then when Amira spoke. “Thank you. Will you tell me about your journey?”

Raafi shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to explain his strange journey to her. It was not normal for a son to be banished only to go on a quest to find a European woman’s daughter in danger on another continent. “I… well, it was not particularly interesting,” Raafi lied. He did not think anybody, let alone a young girl as sheltered and protected as Amira, was ready to hear about Jinni and witches and women being burned at the stake. “A friend asked me to bring her daughters to Mirzan,” he said vaguely.