Araman

~ 14 ~

   A knock at the door awoke Kassen early the next morning. He had been up late in the night standing on the balcony, thinking.

There was something not right about the King's advisor and the way he acted towards the Araman was unnerving to say the least. Kassen also felt an unexplainable need to protect Sa Raliena. She had all but confirmed that she was the one to heal him and by the way she had acted, it was clear it was not something she could share with others.

But, he still did not know how she had achieved it, when everything the healers had tried had failed. He considered that perhaps she had some sort of ability that enabled her to do this, quickly dismissing the idea that it was an Araman trait, as would the King not have sent her instead of Lady Nanerter?

It took all night to shuffle his thoughts into place and he still felt foggy, which is why the knock on the door was wholly unwanted.

Kassen groaned and rolled ungracefully out of bed and onto his feet, then dragged his bare feet towards the door.

"Oh, uh... good morning, General Kassen." Raliena said, averting her gaze.

"Sa Raliena?" Kassen replied, surprised. "Good morning."

"Kassen!" Came a small gasp from beside Raliena. "Cover yourself!"

Sherin pushed her brother into the room and threw the shirt, that had been haphazardly thrown to the floor, at her topless brother.

"I apologise, Lady Araman." Kassen said swiftly pulling the shirt over his head.

"It is nothing I have not seen before, General." Raliena replied, closing the door behind her with a small smile. She had a basket in her hand which she placed on the floor to one side.

"Did you forget about the picnic, Kassen?!" Sherin exclaimed jumping onto his bed with her hands on her hips.

"Of course not," he lied. "I was just not expecting it so early."

Kassen doused his face in the cold water beside his bed and grimaced at his tired looking reflection.

"That is my fault," Raliena explained and her expression turned as grim as his was. "I am afraid a restless night made me keen to start the day." The two regarded each other for a moment then Raliena broke the contact to stand by the far window and gaze out at the brightening sky.

"We made the picnic ourselves," Sherin whispered to Kassen while he put boots on and made himself more presentable. "Raliena said a good Queen needs to learn how to do things for herself sometimes and her servants will respect her for it." The little Princess seemed unsure but pleased with herself nonetheless.

"Raliena?" Kassen questioned Sherin's lack of use of the Araman's title.

"Oh, uh, Sa Raliena said I could call her that, as long as she can call me just Sherin." Sherin smiled innocently. "When not around important people, of course."

Kassen chuckled. "Of course."

"Are we ready?" Raliena picked up the basket of food and opened the door.

Sherin smiled and dragged Kassen off the bed. It was good to see her so carefree and childlike again. She took her duty as future Queen too seriously sometimes and no one had the heart to explain to her yet that it would be Prince Derend first in line for the throne, when the time came.

Raliena greeted most of the servants as they passed, who in turn smiled or nodded their heads to the three. Sherin was watching the Araman with interest as she did this, and knotted her brow in thought. Kassen wondered how much of an impression Raliena had made on the young Princess, but was in no doubt about it being a positive influence.