38, Fellings

The following days passed by in a blur of activities. When Ayya wasn’t responsible for one, she was planning her next. Despite their fears, the prince and his delegation seemed even more friendly since the incident with the spy. Neherim had reported back to Tariana that the spy wasn’t talking. But the prince had put some of his most trusted people to try to decipher the papers. Ayya also found that when he relaxed and stopped trying to make an impression, Neherim was pleasant to talk to. He was genuinely interested in trying to improve his country and help its citizens to get a better life. In the evenings, Mikhalie, Ayya, and Tariana would have tea and talk about the day. 

“The prince seems more comfortable now than he did the first couple of days,” Ayya said as they were talking on the sixth day. 

“How’s so?” Tariana asked.

“He is talking more freely and his constant flow of compliments has stopped and turned into actual conversation,” Ayya explained. Tariana laughed.

“I think you are the only young woman that sees compliments as a problem,” Tariana teased. 

“They are if they’re not genuine,” Ayya said.

“The prince doesn’t seem that different to me,” Mikhalie told them. “He is still as polite and charming as he was in the beginning. He is a very well-mannered man.” 

“I’m happy to hear that. You two are doing a wonderful job. I’m enjoying being able to relax and watch from the sidelines,” Tariana said. They soon decided it was time for bed and Ayya and Mikhalie said good night to Tariana.

“What did you mean when you said the prince had actual conversations with you?” Mikhalie asked when they walked to their rooms.

“Oh, just that he has started talking about other things than just how interesting the things we show him are. He has started sharing about how he would like to implement changes at home, about what benefits he can see from things and even how we can improve things by adapting it to how they work. I guess he is letting us see more of his personality, you know,” Ayya said.

“He talks about things like that with you?”

“Yes, and it’s not just him. I do too. He has a lot of interesting ideas, like how he would like to use what you showed him with the irrigation systems to expand on their own food production,” Ayya told her. Mikhalie frowned and bit her lip. “What?” Ayya asked.

“Nothing,” her friend said. 

“He really was impressed with what you showed him,” Ayya tried to reassure Mikhalie. She was thinking maybe her friend still was worrying about Ayya getting the more interesting tasks. 

“I’m happy to hear that,” Mikhalie said. But Ayya didn’t think she looked happy about it. They said goodnight, and Ayya hoped her friend would be able to find a solution to the issue she was battling with. 

The next morning Ayya was walking to the library. It was her day off as Mikhalie was giving the prince a tour of the docks. The following day Ayya were to take him to the Che’hul and since she felt she didn’t need more preparations for that, she decided to get a book and spend the day in the garden. 

“Ayya, where are you headed?” Ayya turned around and saw a group of Ne’xsissians and riders with Mikhalie, the prince and Tenac at the front. 

“Neherim, hello. I was heading to the library,” Ayya said.

“You should learn to relax on your day off. It can’t be good for you to keep cramming knowledge into your head,” the prince said with a smile towards her.

“Reading relaxes me, especially when I can enjoy the gardens on a beautiful day like today. So no need to worry about me. I hope you will have a pleasant time at the docks,” Ayya answered. 

“Why don’t you join us?” Neherim suggested. Ayya saw both Mikhalie and Tenac tense at his suggestion. 

“It sounds exciting, but I think I will keep to my book,” Ayya said. 

“We should get going, Neherim,” Mikhalie told the prince.

“Of course, do excuse my delay,” he told her with a slight bow. “I’ll see you later, Ayya,” he added. 

“Have a nice day,” she said, trying to include everyone. The day was as relaxing as she had hoped. She enjoyed reading in the garden, a peaceful lunch with her father and Tariana, and then some more reading in the afternoon. The book was almost finished when she felt someone watching her. She looked up and saw Neherim and Pehobo walking towards her. She smiled at them and put down her book.

“Hi, have you seen all the harbour?” she asked them as they got closer.

“Indeed, we have,” Pehobo said with his serious voice. 

“Mikhalie is a most thorough guide,” Neherim said. 

“Would you like to join me?” Ayya asked. She was sitting on a bench in the shade of a tree, two other benches created a relaxation area.

“Thank you,” Neherim said, and sat down on the bench closest to Ayya. “Have you been reading all day?” he asked.

“Yes, apart from having lunch with the Lady and my father,” Ayya said. 

“Your father is here as well?” the prince asked.

“Yes, my father is sir Teeran,” she told him and smiled at the shocked look on his face. “Is that so surprising?” she asked.

“It is. I wouldn’t have guessed it in a million years,” he said, and Ayya had to laugh. 

“People say I remind them more of my mother in my manners, but that is just because they don’t know my father. My mother swears I’m a copy of my father. I like to think I’m a healthy mix of them both,” she explained.

“I still have a hard time seeing the resemblance, but I will take your word for it. My older brother is a copy of our father. I am more like my mother. I have always thought it was because my father and brother spend so much time together as my father was preparing him to take on the responsibility of being emperor,” Neherim shared. 

“Does that mean you spent more time with your mother?” Ayya asked.

“Partly, but she was trying to raise my sisters. I have four. I was mostly raised by my tutor, even though my parents were always present,” he said. “It must have been hard growing up with a father that travelled so much for his work.”

“Oh, I’m adopted. I didn’t come to live with my parents until later in life,” Ayya said.

“I’m sorry if I was prodding into things that are sensitive,” the prince apologised. 

“Not at all. It’s not a sore subject. I knew my father from my childhood, but we lost contact. When we happened upon each other again and he found I needed a home, he and my mother took me in. It’s one of the best things that has happened in my life. I have been very lucky.”

“A second family is a gift indeed,” he agreed. They continued talking for a while. It was relaxing and reminded Ayya about how she had felt when she first got to know Tenac. As it got closer to dinner, Ayya excused herself. She had arranged to meet Tenac when he got off duty to go over the arrangement for the next day. As she stood up and walked towards the palace, Ayya saw Tenac standing at the marble stairs that led up to the side terrace. She smiled at him and waved.

“Hi. Is everything alright?” she asked as she reached him. He had a strange look on him she hadn’t seen before. 

“Hi. Yes, it’s fine. What have you done today?” he asked as they walked to the dining hall to get some food and drink and a table where they could talk. 

“I have spent most of it reading. I had lunch with my dad and your mother. How was your day?” 

“It was fine, nothing much to say about it. We walked around both docks and talked to a lot of people,” he said. “You seemed to enjoy your talk with the prince,” he then added. 

“Yeah, turns out that he is kind of nice when he lets go of his pompous behaviour he had on the first days,” she agreed. They had sat down at a table in the corner, a little away from the rest of the people, so they could talk in peace. Tenac nodded absentmindedly at the comment. “Are you sure everything is okay?” she asked him again. 

“Yeah, it’s fine. I’m just a little tired.” As he said that, Mikhalie sat down at their table. Both Ayya and Tenac looked at her. 

“Why were you talking to Neherim?” Mikhalie asked Ayya.

“You mean now, this afternoon?”

“Yes.”

“Nothing special. We were talking a little about growing up, what we had done during the day, what he looked forward to see tomorrow. Just polite conversation,” Ayya said, not understanding why Mikhalie asked.

“Can you please stop doing that?” Mikhalie asked.

“Stop talking to the prince?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” Ayya asked. 

“Oh, come on. It’s obvious to everyone that he has a thing for you. And it just looks bad if it seems like you are leading him on and then turn him down last minute or something,” Mikhalie explained. 

“Hey, watch the tone,” Tenac interrupted. 

“It’s okay, Tenac,” Ayya said. “I’m sorry if I upset you, Mikhalie. It’s pleasant to talk to the prince, but not like that. I don’t have any romantic feelings for him. Do you? Is that why you have been upset?” she asked. Mikhalie looked up at her and blushed.

“No. I don’t know, maybe?” she said. Tenac looked at Ayya and she shrugged. 

“I’m not the right person to give romantic advice. But have you thought about what it would mean to get involved with someone like the prince?” Ayya asked.

“I know it won’t be easy. But I think it would be worth it. But I really don’t have to worry, he only has eyes for you,” Mikhalie said. 

“I don’t know what to say. If it’s what you want, then go for it. I’m not going to interfere with it,” Ayya told her. 

“So you will stop talking to him?”

“No. I need to talk to him in order to do my duties, and we have become friends,” Ayya said. 

“Fine, then I will just have to convince him I’m more interesting,” Mikhalie said, getting up from the table and walking away. 

“What was that?” Ayya asked Tenac. 

“I have no idea. I hope she isn’t planning on stirring up trouble. Do you think you should talk to mom about it?”

“No, not yet. I’ll keep an eye on her,” Ayya decided.

“Did you mean it?” Tenac asked.

“What?”

“That you don’t have feelings for the prince,” he clarified.

“Oh that. Yeah, of course I meant it. I like Neherim, but just as a friend. Do you think I’m leading him on?” Ayya asked. She felt a faint echo of a conversation she had with Zerden. 

“No. If he is interested in you, he should let you know so you can let him know where you stand. If he hasn’t done that, and you aren’t trying to flirt with him, then you’re good.”

“How about we talk about tomorrow?” Ayya asked. 

“Sounds like a plan.”