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“Forgiven,” he said with an indulgent smile. “What kept you this time?”
“I was learning to control Azriel, thank you again, kalija, for such a wonderful gift.” She kissed his jaw and then sat down
.
Her gaze ran across the table and rested on Tehdra, then travelled to her attire and jewelry.
“Haris at our table, Kalija?” She asked with raised imperious brows.
“Tehdra, I present my sister, Princess Xian.”
Tehdra stood and curtsied, and the princess nodded.
The princess greeted Ladies Shae and Sascha with welcoming smiles, never removing her gaze from Tehdra.
“The castle is alive with talk of your beauty. I see they have not exaggerated.”
“I thank you,” Tehdra said.
The princess smiled but it did not reach her eyes. “It is curious that my brother—”
“You are to be trainer to the hari Tehdra,” Ajali said, rendering his sister silent.
Tehdra frowned and lowered her fork. What was this?
“Trainer?” the princess and Lady Sascha demanded in unison.
“What do you mean, kalija?” Xian asked, a frown splitting her beautiful face.
“Tehdra is unskilled in the fighting arts, and I wish for you to undertake taijiu training with her starting in the morn,” he said smoothly.
“You jest! My duties are not that of a trainer, and I have Azriel to master.”
“And yet I require you to undertake her training,” he said.
Jealousy wafted to her. Tehdra flicked her gaze to Lady Sascha. Her face was impassive, but the envy and ire that bled from her was dark and spicy, carrying a tinge of bitterness.
“Why do you keep a hari that is unskilled and not suited for your harem?” Lady Shae asked.
“Lady Shae,” Uriah snapped, cold anger riding his voice. “You will not question your king.”
Defiance flashed in her eyes. “I am only asking what we are all wondering, my lord. It is known that Ajali does not keep untrained haris.”
“Uriah, please do not snap at your lady,” Princess Xian murmured. A hint of unease drifted across her face. “This was the first thing I wondered when kalija made his request. Yet, I can see from his closed off expression that he will not discuss it.”
She waved at Tehdra dismissively. “Very well, kalija, I will train your hari Tehdra in Taijiu. But I will not be responsible for marring her pretty, pale skin.”
Ajali chuckled and tugged at the braids that hung past her hips.
Tehdra liked that he smiled so easily, yet he was a predator.
The slight tension that had invaded the dining room dissipated. She still felt the low hum of jealousy from Lady Sascha, and Tehdra devoured her meal with gusto as she was ignored by all as they bantered and ate.
Lady Sascha talked with Shae and Xian animatedly, and it was obvious to Tehdra that haris were not disdained despite the reaction she got from his sister. She found it puzzling that Lady Sascha was a hari; she was a countess of the realm, powerful and rich in her own right. She and her brother were from the house of Assia, loyal aristocrats to the house of Haddin. Why had she placed herself in his harem?
Once again the doors opened, and a warrior glided in without making a sound. He smelled like death. Viciousness hummed to life in her as she noted the lethal way he moved towards Ajali.
“News from Acheron,” the unknown warrior whispered.
