30 day challenge-Day 5
Tavi had spent all day training new recruits. He came home and his spirits were lifted when he saw his beautiful wife. He had always admired Axandra from afar and never hoped to speak in her presence, let alone win her hand. He knew they were different, but it was the greatest gift his friend had ever given him. He was hurt when he leaned over to kiss her and she turned away. If it was anyone else,he would have slapped her. However, she was Aryan’s sister and no one could really control her. The fact that the king was fond of her and so was his daughter only made things worse.
“You smell disgusting. Go bathe before you bring about germs, flies and other filth,” Axandra snapped. “I just came from training new recruits. Fighting tends to make you sweaty,” he said quietly. “Does it make you forget manners and propriety as well? Get out and don’t speak to me unless you’ve bathed and worn proper clothes. I’ll have a servant clean up after you,” she said coldly.
Her words stung,but Tavi did as she said. He was envious of Aryan and his marriage seemed to be running smoothly. His wife loved him and Bailyana was devoted to making Aryan happy. Tavi wondered if Bailyana even liked him,but if she didn’t,it never showed. She was always kind, gracious and the epitome of femininity. Tavi would have been lucky to have a wife like her, but he had always been ambitious. A strong, confident woman who chose to do the talking for her brother and make sure that they were well-liked by the people had intoxicated him. She could read and enjoyed having artists and musicians come to paint her portrait and play for them in court. There was no woman like princess Axandra out there and Tavi had always wanted the things he could never have.
Once he finished bathing, his servant dressed him. “Do I look fit for my wife’s company?” he asked. “It doesn’t matter. Hygiene and propriety always matter, but women must be seen and not heard. You shouldn’t care what she wants. She hasn’t even given you a son yet,” his servant said. “I know,but even courting her was next to impossible. You and I aren’t so different and I had to beg someone to teach me how to read and write. I’ve never met anyone I couldn’t keep up with or a woman who disliked my charms,” Tavi said with a sigh.
“You’re above me now, master. She needs to acknowledge that and being a wife is her duty-She doesn’t get a choice. Put your foot down before it goes out of your hands,” his servant suggested. “You’re right. She doesn’t need to love me back yet, but she does need to accept that her brother chose her for me,” Tavi said. When he came out, he was grateful to see Axandra smiling.
“There. One could actually mistake you for a man with breeding,” she said politely. “I’m a man with a title and station now. Whether I have breeding or not doesn’t matter. Your brother appointed me the general and I’ll learn how to deal with people as I go along,” he said cooly. Even her compliments were laced with insults. “On the contrary, it does. If you actually want to make an effort, I’ll show you. Perhaps then I won’t look like an idiot,” she muttered. “Then show me. I’m not one to play games, Axandra. I’m the man and even if it’s not proper,I like things being said. Just this once, you’re allowed to be heard,” Tavi said angrily.
“Very well. I don’t like you, you’re beneath me and everyone thinks so. I don’t know what I did to make my brother this angry. I’ve done nothing but tell the people wonderful things about our family, help out in ways only a woman can and helped his wife know him better. You can pretend we’re the same all you like,but everyone in court whispers about you. I’m tired of being on the receiving end of pity,all because I’m married to the village idiot,” Axandra said.
Tavi didn’t hesitate before he slapped her;his servant was right. “If my mannerisms bother you this much, then you will have to help me adjust. I don’t care what other people think, I care what your brother thinks. I’m not going to care what you think or respect you unless you respect me. Aryan loves you,but he knows I was hoping to court you and felt my loyalty deserved a reward. I may be from a village, but I have ambition. I learned to read, all so I could keep up with you. Don’t you ever speak to me in such a disrespectful manner again,” he said angrily.
“This is what I mean. Of course you don’t care what people think! You’re just a soldier who got lucky and you have no idea how politics work. It’s vital that all of us come across a certain way to the public, we have to pick and choose our allies properly and I won’t be able to make you adjust,I’ll have to change you completely. Why on earth would you even think to court me? There were several men who were far more suitable and I would have rather married the king than you. Your title is your reward and I’m speaking with my brother. I may be stuck with you, but this is the most foolish mistake he’s ever made. Learning how to read was the least you should have done and you have no manners, either. What’s next, the man who announces visitors gets to court one of our children? I’m not allowing it and they’ll never wind up being anything like you,” Axandra said before she stormed out.
Tavi was speechless; her words were like a sword to the gut. “I’d mind my words, master. She’s being unreasonable, but she’s right. People like me do need to have faith in you all,politics are a dangerous game and if you lose, you may never recover. You have a young brother to provide for, don’t you? He gets to be tutored and have a future now. She can’t tell you how to raise your son, but if you have a girl, she can raise her how she sees fit. You were given a gift and should treat it as such. She should accept her fate,but nearby kings and emperors all wanted her hand,” his servant said as he brought Tavi his tea.
“I’m not used to any of this. I want my brother to have everything I never did,but I thought everything would be fine. If I’m so unpopular and the others in court wanted my wife’s hand,what made Aryan pick me?” It was going to plague his thoughts until he found an answer to his questions. Tavi wondered just how dangerous politics were and whether or not it would cost him his life.