30 day challenge-Day 7

Nov 07, 2014 23:37


Anirudh had lived a fairly uneventful life. He read books constantly and sold sweets at a market to make money for his family, but that was about it. He tried to spend as much time as he could helping his mother and putting his ideas in motion, but at the end of the day,that’s all they were. He had always wished he could meet someone clever like his sister and the girls who liked him were boring and simple-minded. When the princesses first began to visit, it made his day. The king’s daughter wasn’t as indifferent as he was,but she was naive, oblivious and seemed somewhat afraid to deal with anything. Princess Axandra, however was an entirely different story. She was from his mother’s country, she was poised, well-spoken, confident and strong. She didn’t shy away from conflicts, did her best to assure the people that there were those listening to their worries and played her part perfectly. He had never dreamed in a million years that he would meet her, let alone carry on an intellectual and somewhat emotional conversation with her. It made him angry to hear her speak about the general. Had Anirudh been in his place, he would have bent over backwards to prove himself to such a rare, remarkable beauty. It was cruel to tie her down to a brute who didn’t even have sense in his head or words to convey his thoughts to anyone, let alone his wife. When he saw her again, it was hard not to smile.

“You’re a quick reader,” he said as he formed an impish grin. “Well…I wound up needing it. I refused to share my bed with that man and my brother promised me I’d marry a man worthy of me. I’m not a fool,I’m just not going to respect a man who’s far beneath you. Would your mother marry you off to a scullery maid or someone who collects dirty clothes?” Axandra asked.

“I should be so lucky,” Anirudh joked. The second option didn’t sound as bad,but work was work. “Why did you need it? Were you bored or bothered?” he asked, a concerned look on his face. He wanted her as far away from any man unworthy of her. “Both, really. He actually wanted to know what I was reading. I thought I’d try to improve him, but he started laughing. Why was it funny? I found it extremely interesting and I’m sure my brother would as well. He’s always looking to improve himself, you know. Well, he was before he met her. I’m angry, you know. Bailyana is even younger than I am, she knows nothing about men and she’s going to cry. Her father is dying, now’s not the time to make rash decisions and I don’t care for his new mistress. She’s a servant, she’s cheeky, she’s rude and I don’t want her being my friend’s handmaiden. Shame on him, making his poor wife get waited upon by his new whore,” Axandra said angrily.

“How cheeky?” There was no way he could have gotten so lucky, but if his gut was right, he could fix his family and make things right. “I asked her to apologize for how she spoke to me and she had the nerve to tell me that she was terrified that I’d get sick and wind up switching places with her. A slave doesn’t have any rights and she’s being so rude. She could have easily been someone’s plaything, but my brother hasn’t even come near her yet. Not that he would…I’m not standing for it,” Axandra said.

“Make her yours,” Anirudh said. He was grateful and his sister could be safe.  “Hmm…I hadn’t thought about it. I could keep a close eye on her and keep her from distracting my brother too much. You see,I’m well-aware of how men work. I would have recommended one of my friends, but he chose that girl. She doesn’t even smile,” Axandra said.

“She’s a slave,” Anirudh said sarcastically. “She’s a slave who’s being pampered and given gold and all the trappings a royal mistress would have. The others can and most likely will get beaten and raped. Why isn’t she grateful?” Axandra asked. “She’s not grateful because they killed the man she loved, my mother broke down and my father drank himself to death. Please, make her your handmaiden. She’s not normally rude,but for all practical purposes, she’s a widow. She’ll never love your brother and she deserves to come home,” Anirudh pleaded.

“Oh, my…that is quite a coincidence. Don’t worry-I’ll take good care of her. However, I can’t keep her away from my brother. He’s fascinated with her and she actually gets to speak her mind in his presence,” Axandra said. “I told you she’s clever. This isn’t fair, she could have become a nurse and in a way, she’s like you. She wanted to learn from those around her, make something of her life and be slightly less ordinary. Ever since you told me about your husband, I’ve been angry. It made me think of her and what sort of brute she’s been forced to serve,” Anirudh said with a sigh.

“Life isn’t fair. Do you honestly think I’d be married to a moron if it was? I know my brother is nervous about who he can trust, but he made a foolish decision. I swear, that man could drop dead and I’d drink my tea as if nothing had happened,” Axandra grumbled.  “My sister is miserable, the princess will be miserable if she finds out and you’re miserable that this situation even exists. My sister is there because slavery is legal. Your brother isn’t going to change that,” Anirudh said. He wanted to believe it until he found out about his sister.

“Then he’s not who I thought he was.” Anirudh was right,but it broke Axandra’s heart. Her brother had always done his best to be noble and try not to be wicked, greedy and selfish.  “The heart wants what it wants and she’s not even a servant. She doesn’t love him and she never will. If I were you, I’d consider staying with him. You can still control him and confide in me whenever you want.”  Anirudh’s motives were somewhat selfish, since he didn’t want the princess to leave for another kingdom. However,he cared more about his sister’s safety, as well as the children and innocents kidnapped by the slavers.

“How? I don’t want him near me,” Axandra said. It was nauseating and she wanted better.  “I know it means you have to let him touch you, but I can give you something. It’s going to make it seem like he accosted you. If you can ply him with alcohol, no one will question it. If you marry a khan or a king, you’ll never truly get to make a difference. Don’t you want things to move forward from here? Bailyana doesn’t need to be so sheltered and naive. She doesn’t have to keep believing that she doesn’t deserve to be heard,” Anirudh insisted.

“Well, I would have been willing to be a good wife to a powerful man. You’re speaking sense, though. I’ll be stuck with him and even if I have to endure pity, I’ll get to show him just how the game is played. This will cause tension and eventually, my brother will feel like a fool for ever trusting him. I suppose we can let the boy be,” Axandra said. She felt for Trilok and he wanted to better himself. “Does he have a son?” Anirudh asked.

“No, no…he has a younger brother. His father is dead and he has to provide for his mother and brother. Trilok is a toddler The only times I’m even polite to that idiot is in front of his brother. There’s no need to drag a child into things,” Axandra said with a sigh. “No, there isn’t and it’s half of the reason why I’m angry. That girl was turned into an example because she saved her sister. She snuck in, stole her from the traders and went back home. The girl’s father begged to go in her place, but the traders didn’t want to encourage any ideas from the villagers. She wasn’t even a young lady yet,” Anirudh said.

“Then it’s settled. Considering he laughed at things the book spoke of,I doubt he’d stop any of this nonsense, either. She’ll have to escape, you know. He can’t marry her because of her station and she doesn’t want to be his mistress. Are you prepared to let her go?” Axandra asked. Aryan would have to understand and he could find a mistress who was far superior.

“I’d rather she be safe in another kingdom than forced to bend to your brother’s whims. She’ll have legitimate children and a happy family. I can always visit her,” Anirudh said with a sigh. His sister wouldn’t have to be a widow and she could feel free to love again, if she chose to. “We’ll meet again soon,” Axandra said. “Stay here and let me mix a potion for you. The act itself will drive a wedge between them,” Anirudh pointed out. He’d finally get to put his ideas in action and the general didn’t deserve Axandra. She could feel free to be who she wanted behind closed doors, he’d look and feel like an idiot for thinking he could win without being clever, having guile and no idea how to make his wife happy.
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