The Bodyguard

Rajesh thought he was going to miss waking up in his own bed, with Shanti's warm body and faint scent by his side. Three to four months away from the small apartment in the servants' quarters of the royal palace of Jevina felt like an eternity, mostly because he had never been away from Shanti for so long since they got married ten years earlier.

He shaved and dressed listening to Shanti and the boys in the next room, already up and chattering and having breakfast while he lingered in the bedroom. Sometimes he wished he wasn't a royal bodyguard, but then, he'd known this day would come.

Prince Tarun was twenty and headed for his tour of the southern courts in search of a bride. With his faithful bodyguard in tow, of course.

Rajesh had known the prince heir since childhood, although he'd been appointed his bodyguard  only a couple of years earlier. Rajesh didn't have a very high opinion of Prince Tarun and didn't look forward to spending months on the road with him.

With a final sigh, he grabbed his scimitar and left the bedroom.

"At last Dad is up!" Shanti said cheerfully.

"Maybe Dad doesn't want to leave you," he replied, sitting next to her and kissing her cheek.

The boys cheered. Hemal was nine, Hitesh was seven, and they adored him as much as he adored them.

"It is your duty, Raju," Shanti replied. "Try to take notes and come back with great stories of the other southern kingdoms I will certainly never see."

"Will we see them?" Hitesh asked.

"Eventually. If you become royal bodyguards," Rajesh answered. "Or if you marry a merchant's daughter and your father-in-law takes you in his trade."

"Yikes!" Hemal said. "Royal bodyguard sounds much better!"

"Why?" Shanti asked. She was a merchant's daughter, but she had left her father's trade when she'd married Rajesh. "Don't you like your grandfather?"

"He can't use a sword!" Hemal answered while his brother nodded.

"I see, I will have to train you when I come back," Rajesh said with a smile.

"Maybe you'll wait a few years." Shanti playfully slapped his muscled arm. "I don't want the boys to start playing with blades too early!"

"Yes, my lady." He stared fondly at her beautiful, heart-shaped face. He was definitely going to miss her. They'd been together for so long, it would feel strange to sleep alone again. "Boys, you will take care of Mommy, won't you?"

"Of course, Dad!" they chorused.

"You better get going," Shanti said. "I'm sure the royal wagon is already in the courtyard and Prince Tarun eagerly awaits you."

"I'll miss you." He kissed her. "You two give me a hug," he added to the children who immediately complied.

He reluctantly left his apartment and his beloved family accompanied him. The children rushed to play with their peers, but Shanti squeezed his hand before they stepped out into the main courtyard where the prince's escort and train was already gathering.

Rajesh quickly looked around to make sure nobody was watching and hugged his wife, giving her a long kiss.

"I'll miss you," he repeated with a sigh.

"Will miss you too," she answered, caressing his cheek. "Don't let yourself be tempted by foreign beauties."

"Never," he assured her, squeezing her shapely body. He inhaled the scent of her long black hair one last time, then finally let her go. "You take care of yourself and the boys. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I know you don't like your charge much, but stick to your duty." She smiled fondly at him. "I'm proud of you."

He briefly kissed her again and let her go, going into the main courtyard where King Vivek was giving his son his latest recommendations in front of the royal wagon. Prince Tarun brightened at the sight of him and stopped listening to his father.

"Let's go, Rajesh! I look forward to this adventure!"

Rajesh bowed, but he didn't like the smirk on the king's face. When he was younger, he had to submit to the then prince heir's lust, and he often thought the now king had chosen him for his son in memory of those stolen moments.

Except he wasn't going to let Prince Tarun, who was fifteen years younger than him, order him around and demand to share his bed. He entered the royal wagon with his charge, determined to stand his ground. He was a bodyguard, not a slave.

The wagon was equipped with carpets and plush cushions and low tables like a small moving room, but they'd have to sleep in a tent on the way to the Amrendran capital, Delen. Oxen pulled it towards the north, followed by two more wagons, one of servants and one of equipment and food. A dozen mounted guards escorted the wagons, so every night they'd have to set up a small camp until they reached their destination.

Prince Tarun was excited to be on his own. It was as if the palace felt oppressive to him and the wagon gave him sudden freedom.

"Won't you miss your friends and siblings?" Rajesh asked him.

"I don't think so." Tarun grinned. "I'm really glad we're here and I hope I'll get to know you better during this trip."

Rajesh raised his eyebrows. "Meaning?"

"Well, we don't have time to talk much at the palace, so I hope you'll tell me something about yourself while we travel. I know you have a wife, but not much else. How did you get those muscles? Where did you train to fight? How did you become my bodyguard? I mean, I know my father chose you, but..."

"I'm not answering that question, your highness," he warned.

"Why? Because he used you in the past and thought of doing you a favor by giving you the responsibility of my life?"

My, the prince is smart! Or he knows his father well. Rajesh smiled despite himself.

"He never told me why he chose me to protect you. And I do not wish to know the reason behind his choice."

"Maybe he was trying your dedication to the royal family," Tarun said. "Is it true that the prince heir's bodyguard receives sex offers to allow women near his charge?"

"Where did you hear this?" Rajesh asked, amused.

"I think it's the reason why Vikram was dismissed," Tarun replied. "Did you ever have any such offer?"

Rajesh hesitated. "Yes," he said at last. "But I love Shanti and I wouldn't accept any other woman. Or man."

Tarun chuckled. "I know, I'm not trying to get into your pants."

Definitely smart. Smarter than his father. But also obsessed with me. Where will this take us?

"I want to be like you when I'm king," Tarun said, serious.

"Excuse me?" Rajesh stared incredulous at the prince. "I'm not king! Why would you want to be like me and not like your father?"

"I don't like my father. I want to be a man like you, not like him."

"Oh." Definitely a few interesting months ahead. "I don't know what you see in me, but then, I'm the worse judge of myself, like my wife likes to remind me."

"Maybe I should talk to her as well when we come back." Tarun grinned again and settled on the cushions as the wagon gently rolled forward.

Talking about his family wasn't too bad, since the journey was just at the beginning. Rajesh decided he might as well get that out of the way and satisfy the prince's curiosity before he actually started missing Shanti and the boys.

When they stopped for the night, while the servants set up the camp, Tarun asked him to show him some moves with the scimitar, which felt wonderful after spending a whole day inside a wagon without being able to exercise and practice. Rajesh was afraid he'd put on weight during the journey since he wouldn't be able to keep himself fit as much as at the palace where he had a different routine.

The prince was swift and well-trained but he started mimicking his every move almost immediately. He tried to walk like him, move like him, even speak like him, which was jarring. He wasn't a nobleman or even less royal blood. Why Tarun wanted to be like him was still a mystery. It seemed a good way to lower the royal family of Lakeshi to a commoner's level.

Rajesh slept lightly during the night and often dozed off in the lulling wagon during the day, along with the prince. And after a week, crossing the border river with a ferry, they reached Delen, capital of Amrendra.

Summer had exploded on the coastal town of the most northern of the southern kingdoms. From the royal palace terrace there was a breathtaking view of the sea and its smell sometimes reached the building decorated with vines.

Amrendra had twin royalty, and prince heirs Rajiv and Sanjiv were one year older than Tarun. They were identical twins with gray eyes and brown hair who welcomed the Lakeshian prince with very similar gestures. They were cousins, since their mother was Laxmi, former princess of Lakeshi and now queen of Amrendra, and they had already met Prince Tarun during their own tour of the kingdoms.

Tarun was glad to see them again and they introduced him to a suitable bride. The succession was a little convoluted at the moment, making the daughters of Prince Ajay, cousin of King Rohit Rahul, also suitable while the shadow king's children were still too young and out of the succession line. Rajiv and Sanjiv's sisters were also out of the question for Tarun. Intermarriage was fine, but not between first cousins.

Deepika, daughter of Ajay of Amrendra and Princess Nisha of Rajendra, was the right age and had already heard a lot about Tarun from the twins. Rajesh watched as Tarun talked to his peers and observed him even more closely when he got to meet their parents – King Rohit Rahul, Queen Laxmi, his aunt, Lady Chitrangda, Prince Ajay and Princess Nisha.

"I was very curious to meet King Rohit Rahul," Tarun said that night, excited, as they prepared to sleep in the guest apartment of the Amrendran palace. Rajesh would sleep in the antechamber, but he waited until the prince was in bed to retire. Except Tarun didn't seem to want to get any sleep. "Have you seen the hand of the shadow king? My father told me his father was obsessed with him!"

"Yes, we all know the story of how King Vijay was obsessed with a jester who turned out to be the lost twin prince of Amrendra," Rajesh said, amused. "I thought you'd be happy to meet your Aunt Laxmi, not her brother-in-law."

"But those are the brothers of Aunt Kareena and they're so much more interesting!" Tarun replied. The Amrendran princess had married Prince Vasant of Lakeshi, Tarun's uncle. One more reason to start the tour from the neighboring kingdom that was already so tied to Lakeshi since Laxmi's marriage to Rohit of Amrendra. "Were you already in the royal guard when the recognition happened?"

"No, I was still training at the school of Master Pushpendra and hadn't set foot in the palace yet."

Tarun sighed. "I'll have to make do with what I know, then..."

"How about getting some sleep now?" Rajesh suggested.

Tarun finally lay down and allowed him to switch off the oil lamp.

Rajesh retired to the antechamber and sat on the cot provided for him. As darkness wrapped the whole apartment, he remembered when he'd been hired in the royal guard, nineteen years old and barely out of fighting school, trying to hide his youth and inexperience – and his features – from the royal family.

The first to notice him had been Princess Priyanka, King Vijay's youngest daughter, before she left to marry Dilip of Gajendra. Then Prince Vivek had set his eyes on him. But since his father was alive, he had been very discreet.

And thank the gods, since Vivek had become king, he'd been too busy to bother with Rajesh, who by then had married Shanti who was expecting Hemal.

Now Tarun didn't seem to want the same thing his father had wanted. But he was intrigued by the same things that had intrigued his father, so there was no telling where this was going. Sometimes Rajesh wished he could read minds.

Finally he dozed off, hoping to dream of Shanti.

***

The next day conversations continued in the palace gardens. The youth enjoyed the sun and played in the fountains, using them as pools, but their parents remained in the shadows of the gazebos, along with the children.

Rajesh noticed that King Rahul and Lady Chitrangda had children about the age of his, a girl who must be eight or nine, and twins of different sex that still looked identical at this age, since the girl hadn't developed womanly attributes to differentiate her from the boy. One could tell they weren't of the same sex because they were dressed differently and the girl had longer hair than the boy.

Luckily the twins, who were probably six or seven, weren't in the line of succession, or Amrendra would have a queen along with a king!

Rajesh stood on the side under a plane tree, keeping an eye on Prince Tarun, when a servant stopped near him with an empty tray.

"Her majesty Queen Laxmi would like you to join her for a moment."

Puzzled, Rajesh looked at the adults gathered in the gazebo while the servant proceeded to the kitchens to refill the tray with sweet treats. Queen Laxmi was indeed staring at him, and she motioned him to come closer.

With a last glance at Tarun who seemed to be perfectly safe with the Amrendran royalty, Rajesh went to the gazebo, although he stopped outside of it and bowed deeply.

"You're Tarun's bodyguard, correct?" she asked.

"Yes, your majesty."

"Did my father or my brother choose you for the task?"

"Uh... your brother, your majesty. Apparently my predecessor failed in his duty somehow. That's what Prince Tarun told me."

"And the predecessor was appointed by my father or my brother?"

"I have no idea, your majesty."

"When did you join the royal guard?"

"Sixteen years ago."

"I see. What instructions did Vivek give you?"

"Take Prince Tarun to meet his aunt and cousins in Amrendra, say hello to his other aunt in Gajendra while taking a look at King Prem's daughters, whom, I hear, are not as blind as Queen Ashrita..."

Both Queen Laxmi and Princess Nisha chuckled.

"No, my sister didn't give birth to any blind child," the princess of Rajendra said.

"King Prem was very brave to marry a blind queen," King Rohit said. "I wasn't even allowed to meet Princess Ashrita when I came to Rajendra."

"That's because my father thought she wasn't suitable for anyone and was almost ready to give her to a nobleman of his court, until Prince Prem showed up and requested her," Princess Nisha replied with an impish smile.

"After Gajendra?" Queen Laxmi resumed her inquiry as Rajesh politely waited for royalty to stop commenting on marriage matters.

"Rajendra and Akkora, of course. We're skipping Arquon since there are no suitable princesses there."

"So you're going by land up to...?"

"Argantael. Then we'll take barges and ships to Agharek and back to Jevina."

"Good. I will give you a letter for my brothers before you leave. I know you're not a messenger, but I trust you more than anyone else. It doesn't matter if it takes longer, as long as you deliver them."

"As your majesty wishes."

"I will also give you a letter for my sister," King Rohit added. "Rahul, would you like to write to Kareena in Lakeshi?" he asked his twin.

King Rahul exchanged a glance with his wife. "I don't know her, Rohit," he chided. "But I'm sure Chitrangda would love to send her news."

"Great, then you'll have to be a messenger for a few of us," King Rohit said, smiling at Rajesh who bowed. "We will let you have our sealed letters for our scattered relatives before you leave."

Rajesh bowed again. He kind of expected Princess Nisha to add her own letter for her brother and sister in Rajendra and Gajendra, and he didn't mind. He had to go there anyway with Prince Tarun, it wouldn't change much if he carried letters as well.

"Maybe Prince Tarun should deliver the letters himself?" he suggested.

"He might, but I'd rather you carry them," Queen Laxmi said with a smile. "If he's even remotely like his father, I don't trust him!"

Rajesh smiled despite himself. "I cannot tell, your majesty. I'm barely beginning to know him. I will carry all your letters and deliver them into Prince Tarun's hands when we reach the destination."

"Fair enough." She nodded her approval. "Tell me... what's your name?"

"Rajesh."

"Tell me, Rajesh, has Vivek bothered you?"

"Before becoming king, before I got married."

"Oh, so you're married!" Princess Nisha sounded disappointed. "Lucky woman!"

"Nisha! He's not noble, you shouldn't even look at him!" Laxmi chided.

If only you knew your youngest sister was the first to look at me... Rajesh remained at attention, staring straight ahead. He might not be allowed to look at them without permission, but he wasn't deaf.

"You know, you royal people are totally twisted," King Rahul said.

"Really? My dear brother-in-law, when will you remember you are a royal person too?" Queen Laxmi teased.

King Rahul flashed his shy smile at her. "I'm the jester king, I'll never think like a royal!"

"And that's why we love you, Rahul!" Princess Nisha said, blowing him a kiss.

"We will give you the letters before you leave, Rajesh," King Rohit said, dismissing him.

Rajesh bowed deeply and went back under the plane tree. As he watched Prince Tarun again he pondered the discussion. King Rahul might look like King Rohit, but he behaved differently, so maybe his twins would soon differentiate each other as well... unlike Princes Rajiv and Sanjiv who seemed to do everything in synch.

"Sometimes it's creepy," Tarun confided that night. "I mean, who is going to marry them? There are no twin princesses in the southern kingdoms, are there?"

"Twin kings have married various princesses for centuries," Rajesh reminded him. "They don't need twin brides."

"I'm glad I'm not a princess, then," Tarun said with a shiver of disgust. Then he stared eagerly at Rajesh. "What did their majesties want from you?"

"They want me to carry letters for their relatives." Rajesh smiled. "You will deliver the letters, but I'll have to carry them."

"They're not supposed to give you other jobs!" Tarun protested.

"It's not really a job... you can always try to convince your aunt you're the perfect messenger!"

Tarun held his breath for a moment, then smiled impishly. "I think I can do that! Good night, Rajesh!"

"Good night, your highness..."

***

A couple of days later Queen Laxmi gave Rajesh a batch of letters, sealed and addressed to various royals. She had wrapped them in a leather folder that was also waterproof, even though the royal wagon should hold the rain away from ink and parchment.

"Tarun says you can give them yourself to the recipients," she said, amused. "Apparently he trusts you even more than my brother. He seems to think you're the most wonderful man in the world."

"Yes, I had that impression." He sighed. "He mentioned he wants to be like me..."

"Then he's not like my brother and it's a very good sign." She smiled. "Maybe he's more like Vasant than Vivek!"

Which would make for a better king. The younger prince was less sex obsessed than the king. And he wasn't particularly interested in men either. Rajesh was surprised that Tarun was so uninterested as well. Maybe there was hope for the young prince – he could be better than his father and grandfather.

And then it was time to go back on the road and say good-bye to the Amrendran court. Tarun hugged his cousins and aunt good-bye, kissed Deepika's hand and went to the royal wagon looking quite happy with himself.

"So, you didn't really try to convince your aunt, did you?" Rajesh said as they sat on the cushions again and the wagon rolled away from Delen.

"No, I thought I'd toot your horn instead. You deserve better than what you already have," Tarun answered with a grin.

"What more can I ask for?" he replied. "I have a wonderful wife, two lovely children and a job. What else is missing?"

Tarun chuckled. "The freedom to spend more time with them?" he suggested, amused. "Not having to travel through the southern kingdoms, looking after a spoiled prince heir?"

"Your highness, that's wishful thinking for me. I wasn't born noble or wealthy, and I'm content with what I have."

"And that's why I admire you so much," Tarun said. "You're so simple, so... like King Rahul! With that commoner's wisdom that is so missing from most royal courts."

Rajesh raised his eyebrows, skeptical. "So what would you give me if it were in your power to bestow something on me?" he asked out of curiosity.

"I'd make you a council member. I don't know who decided one must be a nobleman to attend. See how things go smoothly in Amrendra? I'd have people from all walks of life in my council, if I were king."

"And you will be king," Rajesh reminded him. "Which doesn't mean you'll be allowed to change everything around you."

"I know." Tarun sighed and looked away. "But you asked, and I answered what I would do, if I had the power."

"I'm honored and thankful for your thoughts," Rajesh said, bowing his head. "What did you think of Princess Deepika? Did you like her?"

"Yes." Tarun shrugged and didn't elaborate.

He seemed more interested in the fact that they were alone again, and they could talk and exercise together. Every day they ran for a few miles, either ahead of the wagons or after them, and then rested until lunch time. Again after lunch they ran for a mile on the unpaved roads and then waited for the train to catch up with them.

Rajesh still couldn't figure out what the young prince was up to. Tarun's growing admiration for him was often embarrassing, but the prince wasn't really trying to get in his pants – unlike his father had done years earlier.

Rajesh started praying every day for more strength and to be able to handle the situation. The gods didn't answer, but he kept praying, just in case.

After a fortnight and across three rivers, boarding a big barge on the shore of the last one and following the current, they finally reached Godwalkar, capital of Gajendra. The wagons were unloaded from the barge and taken to the royal palace where Prince Hitesh welcomed Tarun.

The Gajendran prince was a few months older than Tarun, and had blue eyes like his father, still handsome King Prem. He also had the same dark blond hair, which he didn't mind showing off when the turban wasn't required. He took a liking to the raven-haired Tarun and promised to introduce him to his sister Rohini that very night.

Rajesh observed with curiosity blind Queen Ashrita who sat by King Prem who seemed overly protective of her. But then, so did her son, who gently nudged Tarun forward so she could touch his face.

Rajesh saw also Prince Dilip and Princess Priyanka of Lakeshi, but stayed away from them. When he retired with Tarun to the guest apartment to refresh themselves before dinner, he checked the folder Queen Laxmi had given him.

"Are you sure you don't want to deliver them?" he asked as Tarun took a bath. "I'm not supposed to talk to royalty, you know."

"If you insist," Tarun answered, scrubbing his body. "What do you have?"

"Queen Ashrita..." His heart missed a beat. "Princess Priyanka." He cleared his throat, taking the two sealed letters and putting the others back in the folder.

"I'll deliver to the queen, you can give the letter to my aunt," Tarun said, oblivious, rinsing his hair.

"I'd rather you delivered both, your highness," he replied sternly.

"Oh?" Tarun stared at him from the small pool of the bath chamber. "Doesn't my aunt know you? You've been in the royal guard of Lakeshi for how long?"

"Sixteen years, and yes, she does know me, and I'd rather not address her, if you don't mind."

Tarun grinned. "You will have to tell me everything about this when we leave," he said.

"Sure." Never. It's none of your business. I'll make up something.

He had a few days to make up a story. Hopefully Tarun would deliver the letters without comments.

The prince came out of the pool and went to the bedroom to dress and get shaved. Rajesh gave him the two letters, put away the folder and requested permission to clean up too. He didn't need to stick by Tarun's side inside the royal palace, and the prince said he was free for the night – which didn't mean he could just leave, but they'd meet again at bedtime.

Rajesh went to the bath chamber and into the pool. He wished he could have Shanti with him. They didn't have such amenities in their small apartment and always had to wash in pieces with the small basin and jug.

He missed her really badly now. He sighed, washed, shaved and dressed, heading out for a quick meal away from the banquet in the great hall. He found the servant quarters and introduced himself as Prince Tarun's bodyguard. The head cook stared appreciatively at his body and gave him a plate of spicy vegetables with chicken. The maids seemed quite impressed too, so he asked if he could take the food to the prince's apartment.

The cook waved him off and he left the kitchens, eating in the secondary courtyard and watching the servants mill around, busy with their tasks. He could recognize the big trays for the king's table, and didn't envy Tarun who would have to taste everything. He preferred light meals to those endless banquets. Luckily as bodyguard he didn't have to sit through them.

He took the empty plate back to the kitchen and went for a walk in the palace gardens. He admired the gates with marble elephants and the manicured lawns on the main courtyard but decided not to leave the premises. The royal palace was big enough to allow him a good fast walk around it and then go back to the apartment and wait for Tarun.

He sat in the antechamber and checked the other letters, then lay on his cot, daydreaming of when he'd go home. Maybe he should write a letter to Shanti, a travel journal he could deliver when he got home. Or take notes, which he hadn't done so far.

The door opened and he jumped to his feet, but it wasn't Tarun. Princess Priyanka stepped inside and smiled at the sight of him.

"Rajesh! I thought it was you accompanying my nephew!"

"Your highness." He bowed deeply. "I didn't think you would recognize me."

"How could I not recognize your honey-colored eyes, muscled body and proud demeanor?" she replied, amused. "I had a crush on you, even though I knew I'd never be allowed to marry you!"

I had noticed. But your father would have emasculated me if I had touched you.

He bowed again and didn't say anything as she came forward, giving him an obvious once-over.

"You're still the most handsome of the Lakeshian court, I'm sure," she said. "How come Vivek chose you to accompany Tarun?"

"Apparently my predecessor didn't fulfill his duty and was dismissed," Rajesh answered. "I was appointed Prince Tarun's bodyguard only two years ago."

"And how is my brother treating you?" she asked with an impish smile.

"Since he became king, he's been too busy to bother me."

"So he did bother you when my father was alive."

He nodded. The princess knew her brother's tastes, denying it was useless.

"Has Prince Tarun given you your sister's letter?" he asked.

"Yes, I'll read it later. I'm happy to see you. How have you been? Did you get married?"

"Yes, I married a merchant's daughter, she gave me two sons."

Princess Priyanka looked away as her smile froze on her lips. "Lucky woman," she muttered. Then she looked at him again. "I'm not complaining," she said more lively. "I mean, Dilip is nice and we have children and everything, but sometimes I wonder... What if I had been able to marry for love?"

"Princesses can afford to marry for love no more than royal guards can afford to let those same princesses close to their heart," he replied.

She sighed. "I know. My father would have killed you. Or worse. But still... one can dream, right?" Now she sounded sad as she stared into the distance.

"It's hard for everyone," he said. "We all have our duties."

"Yes." She snapped back to reality. "I wish you all the possible happiness, to you and your family," she said quickly. She turned around and left the room before he had time to answer with a similar wish.

A little puzzled, Rajesh sat down again. He definitely wasn't going to tell Tarun anything about Princess Priyanka! He better find a good replacement story before the prince came to sleep...

***

The few days in Godwalkar flew by. Princess Priyanka didn't approach Rajesh again, but sometimes he felt her eyes on him. Tarun hadn't asked anything so far, and Rajesh was beginning to dread the moment they'd be alone in the royal wagon, headed for Argantael.

The day came and Tarun thanked Prince Hitesh and his parents profusely, kissed Princess Rohini's hand like he had done with Princess Deepika in Amrendra and hugged his aunt who whispered something in his ear that made him smile. Then he climbed onto the royal wagon with Rajesh.

He lay down on his plush cushions with a sigh of relief. "I think I'm becoming a grumpy prince," he said, staring at the wooden ceiling.

"Why? You don't enjoy your peers' company?" Rajesh asked.

"I don't know." Tarun propped himself on his elbows to stare at him. "I mean, Hitesh is really nice, he could become a great friend, and if I don't marry his sister, I hope he'll marry one of mine, but... Maybe I've had enough of court etiquette?"

"And what would you rather do?"

Tarun lay down again with his hands under his head. "I don't know. Sometimes I wish I were a commoner."

"Then maybe when you're king you will go out more and visit your subjects, especially the artists and artisans who make those beautiful things to make your palace the architectural beauty it is," Rajesh said.

"I think I should start doing it now." Tarun sat and stared at him, determined. "When we go back to Jevina, you'll have to accompany me around town – before my father locks me up with a bride and everything else."

"Of course, your highness."

"Now let's talk about Aunt Priyanka. I didn't tell her your name or anything, but she said she knew you the next day when she gave me letters for her brothers. She told me she used to have a crush on you."

"Did she?"

"Don't dodge me, Rajesh! You were aware, weren't you?"

"What if I was? She is the princess, and I'm only a royal guard."

"What a sad story." Tarun sighed. "She still has a soft spot for you, you know?"

Rajesh shrugged. He wasn't going to talk about the princess. "I miss Shanti," he muttered. "And the children."

"Two more courts, since we're skipping Arquon," Tarun said, thoughtful. "And after Argantael it's all ships and barges. How will we keep ourselves fit? We can't really run around a barge or a ship deck, can we?"

"I'll find a way to keep us fit," he promised, grateful for the change of subject.

In the meantime they resumed the previous routine of running regularly. Although the roads to Rajendra were mostly in the jungle, so they stayed close to the wagons, to avoid running into wild animals.

A ferry took them across the border river and after another fortnight they reached Argantael, capital of Rajendra. Prince Prem of Rajendra was a few months younger than Tarun, who again played the postman, delivering a letter from Princess Nisha to her brother King Roshan.

Rajesh was approached by Prince Prem's bodyguard as they both kept an eye on the young royals socializing in the palace gardens.

"If you don't mind me asking, is Prince Tarun like his father?" the other man asked. He must be the king's age, with black hair and eyes, and moved like a veteran.

"Apparently not," Rajesh answered. "Why?"

"Just wondering. Prince Prem was very excited at the thought of meeting him."

"And why is that?"

"You may or may not have heard that our beloved king had a... misadventure with a rebellious general when he was younger." The man grinned. "A man saved him and helped him to overcome the shock and shame."

"Was that you?" Rajesh asked, puzzled.

"No, it was Kirit, an officer of General Kabir. I was only Kirit's attendant. Eventually the king had that much needed heir and sort of forgot Kirit... but then he requested him as bodyguard for his son. We were lovers by then, so when he died, I stepped into his place. And Prince Prem is smart. No matter how discreet we were, he has always known we were lovers."

"You mean Prince Prem is attracted to men?"

"I think he's just curious. Because he couldn't really watch us, he looks forward to asking Tarun about his own experiences. I'm sure the Lakeshian court isn't as discreet in these matters as we were..."

"Um, no, definitely not." Rajesh sighed. "I was asked by then Prince Vivek to join him in bed. But his son already had a bodyguard appointed by his father, so he didn't ask me to do it until two years ago."

"And has he asked you to his bed while king?"

"No, he probably found other pastimes, younger and more handsome than me."

"As if you're old and ugly!" The man chuckled. "I'm Falgun, by the way."

"Rajesh." They shook hands. "I don't think Prince Tarun has the same inclinations as his father. We've been traveling for over a month and he hasn't asked me to take down my pants yet."

"As long as he satisfies Prince Prem's curiosity... so he'll stop pestering me!" Falgun rolled his eyes.

"You mean the prince heir is asking you to show him things?" Rajesh asked, amused.

"Away from his father's ears." Falgun winked. "I don't leave him alone often enough that he can experiment with somebody else... besides he trusts me, but is afraid to ask someone else!"

"Unless that someone has a reputation," Rajesh said. "Like Prince Tarun, who comes from that depraved Lakeshian court..."

Falgun burst out laughing. "Yes, that's exactly what's happening! So we better close our eyes during Prince Tarun's stay... Nothing will happen to either of them anyway!"

Rajesh smiled and nodded. It's better if Tarun does things with another prince. From what I've heard, his father seduced Suresh of Arquon during his tour! Maybe Prince Prem won't be utterly seduced and be content with some sex games...

***

The next few days Rajesh simply watched during the day and ignored the fact that Tarun didn't sleep in his bed. Whether he was with Prince Prem or some other lover, he didn't care. Princess Nandini seemed smitten by the prince, but Rajesh was certain Tarun wouldn't touch her now.

Again the prince thanked the king and queen of Rajendra for their hospitality, kissed Princess Nandini's hand and let Prince Prem hug him good-bye in the main courtyard of the palace, then walked to the river where a barge waited with the wagons already onboard to take them to the sea, where a ship would take them to Akkora.

Tarun used the wagon as a private cabin on the barge, with servants bringing him and his bodyguard food, but mostly leaving them alone. Rajesh told him his plan for keeping fit during the floating part of the journey without disturbing the work of the sailors and Tarun eagerly approved it.

"Now, I know it's none of my business, but of the three princesses you've met so far, has anyone in particular touched you?" Rajesh asked. He wouldn't have dared in the palace, but after so many weeks of traveling with the young prince, he felt confident enough to ask. After all, Tarun didn't spare him embarrassing questions, so why hold back his curiosity?

"Not really, but then, I'm not supposed to marry for love, so why bother?" Tarun answered with a shrug. "I can't touch them until I marry them, so I'm just not going to care. My father will choose for me anyway."

"But you should at least give him some input, no?" Rajesh insisted.

"You know what he's going to ask me." Tarun snorted and frowned. He mimicked his father's voice. "What is Hitesh like? And Prem? And the twins? Aren't they as creepily alike as Rohit and Rahul?"

Rajesh smiled despite himself. "And what will you answer to that?"

"I know what he wants to hear from me, and I'm not going to tell him," Tarun replied. "But I will tell you."

"You don't need to, your highness..."

"Why, because it would shock you?" Tarun grinned. "I know Falgun told you about Prem's wishes. I know you both turned a blind eye to us. Did I enjoy his company? Sort of. I don't know, I'd rather sleep with you, I guess."

Rajesh cleared his throat and glared at him.

"I know, I know, you had enough with my father!" Tarun rolled his eyes. "I'm not asking, I'm just saying. I haven't fallen in love yet, neither with man nor woman. Does that make you feel better?"

"As long as you don't fall in love with me, everything else is fine," Rajesh said.

"I think my aunt's unrequited love is enough," Tarun replied. "Besides, royalty is not supposed to fall in love anyway. We marry for interest, to make alliances, to keep the peace in the southern kingdoms."

"But most kings have lovers and concubines and that special someone who might not be the queen," Rajesh said. "And you said my predecessor was dismissed because he allowed someone near you without your father's permission."

"We are not supposed to fall in love, but we can have sex," Tarun said, amused. "It's not that we make a chastity vow until marriage! Not princes, at least!"

Of course, princesses must be virgins, princes must be experts. So off they go with courtesans or noblewomen or whoever manages to get in their bedrooms.

"Did you say Vikram accepted a sex offer to let someone near you? Was it a man or a woman?"

"For him or for me?"

"Both."

"Well, doesn't change the answer anyway. It was a woman in both cases. I think I already sired a bastard."

"Which is probably what drove your father mad and led to the dismissal of the bodyguard..." Rajesh mused.

Tarun chuckled. "Probably. And that's why now I'm touring the kingdoms, looking for a bride, so I stop impregnating other women and produce the next heir!"

"It's tough for everyone," Rajesh concluded, shaking his head.

***

Traveling on water was faster in a way, since currents allowed more miles in a day that bad terrain, but less comfortable in other ways because of the cramped lodgings. On the Rajendran coast they moved from the river barge to a sea-faring ship that had both a sail and oars. There was only the captain's cabin available for the noble guest, but some exercise could be done by sitting with the rowers for a few hours each day.

Prince Tarun was curious about everyone's life and asked questions of sailors and villagers alike. It was a coastal navigation and every other day the ship landed so they could all have fresh food – and trade goods – in the villages and towns they encountered.

They still slept onboard, though, and watched the coast go by. The lone mountain between Rajendra and Akkora. The Akkoran coast up to the most southern part of the continent.

Three weeks later they reached Akulina and disembarked from the sailing ship to move to a river barge that would go upriver to the capital, Agharek.

Again Tarun and Rajesh often sat with the rowers to keep their muscles exercised. And then they reached the white walls of Agharek, that kept away the jungle on three sides, the fourth being on the river shore.

"Do you think we will see any member of the Assassins' Guild?" Tarun asked as they headed for the royal palace, surrounded by their escort.

"I sure hope not, your highness. Not even I could protect you from a blowgun dart or a noose."

"How do you think the king deals with them?"

"I doubt he controls them. But as far as I know, they operate only for money. And I doubt anyone would pay them to kill you, unless you upset one of their lords."

"I shall endeavor to tread carefully, then."

"I think you're a good diplomat, you'll be fine." Rajesh smiled fondly at the prince.

When he had started the journey, he didn't have a high opinion of Tarun, but after two months he could be proud of the heir of Lakeshi. He was young but not rash, and was indeed a natural born diplomat, who would eventually be loved by both noblemen and commoners.

King Kunal of Akkora had been reigning for ten years. His youngest sister Meghanka was still available and barely twenty, like Tarun. She was a dancer who often entertained her brother's guests and was more interested in learning new dance moves than finding a husband.

Tarun sat with the royal family in the great hall to watch Princess Meghanka's performance. She had been trained by King Karan's favorite courtesan and liked to improvise solo dances with torso articulation and abdominal movements that made her look like a celestial dancer.

Tarun and Rajesh watched, mesmerized, her hips' movement that punctuated the rhythmic accompanying music. Hip drops and infinity loops, relaxed shoulders or ribcage shimmies that accentuated her breasts made for a very sensual dance. Turns and spins made her veils fly around her along with her long black hair. The lower part of her face was covered with a transparent silken veil and she had silken puffy pants under the veiled skirt. Dancing bells on her ankles also punctuated the movements.

"She is awesome!" Tarun enthused that night. "I could watch her dance for hours!"

"She is mesmerizing," Rajesh admitted. "And she'd probably love to learn the Lakeshian dances."

"Then I guess I found my bride!" Tarun beamed. "What do you think?"

"I think your father will indulge you and King Kunal will be very happy."

"Then we can head home, so you can go back to Shanti and I can inform my father of my choice."

"I still think you should talk to King Kunal and Princess Meghanka tomorrow, to feel them out," Rajesh replied. He looked forward to going home, but didn't want his charge to make a diplomatic mistake with the last king of the list.

"And I will, but we don't need to linger much longer. Good night, Rajesh. We're almost done."

There would still be three to four weeks of sailing to reach Jevina, but yes, the trip was almost over. Rajesh went to sleep feeling relieved. Soon he'd be back in Shanti's arms.

***

Princess Meghanka sounded delighted to bring the belly dance to the Lakeshian court and learn the Lakeshian dances. King Kunal said he'd wait for King Vivek's request to send his sister to Jevina and Tarun thanked them both for the hospitality. Unlike he had done in the previous kingdoms, he said good-bye in a less formal way, holding Princess Meghanka's hand instead of kissing it and telling her he looked forward to seeing her at his father's palace.

And then off they went again – river barge and a new ship headed back north along the coast after circumnavigating the southern part of Varia. Again they sat with the rowers or ate on the land every other day, and currents and winds seemed to take them back home faster than expected.

But as they replenished the water and food supplies in a village on the coast of Arquon, three ships with black sails approached at full wind speed.

"What kind of ships are those?" Tarun asked the ship's captain.

"Triremes from the Queendom of Maadre," the man answered through clenched teeth. "Everybody get their weapons, we're under attack!"

Both sailors and inhabitants of the village gathered forks, lances and sabers. The prince's escort surrounded Tarun and Rajesh who stared worried at the incoming ships.

The worst shock came when the invading force disembarked with war cries.

"It's women!" Tarun said, incredulous. "It's all women!"

He had been taught not to kill women or children and Rajesh himself wasn't sure of what he should do. But the warrior women attacked them, so he switched to defense mode.

They were outnumbered by the crew of three ships, so Rajesh decided running away wasn't cowardly. He must keep Tarun alive, so he grabbed the prince's arm and they rushed to the cover of a thicket as the royal guard protected their retreat.

They watched aghast as the warrior women won the battle and started plundering houses and the ship with the prince's belongings. Most men lay dead and there was no way Rajesh could operate the ship on his own.

"We better go back and try to reach Zarquon," he said, frowning in worry. He didn't have a map, but two days earlier they had stopped at the town built at the mouth of the river that led to the capital, therefore if they followed the coast back south and then the river shore...

Tarun nodded and followed him away from the plundered village and ship. Staying on the coast spared them the jungle, but they had trouble finding freshwater. They had to rely on coconut trees to drink and eat something.

Tarun was nimble enough that he climbed them easily, with his saber in his teeth, and then he chopped the coconuts down so they both had two or three each. They found the small town at the mouth of the river, but nobody was willing to help them since they now looked disheveled and poor.

"I knew we wouldn't find anyone willing to take us to Jevina on our word," Rajesh muttered. "But if we manage to reach the royal palace of Arquon, your aunt Anjali will give us the means to go home."

Thus they started following the river shore and soon the jungle surrounded them. The thick undergrowth blocked their path and they didn't find any road. They had to be careful about snakes and other predators, and spend the nights tied to trees with lianas, since the ground was unsafe.

They had long sleeves and pants, but they covered their faces and hands with mud to keep the mosquitoes away. They had to use their scimitars to clear the way and didn't meet anyone for days on end. They tried to follow animal trails headed in their general direction, but they always ended up on the river shore and no boats seemed to pass through.

They barely slept and only twice did they find semi-abandoned temples where they dared to stop a little longer to rest. The man-made shelters allowed them some respite, but no real variation in their diet – bananas, avocados, and the fish they could catch with a bamboo lance that they also used as a walking stick

The first small temple had a narrow path, but it led to the river, which meant people probably reached it by boat – and there were none in sight. The second one appeared to be more used, with fading flowers on the small altar, but they were too tired and hungry to explore more.

They'd been eating wild fruits and the occasional fish when they managed to catch some, but they missed a full meal with meat. They couldn't really light a fire in the humid jungle, though, so even if they caught something, they'd have to eat it raw.

Tarun crumbled inside the small temple and curled up on the floor. "Let's get some sleep," he begged. "It's been the longest five days of my life!"

The jungle was taking its toll. They hadn't planned it like the tiger hunts with the king, and it was proving quite challenging.

Rajesh nodded and looked around, worried. The temple was cool, but it had no door. The floor was raised above the ground but still quite hard. They had nothing to make a hammock, though. He could hear the river run nearby, so they'd have water – something that hadn't been missing since they left the coast.

"I'll go fishing," he said.

"No!" Tarun grabbed his wrist and pulled him down. "Please, don't leave me alone."

It definitely wasn't like hunting the tiger with his father and the dignitaries. Tarun must be even more scared than he was. Rajesh sighed and sat next to him. Tarun put his head on his thigh and wrapped one arm around his waist.

"I won't run away while you sleep, your highness," Rajesh said.

Tarun grumbled something, but he was exhausted and soon fell asleep. Rajesh considered freeing himself and going to look for some food, but he was tired too. His eyelids were heavy and he dozed off.

Two hours were enough to give him back some strength. He gently removed Tarun's head from his thigh and disengaged himself from the prince's embrace. Tarun didn't stir, so he slowly got up and stretched his limbs, renewing the circulation in his legs.

He went out to check the situation. It was still day, even though the thick foliage didn't allow for much light. Rajesh decided to set up some traps on the way to the river and was very happy to find the mound of a termite hill.

He took off the top of the mound to build a fire in a corner of the temple and headed back to the temporary shelter the moment Tarun rolled on his back with a sigh.

"Your highness, I've set up a pair of traps and there's a termite hill nearby if you want to have a snack," Rajesh said. "It would make a change from bananas and bamboo until we catch something else."

Tarun slowly rose and shook his head to clear his mind. He glared at Rajesh.

"You left while I slept."

"To set up the traps. And I found the termites." Rajesh showed the piece of mound that would allow them to finally build a fire.

Tarun muttered something, then headed for the door. "Where's that mound?"

Rajesh showed him and headed for the river, just in case the traps didn't work. He had become proficient at catching fish with his bamboo lance. He noticed his scimitar needed sharpening, so heading back to the temple with two fish, he kept an eye on rocks that would allow him to sharpen the blade.

That kept both of them busy for a while and then they found a small animal in one of the traps. Tarun sighed with relief as they took it back to the temple with some fruits and another piece of termite hill. Rajesh started the fire as Tarun prepared the fish and the animal.

Soon the smell of roasted food made their stomachs grumble. It was the first decent meal they'd had since they'd run away from the village and ship nine days earlier. They drank from bamboo canes and headed back to the temple to spend the night, pushing the burning mound into the entrance to keep out animals.

"I hope we reach Zarquon soon," Tarun said, nestling against Rajesh on the floor of the temple. "I look forward to a bath and clean clothes and..."

Barber. Real food. Plush cushions. I hear you, Tarun. You've been very brave.

"Good night, your highness," he said, squeezing Tarun's shoulder.

"Good night." Tarun's voice was sleepy.

Rajesh listened to the animal calls and wished he could be back in Jevina already. Hopefully the path would take them somewhere tomorrow.

***

The path in the jungle led to an abandoned hamlet. The mud huts were empty, which made Tarun groan. Rajesh looked around and found a couple of boats tied to the small wooden pier.

"We better take one of those," he said. "Rowing won't be harder than hacking down plants to find a way in the jungle!"

"We'll need to be careful of crocodiles..."

As if it had heard, a log moved towards the water, a big crocodile who had probably seen prey. Tarun cursed under his breath.

Rajesh had a look inside the huts and found a flask and a couple of bowls. Someone had left behind bedsheets and even a rusty knife. Maybe they could have hammocks to sleep in from now on.

Rajesh took everything onto the pier and observed the two boats. One seemed to be leaking badly, the other seemed a little better. Maybe they should repair it before getting on it, lest it sunk in the middle of the crocodile-infested river.

They took the boat to the shore and found enough wood and the tools to reinforce the hull.

"Let's hope it holds, since I'm not a sailor," Rajesh said. Although he'd been born in the vicinity of the river in Jevina, he had never really bothered learning the ropes of navigation.

They put it back in the water and climbed in. It seemed to float. They grabbed everything from the pier and pushed it away from the abandoned village. They started rowing against the current. Thanks to the previous exercise with the much bigger ships, they were synchronized enough to give powerful pushes with every row.

It still took them another five days to reach the palace in the middle of the plain. They left the boat – that was now leaking dangerously again – on the river shore, put their things in a bed sheet wrapped around their shoulders, filled the flask with freshwater and headed for the main gate.

The town of Zarquon glistened in the sun on the other shore, oblivious. Rajesh hoped they'd be allowed inside in spite of their sorry state. Queen Anjali was really their only hope to get back to Lakeshi safe and sound. But she had never met her nephew, so she might not believe them.

The guards stopped them and asked them their business. Tarun wearily stated his identity, saying they had been attacked on the Arquon coast and their ship was lost as much as their escort. The guards waved them in and a chamberlain came forward to meet them in the middle of the courtyard.

Tarun repeated the story with a slurred voice, then passed out while requesting to see his aunt. Rajesh promptly grabbed him and begged the chamberlain to fetch Queen Anjali. He touched Tarun's forehead. The prince was feverish. Maybe he had caught something in the jungle.

Soon a couple of servants came with a stretcher and Rajesh lay Tarun down, following them inside the palace, worried. Tarun was put to bed and the royal doctor came, followed by Queen Anjali, who frowned at the sight of the disheveled prince.

"Your majesty." Rajesh bowed deeply at her. He wasn't in the royal guard when she'd left for Arquon, but he knew her face. "I'm Rajesh, bodyguard of Prince Tarun of Lakeshi. We weren't supposed to visit, but we lost everything on the Arquon coast and..."

"Yes, we have heard of the Amazons' incursion," she snapped. "They usually don't leave male survivors."

"The royal escort gave their lives to allow us to escape," Rajesh replied. "Nobody believed us in Hinud and we decided to come here, hoping you'd help Prince Tarun to go home."

The queen looked at the passed out young man again, still frowning. The doctor rose and turned to her.

"He has a fever from exhaustion and lack of proper food," he announced with a smile. "Allow him to bathe, shave and eat properly, and he'll be fine."

Queen Anjali nodded and turned to Rajesh again. "Feel free to use the bath chamber too. We will let Tarun rest a little longer, you can go first."

Rajesh bowed deeply and gratefully retired to the bath chamber. A servant brought him clean clothes and a razor, and he took his time to scrub off the mud and dirt of the jungle. They'd made it. Queen Anjali would help them go back to Lakeshi. The fortnight in the jungle was but a nightmare of the past now.

***

After grooming himself, Rajesh went to the bedroom to check on Tarun. He brought a wet towel and a basin and started cleaning the worst off the prince's face and hands. Tarun's clothes were tattered, but the queen was right, he needed rest in a real bed, so Rajesh didn't wake him.

Tarun stirred a couple of hours later, as the sun was setting on the royal palace.

"Right on time to prepare for dinner," Rajesh said with a grin.

Tarun smiled back weakly and slowly got to his feet. "I feel dizzy..."

Rajesh accompanied him to the bath chamber and helped him to wash himself. A servant and a barber showed up at the right time to finish grooming the prince while Rajesh waited in the antechamber. The chamberlain showed up only to ask if the prince was up and would attend the royal table, leaving with a satisfied smile at the positive answer.

Tarun felt much better after the bath, but still leaned on Rajesh's arm to go to the royal family living room. He sat next to his aunt, who stared worried at him, and Rajesh stepped back to give them privacy.

"Please, sit with us," King Kushan told him. "You have saved the prince heir of Lakeshi, you deserve the honor to sit with us."

Thus Rajesh found himself seated among royalty. Prince Suresh stared at him goggle-eyed, as if he had performed some inhuman trick, while Tarun recounted the attack and following trip through the jungle. The teenager excitedly told his father that he hoped to have a bodyguard as dedicated as Rajesh had been.

Queen Anjali seemed to relax once her nephew sat next to her. "You have something of Vivek and something of my father," she told Tarun. "I'm glad I got to see you even if we weren't supposed to meet."

"And I'm happy to meet my little cousin earlier than expected," Tarun said, staring at Suresh who giggled. "But it was a most dreadful adventure," he added, frowning and staring at the king. "I had never seen such vicious warrior women!"

"They call themselves the daughters of Amazonia," King Kushan said. "Their queen was a half goddess who lived almost two centuries and a half and was killed twenty years ago. They trade with Gajendra, Rajendra and Akkora, but think they can prey on us or Lakeshi. Since we have no direct contact, their black-sailed ships tend to attack ours – your father's too."

"Oh, I wasn't aware of the threat," Tarun said, puzzled. "Have we tried to negotiate a treaty with them?"

"There's no direct contact, like I said. And they don't marry. Women rule and use men as breeding stock. Therefore a wedding alliance is out of the question."

Tarun gaped. Rajesh couldn't believe his ears either. A country where women ruled and used men as breeding stock! With warrior women! And a half-goddess as queen! Rajesh was glad it was too far away to actually threaten Lakeshi.

"We found a boat in an abandoned village on the river shore," he said. "I thought some plague had wiped out the people, hence I was afraid we had caught it too..."

"Ah, no, must be one of those places that were abandoned on purpose," Queen Anjali said with a shrug while the king cursed under his breath.

"I might be the king-god of Arquon, but we have a Sect that is stealing faithful from the official church," he said. "Probably they left to join that Sect that now hides in the caverns of the Lone Mountain, hopefully more towards Akkora and Rajendra than my own lands."

"I'm fine, now, Rajesh," Tarun added. "I didn't catch anything in the jungle!"

"Thank the gods," Rajesh muttered, grateful to see the prince eat hungrily. Color was coming back to Tarun's cheeks and soon the jungle adventure would be forgotten.

"I will give you men and a ship to go back to Jevina," the king said. "We are happy that you reached here safe and sound. Would you like to rest and recover for a few days? I can send a messenger to your father to let him know you're here..."

"Ah, no, thank you, I really need to go back home," Tarun said, glancing at Rajesh. "I've been away for more than three months and I miss everybody."

"Then tomorrow morning you shall be on the way," King Kushan said with a nod.

Rajesh barely hid his sigh of relief.

***

It still took two weeks to go back to Jevina. Tarun seemed spent and less excited than at the beginning of the journey. Of course he was tired and homesick, but Rajesh suspected there was more behind his silences.

At night they retired to sleep and Tarun liked to nestle against him. It wasn't sexual, but Rajesh really hoped nothing was cooking in the prince's head or heart. He wasn't sure he wanted Tarun to praise him to his father either.

And then they disembarked from the ship on the Lakeshian coast and moved to the river barge that would take them to Jevina.

"Two more days and you'll be with Shanti again," Tarun said, lying in the captain's cabin as the most revered guest. His status allowed him the privacy of the only cabin of the barge.

"Yes, I look forward to that. And I know you'll have a lot to tell your father and your siblings and the whole court, but please, your highness, don't praise me too much."

Tarun grinned. "You did your duty. That's all I'll say. I don't want my father to snatch you from me with the excuse of rewarding you."

"Thank you, your highness," Rajesh said, relieved. "I will happily guard your life for the rest of my life."

"And you will." Tarun's smile faded away. "I want to thank you for saving my life, for taking care of me in the jungle and everything. I know what I'd want to give you, but you won't like it, so I'll just keep it to myself. But if you think you can indulge this spoiled prince..."

"It depends on what the spoiled prince wants," Rajesh answered warily. "I thought you were ready to marry Princess Meghanka."

"And I will marry her," Tarun assured him. "I only want a kiss from you."

"A kiss?"

"It would be enough."

"A brotherly kiss?"

"Uh... no, not really..." Tarun actually blushed and looked away. "I'm not in love with you! But I'd love to taste your mouth before we reach Jevina. And then I won't ask you ever again."

Rajesh took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "What if... I refuse?"

Tarun shrugged. "I won't force you. I'm not my father."

Definitely now. Oh Gods, what am I supposed to do? What does this kiss mean to him?

He decided to ask. Tarun pondered before answering.

"The perfect closure to this trip," he said at last. "Almost four months that allowed me to get to know you and the rest of the world. Like I said, it's my way of saying thank you for being the awesome bodyguard that you are. And the wonderful man that I look up to – I told you right from the start that I want to be like you, didn't I?"

"Yes... but why a kiss?" Rajesh was still puzzled.

"Forget it." Tarun brooded and didn't answer further prodding. Rajesh gave up trying to figure out the prince's mind.

***

The captain knocked on the cabin door, startling Tarun out of his daydreams.

"Your highness, we're approaching the port of Jevina!"

"Thank you!" Tarun seemed to come back to life and stared determined at Rajesh. "So, this is it. It's good-bye time!"

"I thought I'd still be your bodyguard," Rajesh said puzzled.

"Yes, but in Jevina things are different, aren't they?" Tarun smiled and rose.

He stepped forward, put his arms around Rajesh's neck and pulled him closer. Rajesh was taken by surprise by the prince's deep kiss.

Tarun pulled away and stepped back. "Thank you," he whispered, lips still wet from the kiss. And he exited the cabin.

Rajesh caught his breath and followed him onto the main deck. The houses and palaces of Jevina were all around them and the royal palace was fast approaching. Rajesh saw the royal guard lined up at the pier with King Vivek. King Kushan had sent a messenger to warn him of his son's return.

Rajesh watched the king hug his son and followed them inside the palace.

"We lost the letters Aunt Laxmi and Aunt Priyanka had given us for you," Tarun said. "They're probably still on the Arquon coast, if you want to send someone to retrieve them..."

"We'll see," King Vivek replied sharply. "How did you survive? Kushan said you had to go through the jungle alone with your bodyguard!"

Rajesh hoped Tarun wouldn't repeat the story like he had done in Zarquon, but the prince shrugged and said, "It was no big deal. All our tiger hunts weren't for nothing!"

King Vivek smiled and patted his shoulder.

Rajesh was soon dismissed from the royals' presence and headed directly for his apartment.

Shanti was weaving while the boys played with sticks, pretending to be warriors. They screamed with joy at the sight of him and rushed to hug him all at the same time. Rajesh had to keep his balance lest they threw him to the ground with their enthusiasm.

"Four months!" Shanti whispered in his ear. "And rumors said you and Tarun had been killed by pirates..."

"Almost," he answered, squeezing them and diving his nose in her hair. He had missed her scent. "But it's a long story..."

She let him go and smiled. "Then sit down with us and tell us everything," she said.

"Yay!" the boys chorused, letting him go too, but grabbing his hands to drag him to the carpet at the center of the room.

"Come on, Dad, tell us everything!" Hemal ordered.

He sat on the floor with them and started his tale. He was so happy to be home.

Later, when the children were asleep, he took Shanti in his arms and kissed her.

"Gods, how I missed you!" He sighed.

"I missed you too." She squeezed him. "So how was Prince Tarun? As wicked as his father?"

"Actually, no. I think we'll have a great king after this one."

He wasn't going to tell her about the kiss, but he had grown fond of the prince heir. It had been four very intense months.

"Raju," she chided. "You promised to tell me everything."

"I did tell you everything."

"Not in front of the boys, I hope!"

"Well, almost everything."

"Yes, you enjoyed the belly dance, I got that." She shot an impish smile at him. "But what about Prince Tarun? Did he try anything?"

"No, I told you, he's not like his father. He admires me a lot and for some reason wants to be like me."

"And that's it?"

"Yes, Shanti, that's it. Can we go to bed now? I missed waking up by your side..."

She chuckled. "Love you, Raju."

"Love you too."

He gave her another long kiss before picking her up and taking her to their bed. If only the children weren't asleep in the same room... he'd make love to her until dawn! He'd have to be content with falling asleep by her side – finally, after four months. It felt good to be home.