Chapter 3: Princess Priyansi
It took Q'Wasim two whole hours to get to the Vajra section of Erussim, but when he had reached the training grounds, it took him less than a minute to realize he had forgotten to change out of his white funeral clothes.
After Q'Wasim swore under his breath, he looked around and considered his options.
The training grounds were empty. The chalk that marked the different areas was fresh and the weapons and equipment were all put away in their baskets at the edge of the dirt field. Since no one was there to witness his mistake, it was completely up to him to decide what to do.
Q'Wasim could waste yet another hour going home, changing clothes, and possibly eating something more than his breakfast of jungle fruit. Or, he could stay here, practice in what he had on, and deal with Kaxa's scolds later when they inevitably happened.
It wasn't really a choice. Q'Wasim got ready to practice.
Q'Wasim could still remember when Gaven first explained his workout to him. Gaven had spent more time exercising than most people slept. Running, stretching, weights, sparring, and then some, it had sounded impossible to Q'Wasim's ears at the time.
When he had told Gaven so, the prince had just laughed.
That had been a long time ago. Now Q'Wasim had his own routine. It wasn't as long as Gaven's workout but unlike Gaven, Q'Wasim had a job. Luckily, Q'Wasim's occupation wasn't sedentary as his mosan research frequently required him to trek through the jungle and into the mines, but Q'Wasim would hardly call his work rigorous exercise. Thus, Q'Wasim's practice routine focused mostly on doing the grueling training that he couldn't get from his day-to-day work.
Today was technically a leg day, but Q'Wasim had been running around all morning. So, he did a few stretches and skipped the rest of his usual warm-up and weight routine. Next, Q'Wasim retrieved three of the largest metal weighed jackets from a weapons supply basket and a dozen ankle weights. He put on the jackets and strapped the weights onto his legs and arms. After checking to ensure all the equipment was secure, he went right into combat practice.
He was in the middle of this when a voice called out to him, "Wasi, what are you doing here?"
Q'Wasim stopped punching his imaginary opponent and turned towards the speaker.
It was Priyansi. The current High Priestess of Takanda like all High Priestesses before her bore a striking resemblance to the mother goddess. As such, she probably would have looked regal and downright unapproachable, despite her only being in her twenties, the smudges of ash on her flowing white sari, and the tired look in her large eyes, if she hadn't been smiling at him with those full lips of hers quirked to the side.
Q'Wasim wasn't sure when he had at first fallen in love with her. It had been like uncovering a gem deposit of mosan. At first, there had been nothing. Then a glimmer and the next thing he knew he had several kilos of something rare that was more precious than gold.
That was Priyansi.
"Wasi?"
Q'Wasim blinked and said, "Hi Priyansi."
Priyansi's teasing smile widened. "You didn't hear a thing I said, did you?"
"Um."
"I asked what you're doing here. When I saw someone training out here, I assumed it would be Chinmay. Instead, it's you. Did you know that you're still in your mourning attire?"
Q'Wasim rubbed his neck and said, "Uh…I forgot to change?"
Priyansi stared at him for a moment and then she started to laugh. She laughed and laughed while Q'Wasim stood there feeling a bit like an idiot.
After what felt like hours, she quieted and Q'Wasim asked, "Are you done?"
Priyansi shook her head. "I am sorry." She wiped away some tears from her eyes. "I just really needed that."
Whatever indignation or hurt pride Q'Wasim had felt was gone. He came over to her and said, "I'm more than happy to oblige."
"No, you're not. I saw the look you gave me before," Priyansi said with a smile still playing on her lovely lips.
"Yes, well…I have learned since then," Q'Wasim said.
"Have you?" she teased. Priyansi was close now. Q'Wasim could make out the golden glints in her eyes.
"I have," he replied gallantly.
"You have my thanks then," Priyansi said in a prim voice.
The two of them stared at each other. They were alone together and it was another countless moment. Q'Wasim longed to close the distance and kiss her, but before he could override his self-restraint, Priyansi stepped back and said, "Does Kaxa know where you are right now?"
Q'Wasim tried not to be disappointed and answered, "Probably not."
Priyansi sighed. "Of course not. Q'Wasim, it will be dark soon."
Q'Wasim blinked. He looked up at the sky. It was late afternoon. "I hadn't noticed."
"Well, I have forced you to notice now. You should go. I have to go as well. So much to do when…" Priyansi let the sentence hang in the air.
"Priyansi," Q'Wasim began.
"No." Priyansi tried to wave him off.
Q'Wasim caught Priyansi's hand. "Priyansi," he tried again.
"Really Wasi, I've had enough of sympathies and condolences for the day. All I need is some rest."
He took her other hand and held them both in his. "I wasn't planning to offer either," he said to their clasped hands. Then he looked into her eyes and said the truest thing that he could think of, "But you should know that you don't have to put on a brave face. Not for me."
Priyansi held Q'Wasim's gaze. Her expression was tranquil and soft as was befitting a High Priestess, but her eyes were liquid.
Q'Wasim squeezed her hands.
"Wasi." The single word was filled with raw pain and then Priyansi was crying big ugly tears just like when the two of them had been children. And just like then, Q'Wasim put an arm around her and she turned to cry into his shirt so that no one could see how her tears marred her dignified features.
Q'Wasim moved his hand along her back in small circles and said nothing. He just waited, pretending that this familiar act was as normal as it felt.
For a time, the two stayed like that together, with Q'Wasim nearly embracing her, but then Priyansi took a deep breath in. Her sobs ceased and she stepped away from him.
Like magic, when she lifted her face, she looked somehow even more regal than before. The High Priestess's eyes and cheeks were dry. There was no redness in her eyes either. If Q'Wasim hadn't been holding her, he never would have guessed she'd been crying. Priyansi however couldn't forget, she said, "Wasi. I must apologize for that. I do not know what came over me. I should be—"
"It's fine, Priyansi," he assured her. Q'Wasim knew exactly what had come over her. Priyansi had remembered that she was an orphan and that her only other living relative had just died. Perhaps even more important than that, she had remembered that despite her being High Priestess, she was human. Q'Wasim didn't believe she should have to apologize for any of that. Everyone deserved a chance to mourn their family.
Priyansi protested, "But Kaxa is going to be even more annoyed with you than she was before."
"So be it," Q'Wasim said with a shrug. "Seeing you was more than worth it. That hug alone was worth a lecture or ten."
Priyansi was quiet for a moment before she smiled and said with false levity, "Wasi, you silly man. The things you say. Use that tongue of yours to apologize to your put-upon sister for being out so late and apologize for me as well."
"Don't worry. I plan to," he said.
Priyansi gave him a sideways look before saying, "You better not forget. My honor is on the line too now."
"I won't let you down," Q'Wasim promised with a hand on his heart.
Priyansi's smile briefly turned genuine, but then the light in her eyes faded and she said, "I think it is time for me to bid you good evening." She moved away from him. "Goodbye, Wasi."
"See you later, Priyansi," he said.
They parted ways and Q'Wasim suffered another attack of guilt. Gaven was dead, and yet Q'Wasim was feeling better than he had in days.
