Chapter 14: Goodbyes

It was late in the afternoon when Priyansi broke the peace within the small sick room by standing up and saying, "I am really sorry Wasi, but I have to go. I…I will see you tonight."

Before the High Priestess reached the door and Q'Wasim could blurt out a goodbye, his sister let out a put-upon sigh. "Hold on Priyansi," Kaxa said, standing up as well.

The High Priestess turned back.

"Don't run off just yet," Kaxa said, walking over to her. "I'll give you and my brother a minute."

The High Priestess tried to object as Kaxa moved past her. "Kaxa," she began, "that's really not—"

But Q'Wasim interrupted Priyansi's protest with, "You are the best, Kaxa."

"I know," his sister said with a smirk before she disappeared through the door.

It closed behind her and suddenly Priyansi and Q'Wasim were alone. There was a stunned silence as they stared at each other.

Then all at once, they both started to talk.

"I should really—"

"I just want—"

They closed their mouths.

"You first," Priyansi said.

"No, you," Q'Wasim said, "You're the princess."

"High Priestess," she said.

"High Princess," he corrected.

She smiled. It was a very old joke, but he would use it as long as it made her eyes twinkle like that.

"Very well," she said. She took a deep breath and then surprised him by asking, "Is there any chance I can convince you not to go through with the ritual?"

"Do you truly want me to withdraw?" he asked, watching her face.

"I…" She turned away from him and said in a very small voice, "You could die."

"Or, I could live," Q'Wasim argued. "I have done so once already."

"Wasi…"

"Priyansi…"

She tilted her head up. Q'Wasim suspected Priyansi was appealing to the mother goddess. "Why do you always make me feel like a spoiled child?" she asked the room. "If only I was not so…"

"Good?" Q'Wasim suggested.

Priyansi let out an amused sigh.

"Wise?" he tried again.

"Wasi…"

"Kind? Responsible?"

"Wasi!" Priyansi turned back to him, exasperated. "You are such a silly man," she declared.

"The silliest," he conceded, "but I was telling the truth. You are all those things and more. I am glad that sometimes you remember to be spoiled and childish."

She gave him a reluctant smile.

Q'Wasim smiled back, before he said seriously, "Priyansi, my mind is set on this course, so my answer is no. Even you cannot convince me," because though he did not say it, Q'Wasim now knew for certain that he would rather die than watch some other man become the Crimson Tiger.

"I suspected as much," Priyansi said, dissatisfied, "but I felt I had to ask. I needed to know if I could stop this as Kaxa always said I could. I have lost so many people I care for in the last two weeks. I thought…I thought I could do this, but watching you and everyone else risk their lives while I do nothing…"

"You did not do nothing," Q'Wasim argued, "I was fighting in your armor and your letter was very helpful."

"Wasi, please," she said, "I only tried to provide you with the celestial armor you deserved as the champion of your tribe. And that note," she smiled grimly. "It was nothing compared to your sacrifices on my behalf. Always, you are giving me everything, and I…" She closed her mouth on the unspoken taboo sentence and Q'Wasim could see the effort it cost to be silent.

"Priyansi," he said before beginning the slow process of getting out of bed. As he forced his still sore muscles into action, he told her, "You are the High Priestess of Takanda, the embodiment of the mother goddess, D'Vati. You are wise, kind, responsible, and good. That is why even when you are tempted to act like a spoiled child, you still cannot forget who you are. You are honor-bound to stay impartial in this and you have the nobility to try to perform that duty.

I admire your resolve and strength. I do not begrudge you or your dedication to the sacred vows. As you are, you have given me, a mere oaf from the Kamal Tribe, more than enough."

"Kaxa is wrong, you know." Priyansi gazed up at him. She was aglow with something between grief and joy. Her eyes shone. "You are not an oaf," she told him, "You are a dreamer. I…I love that about you."

"I love you too." He had said it. He had not uttered those words in years, not since that day in the eastern mines. Saying them again now filled him with hope, confidence, and longing.

The two of them felt the memory of that cold, dreary, and cherished morning, as he once again said, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Priyansi, and to do that, I am going to become the next Crimson Tiger. That is my promise to you."

Priyansi looked ready to weep.

Q'Wasim took a step towards her and held up his arms, asking a silent question.

She glanced between his face and his open arms. Her voice was strained as she said, "I should not."

"I know," he said. He took another step forward and gently wrapped his arms around her.

"I am a horrible high princess," she mumbled, hugging him back.

"High Priestess," he corrected her, "and no, you are not."

From outside, Kaxa called, "Can you guys wrap it up? I said a minute, not like 5 hours."

Priyansi began to pull away, but Q'Wasim shouted, "Go fetch me some fruit, Kaxa!"

"I'm not your personal servant, brother!" she shouted back, but then he heard her obediently stomp off.

Priyansi and Q'Wasim exchanged a look and in the next moment, they were laughing.

They were still smiling when they pulled apart.

"I will see you tonight," Priyansi said.

Q'Wasim nodded. "By tomorrow, we will be engaged," he promised.

"Wasi!" she cried.

He just grinned at her.

"You—"

"Silly man, I know," he said. "See you later."

"Until then," she said.

"Until then," he echoed.

And with that, she was gone.

Kaxa eventually returned with a partially squished mango, but the mood was not the same without Priyansi. It was almost a relief when the elder arrived.

G'Ruvu waited outside so Q'Wasim could say goodbye to his sister. Q'Wasim gave her a hug.

Kaxa had held it together most of the day, but she was crying now. "Stupid oaf!" she muttered into his chest.

He rubbed her back.

"I know," he said.

Kaxa squeezed him tight and then they broke apart.

"I'm fixing mom's Ginne Appa for breakfast tomorrow," she announced.

"With extra peanuts?" he prompted.

"Of course," she said flippantly.

Q'Wasim smiled. "I will be there."

Kaxa almost smiled back. She almost burst into tears again, but she did neither. The young woman just jerked her head in a nod and left as if this was a goodbye like any other.

Q'Wasim really hoped it was.

Luckily for him, there was no time to dwell on Kaxa, Priyansi, or anyone else because as soon as the door closed, the elder opened it again and entered.

G'Ruvu eyed Q'Wasim and asked, "Can you walk as well as you are standing?"

"I think so."

"Good," he said. "I have bought a change of clothes. We unfortunately have no celestial weapon to give you and the armor you wore two days ago will not do. You go in this and this only."

The man held out a pile of white clothing.

"I understand," Q'Wasim replied, taking the outfit.

Q'Wasim put on his ritual garb and in less than a quarter-hour later, G'Ruvu was leading Q'Wasim away from the sick room to begin the lotus quest.


A/N: Well, I am a little late this time, but I hope you still enjoyed the chapter. I'll be back again with another this month.