Chapter 18
Ishwari walked through the palace searching for Shanna. It was already after eight and she would most likely be cleaning her designated area, which around this time was the library. She walked into the massive library, surprised by the hundreds of books. She couldn't believe that she had never been in this room before, especially with her love of literature. Sure enough Shanna was at the far end away from the door, dusting off some shelves. She had a blanket she must have brought down from the cabin with her, spread out on the floor. Ajay was laying on his stomach on the blanket, moving around, showing signs that he would soon be crawling.
"Would you look at my handsome man. You are growing way too fast Ajay." Ishwari said, kneeling down beside her baby.
Shanna turned around at the sound of Ishwari's voice. "Oh, there you are. So, how did things go with Pagan?"
Ishwari stood up and smiled at her friend. "I've decided to stay here and move in the palace with him. And I have some good news for you too."
Shanna raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be."
"Pagan said that you, along with all the other maids and servants are aloud to move into the palace as well. As long as you choose rooms from the east wing. He wants you all to take the day off to move your belongings and get settled in your new rooms."
Shanna's mouth dropped open in shock."He's giving up guest rooms for us?"
"That's right." Ishwari smiled boldly
Shanna couldn't help but smile back at her friend. "King Min would never do anything like that. I'm telling you Ishwari, you've barley been with him and you're already turning him into a better man. Kyrat has hope yet."
"It's weird to imagine him as a bad person." Ishwari tilted her head. "I've never seen the side of him everyone talks about. The only side of Pagan I know is the kind side. Well sort of, he was pretty brutal to the soldier that had me down at the fortress, but at that time I didn't care. That soldier deserved it, and all I could think about was Ajay."
Shanna laughed lightly. "Well with any luck, you won't have to see his angry side again. I personally like kind King Min more."
"Same here." Ishwari giggled.
Ishwari and Shanna walked through the palace finding all the other maids and servants, telling them the good news of being invited to live in the palace. Once everybody was rounded up, they all walked up to the cabins and began packing their belongings. It was a long days work, moving everybody's things, having to make multiple trips to get everything from point a to point b. By the time they were finished it was late in the evening. Ishwari sat in Shanna's new room, laughing and conversing with her about anything and everything. Eventually they both decided that they were wore out from the days work and decided to head to bed early.
Ishwari left Shanna in her new room and began to head down the hallway towards her new room that she shared with the king of Kyrat. Holding Ajay in one arm, she turned the handle on the big golden door and walked through the office, through the wooden doors leading into her new room. She plopped down on the bed, laying on her back, still holding Ajay in her arms. Ajay let out a childish laugh from the way she bounced as she fell onto the bed. She rolled to lay Ajay beside her and started talking to her son, causing him to smile up at her. She watched as Ajay's eyes grew heavier and heavier, before he was completely asleep. Seeing her son sleeping made her eyes also become heavy, and soon she too drifted off.
"Ishwari."
Ishwari slowly opened her eyes to find Pagan sitting on the bed beside her, pushing her hair out of her face with his hand.
She rubbed her eyes "Pagan, I'm sorry."
"For what dear? You should be asleep, it is late after all. Do you mind if I join you? I've had a long day myself."
She looked over to her side at her sleeping son. "I don't have anywhere to put Ajay."
"Just let him sleep with us. I don't mind." He stood up and pulled down the covers so Ishwari could crawl beneath them. Pagan picked Ajay up and laid him down beside his mother. He then turned and walked into his large closet, shortly returning, in nothing but a pair of night pants. He crawled into bed, so that he and Ishwari were on either side of Ajay.
He looked into Ishwari's sleepy eyes. "You two need your rest. I have a surprise for us tomorrow." He smiled, before leaning in to kiss Ishwari, then returning to rest his head on his pillow and falling asleep himself.
Ishwari opened her eyes to daylight and the sound of Ajay crying. She rolled over to find Ajay still laying beside her, but there was no Pagan. She sat up and reached over to grab Ajay. She could almost instantly smell that he needed a diaper change. She rose from the bed and carried him into the bathroom, searching for rags to clean him up with. After looking through a few drawers, she found where the wash cloths were kept. She turned on the hot water and began the diaper changing process.
She had just finished strapping on a new diaper when she heard the open and shut of the bedroom door. Footsteps approached and Pagan appeared in the bathroom doorway. "Ah, splendid, there you are. Did you sleep well?"
"I slept better once you arrived." She smiled at him
He smiled back in return "I'm glad to hear it. Go ahead and finish up what you're doing. I've had the staff prepare a light breakfast for us in the dinning area." He turned on his heal and disappeared into the bedroom.
Ishwari couldn't help but smile as she watched him and quickly finished cleaning up Ajay and walked back into the bedroom where Pagan was sitting on the bed, waiting for her. "Are you finished?"
"Yes." Ishwari nodded.
"Awesome!" Pagan smiled, standing up from the bed. He strutted over to the door, opening it up. "Shall we?"
Ishwari, with Ajay on her hip followed Pagan through the bedroom door into his office and then into the hallway. Pagan led her in the direction of the dinning hall. Once they arrived, he opened the door allowing her to walk in first. Her eyes widened at the massive spread of food that was on the table. There was everything from stacks of pancakes and plates loaded with sausage and bacon, to bowls and bowls of fresh fruit. She could have swore that he said that they would be having a light breakfast. She turned and looked at the king that stood next to her.
He noticed her staring and began to laugh. "My dear Ishwari. I don't expect you to eat it all. I just wanted to make sure you had a selection to choose from." He walked over to one of the many wooden chairs and pulled it out gesturing Ishwari to sit, in which she did. "I apologize for not having a place for Ajay, but I have ordered a high chair to be imported here, along with a crib. If all goes well it should be here this evening, morning the latest." He said as he pushed in the chair.
Ishwari, blushing at the thought of the king of Kyrat going out of his way and ordering furniture for her son. "Oh, you didn't have to do that."
"Oh, nonsense. I won't stand for Ajay to go without things he needs. And you don't have to worry about me spending money for those things. I assure you I can afford it." He stated as he walked over to the head of the table and sat down. "Now, go ahead and eat up, but not too much. I have a meal planned for us later. Just eat enough to hold you over for a couple hours."
Upon finishing breakfast and having a little morning chat, Pagan stood up. "Well now that we have some grub in our stomachs, what do you say we go get ready for this day I have planned."
"What are we doing exactly?" Ishwari asked as she used a napkin to wipe left over mashed banana she was feeding him off his face."
"All in good time dear." He said, offering her his hand. She placed her hand into his and allowed him to help her up. Once she was up on his feet, he lead her outside the dining room doors and towards the direction of the kitchen. "Excuse me?" he shouted into the doorway of the kitchen.
Laqueta soon appeared with a picnic basket that had a neatly folded up blanket resting on top. "King Min." she greeted, bowing her head.
Pagan retrieved the basket from her hand. "Everything I've asked for is in here, correct?"
"Yes King Min." She answered, her head still bowed.
"Okay, continue as you were." Pagan said as he turned to face Ishwari. Laqueta nodded and disappeared back into the kitchen. "Well, I'd say we are ready to go." Ishwari nodded her head, still unsure what she was nodding to. Pagan walked down the hall towards the back doors leading to the courtyard where his helicopter sat. Ishwari's eyes widened at the sight of it. This was the first time she had ever seen a helicopter up close.
"Tavion, will be flying us to our destination today." He smiled down at her.
Ishwari looked up at the king shocked. "Pagan, I've never..."
Pagan started laughing. "Yes, I assumed you've never rode in one before, but don't worry there's a first for everything. I promise you'll be okay, I wouldn't take you in this if I didn't think it was safe." He pulled her closer to the metallic bird. Letting go of her hand he climbed into it, before turning and holding out his hands. "Hand me, Ajay."
Putting all of her trust into Pagan, Ishwari handed her son to him. He turned and pushed Ajay into the pilots arms, who was standing beside him. With both hands free, Pagan offered them to Ishwari, helping her aboard his private owned helicopter. He confiscated Ajay from the pilot and handed him back to Ishwari. Moving towards the seats, he showed Ishwari where she was to sit, helping her strap in, once she was comfortable. After they were safely strapped in, he gave the pilot the signal that they were ready and they took off, heading towards the location of Pagan's surprise he had planned for the only woman he ever truly cared about.
