Second Meeting

Ahanlem stayed in the inn and started doing odd jobs for the innkeeper.

It was nothing hard, she mostly ran errands like buying their inventories from the market such as sheets, groceries and others. She also helped in keeping track and records of the rooms.

She learned that the old innkeeper was a kind man who was an acquaintance of the chieftain, who likes to jokes and tell funny stories and was considerate about everything. But his wife was another different personality. She nags and nags her husband and the other staffs every hour of the day. Ahanlem sometimes felt that the woman did not like her with the way her eyes would look every time they were in the same space. But other than that, she was alright.

She also found that the couple had only one child, a frail seven year old girl. She was very sweet and loved to spend more time with her father, laughing at his silly jokes and antics rather than be with her mother. All the staffs of the inn pampered and spoiled her but they dare not even interact with the little girl if the mother was present because then, the woman would glare at them as if they were trying to hurt her daughter.

Ahanlem couldn't blame the woman for being too protective, she was only showing her motherly instinct. After all, the world was more unsafe for a weak girl than most others.

Anyway, living in the inn was not bad. However, there was one annoyance.

The other man that the chieftain left her with, also helped in the workload as directed by the chief but he only labour enough to show everyone he was done and over with his share. And even though they were both from the same place, he would often make snide remarks about Ahanlem and Tomba, judging them as if they were already guilty of the crime. He would also loudly complain to anyone, every chance he gets that he was very unlucky to be made the one to stay behind here wasting his time. But then, he would go out without fail in his freetime, fooled around at the pleasure house and come back stupidly drunk. So, Ahanlem didn't like him one bit and interacted with the man as less as she possibly could.

On the other hand, in her free time, Ahanlem would go to the capital jail. Even though she wasn't allowed to visit Tomba, she continued to go frequently as being there would ease her mind a bit, even if she couldn't see him. And she wasn't the only one to come for him, the artists troupe came often in groups to make demand and protest for the justice of their late master but the guards heatedly shoo them away every time.

Seeing them, Ahanlem would become upset and angry about the whole thing. All the admiration she held for the artists once ago had long disappeared and instead she only felt irritation towards.

Yes, emotions were as fickle as the seasons. The only one she still felt any respect was Aheiba, the Sandrembi actor.

-

The conflict between the two clans continued, worst than ever. But it was the favourite topic of the residents of the capital. From young and old, everyone talked about it everywhere, with different versions of the rumors passing between one another. The populace were very much entertained, discussing and debating who was right and wrong.

But Ahanlem didn't care about any of them, she just wanted the disagreement to be resolved as soon as possible so that Tomba could finally have his much awaited trial and be proven innocent.

With the thought in mind, she was returning from the detention centre, once again having failed to see Tomba.

Honestly, she was worried. What was he eating? Is he drinking proper water? Is he even sleeping? What if he had gotten sick? But there was no way to know any of these things. She thought about going up to one of the guards secretly, bribing them with money to help passed on information to her. But at the end she was too scared to ask any of those violent looking guards.

She was on her way back to the inn, trying to think about something else to escape the stress, such as what to cook for dinner tonight. Yes, she became the temporary replacement after the cook became ill and she was handling the kitchen ever since. Well, actually she cooked once and the innkeeper liked it very much and requested she helped them until their chef gets better. Ahanlem agreed after she was promised hourly wages for her work.

Bearing her many thoughts, she forgot to mind the surroundings until she collided into someone's body hard.

"Ahh!" she cried out in pain.

"Oi, you fool! Can't you look where you're going?!" a gruff voice scolded.

"I'm really sorry, sir." She apologised rubbing her painful nose and looked up nervously. A handsome man was gazing down at her person coldly, but his icy expression abruptly changed when he saw her face. He said,

"Ah, it's you boy. Do you remember me?"

Ahanlem was taken aback staring at the man. How could she forget such a distinct face and personality? The man was none other than Prince Lamyanba of the Ningthouja clan.

"Ah, sir? What a surprise to see you..." she trailed her words, surprised and nervous at the same time.

An older man who was standing beside the prince cried in a debasing tone,

"You lowborn, how dare you talk to your prince so heedlessly? Mind your manners! Address him as your lord!" he was the man who scolded her earlier.

"Ah, pardon, my lord!" Ahanlem corrected as she gave a bow.

'It's alright boy. Your name, Ahanlem, was it?" the prince said.

'Yes, that's right, my lord." Ahanlem bowed again.

The prince curled his lips into a slight smile, looking pleased or amused, she couldn't tell. But surely, she felt her heart skipped a beat at his radiant visage.

The prince turned to his attendant and said, "Leave us."

"But my lord, it's dangerous to be alone!" the man cried.

'It's alright. I have my sword. It will only be a while." The prince said in a tone implying his words were final and not be questioned any further.

Understanding his master's implication, the servant left immediately.

Right after, the prince turned to Ahanlem and said,

"Hm, it's really a surprise. What are you doing here?"

"Um, I was just buying some things here, my lord." She replied him.

"Not that, I mean here, in the capital? I didn't expect you here."

"Ah, that is because..." Ahanlem hesitated to say but then said anyway,

"Well, my younger brother got himself in some trouble, so we had no choice but to stay here for a while until it is all resolve." Ahanlem only told him half the truth.

"Is it a related to a girl? Did he elope with a noble lady?" he teased good-naturedly.

Ahanlem wished it was something stupid like that. But the real matter was nothing light-hearted. And she really didn't want to talk about it anymore because she was bound to cry if she did, so she waved her hand slightly and said,

"Ah, no, it's nothing at all."

The prince didn't look convinced but he said, "Hm, alright."

Then, a little later, he added suddenly,

"I want to eat it again."

"Eh, what? Eat, what, my lord?" Ahanlem said puzzled.

"The chicken stew." The prince said looking anywhere but her.

His answer completely caught her by surprise, she stuttered in disbelief, "R-right now?"

"Now is fine too. But I'm considerate enough to not impose on you so suddenly." He said.

"If you are going to stay awhile in the capital anyway, how about next time we meet then?" he added looking generous, as if he was the one promising the favour.

Ahanlem was still confused and amazed that she forgot to address him properly for the second time, she blurted, "Next time?"

"Hm, are you going to refuse your lord?" the prince asked, suddenly leaning close to her.

Ahanlem felt all the blood rising to her face, as she stuttered again,

"I-I dare not! Next time is alright, my lord."

"Good." The handsome man said looking satisfied.

Ahanlem then noticed the sun setting from the corner of her eyes and cried out,

"Oh, no, I'm late! I have to go, my lord!" It was time to make dinner.

She turned to go but the prince stopped her, "Wait, where shall we meet?"

"Um, ah... Here, yes, right here!" she replied gesturing with her hand at the place. They were in the middle of the lively market and Ahanlem finally noticed then that the crowd was staring at them, well, particularly, at the prince.

"And when?" the prince continued.

"Next Friday..?"

"Alright, then, go. Be careful on your way this time, boy." He said with a soft smirk on his handsome face.

His expression shook Ahanlem's heart again. It thumped on her chest wildly and continued to do so, all the way back to the inn house.

-

Prince Lamyanba returned alone to the Ningthouja manor.

His sister, Lingjel greeted him soon after he entered the door, "Ah, brother, I heard you were talking with a commoner in the street, who is it? What did you talk about?"

She said smiling but it was not the gentle kind. This smile directed at him appeared to be mocking than anything else.

"Hmph, that old servant's mouth is too loose." He scoffed as he walked ahead.

"Ah, don't blame him. He is bound to obey father or else." she said as she followed him. "Anyhow, father is expecting all of us in the parlour room. He is upset." Lingjel added sighing.

"When is he not?" he sneered.

"No, really, he has been scowling and abusing the servants all day. Why would you do something scandalous like that and add to the trouble, dear brother?" she said looking annoyed.

"Hmph, speak for yourself, sister. The whole family suffering the shame in the first place, is solely on your behalf."

"It's not my fault." she glared intensely at him.

"Indeed." He smirked victoriously.

"It's actually their blunder, the Ningthemjas had the audacity to bring that old blind fool at the gathering and led us to all these nonsense. Too arrogant of them." Lingjel spat out bitterly.

"Pompous, you mean. They can't seem to function without parading their influences every damn time." He commented.

"Still, this development is not bad. It will bring to our advantage." He added later.

"What do you mean?" Lingjel arched her dark brows in question.

"Hn, you will see." Lamyanba said with a devilish smile.

Both of them soon arrived to the room and went in together. In one of the luxurious cushioned seat, an old man was seating with a deep frown and besides him was a young man with dark curls who shared the same expression. They both looked at the entrance and watched them come inside. Then, the old man spoke up in an angry tone,

"What is this I heard of you engaged in a conversation with some lowborn in public? My family is already shamed as it is because of that blind bastard! Why would you go ahead and try to add more?"

The furious man was minister Yaima, the head of the Ningthouja clan.

"Father, I know better than to do such foolish things." Lamyanba answered calmly.

"Then, what were you doing, little brother?" the other man narrowed his eyes and probed him. He was the eldest brother, Lanchenba.

Lamyanba looked at his brother and with a cool gaze said,

"I was making a random order to the person. Nothing important. Anyway,"

then he swiftly turned to his father's direction and said, "I need to inform of a more relevant matter."

"Do you finally have an idea what to do about this pathetic situation? We have become nothing but a subject of entertainment for the entire kingdom. A laughing stock! I can't stand it anymore!" the old man shouted irately as he picked up a copper vase besides him and threw it violently across the room.

Lamyanba continued in a composed manner, "Fret not father, I have already made careful preparations. What has happened, it's actually good, we can use it to our clan's advantage and crush the reputation of the Ningthemjas to some degree."

The statements captured his father's attention at last. He asked him, "What have you arranged? Speak up."

Lamyanba began, "I have made a private deal with a well known maibi of the capital, one with no whatsoever affiliation to any major clan. According to the transaction, she will use her credibility as well as her talent and validate the innocent status of Lingjel in front of the kingdom. Everything will be done anonymously to make it trustworthy and appealing."

"How can you be sure to trust this person? What if she decides to exposed us instead?" the elder brother interrupted.

"Hm, not to worry, brother. I made the deal properly, my identity is undisclosed. And besides, you may not know this fact but you see, there are many in this kingdom, that are very willing to trade any decency they have for a favourable amount of gold or silvers. They are quite in abundance you'd be surprised, well, if you aren't so loathed and afraid to go outside." Lamyanba told his brother with a haughty look in his bright eyes.

"How dare you-" the older sibling started but was quickly admonished by the father,

"Quiet!" then the old man asked, "Are you sure this will go smoothly, my son? Better not be a useless scheme."

"Of course not, father. You know very well that I never fail in what I set out to accomplish, or do anything you would disapprove for the matter." Lamyanba answered with another arrogant look directed at his brother, who frustratingly gritted his teeth in silence.