Chapter 19: Meeting The Suitors

Light poured into the Kumari's bedchamber from where Bae couldn't tell as she pushed her head underneath her pillow. She was tangled up in the bedsheets, her limbs having tried to escape the warmth of the bed at some point in the night. Even within the coolness of the caves it was nowhere near as cold as Bae's home. She was sweating just thinking about moving. But as always, she was expected elsewhere and Lei was there to remind her of her duty, thankfully with a hot drink and some breakfast.

"Adelaide is asking to see you, Kumari."

Bae nodded her head, her mouth too full of food for her to answer. Lei left the room to find Bae's sister. She wasn't gone long before Adelaide was entering the room.

"We need to go over today's schedule, Kumari."

"Good morning to you too," Bae groaned.

"This morning," Adelaide began, ignoring Bae's complaint, "you will be introduced to your suitors and then have a meal with Prince Ojo."

"This afternoon?" Bae asked as she pushed what was left of her breakfast away.

"You'll spend your afternoon with Prince Armel."

Letting out a little scream, Bae fell back on the bed.

"You'll be spending your afternoons with your suitors this week." Adelaide laughed at her sister's antics. "You better get yourself ready. I'll fetch Lei."

***

When Bae presented herself downstairs her suitors were already there waiting for her. They were stood in a perfect line, troops lined for inspection. At the head of the line was Armel. She struggled to keep a smile off her lips when she saw him.

Prince Ojo came up beside her.

"Let me introduce your suitors." He took her arm and led her down the line. "Of course, you already know Armel."

"Kumari." Armel bowed his head.

"Hello Armel," Bae said softly. There were about a thousand things she'd like to say to him but her mind was currently a complete blank. "Thank you for escorting me to the beach yesterday."

"It was my pleasure, Kumari."

With one last smile, Bae regretfully moved onto the next in the line.

Prince Ojo was ready with the introduction. "And this is Armel's brother Cayden."

"Kumari." Just as his brother had before him, Prince Cayden bowed. When he straightened up, his face was alight with a cheeky grin that reminded her of one of her little brothers, Talas who would one day become the reigning prince of Laoshi.

"Hello Cayden," Bae said kindly.

"How are you liking Canku, Kumari?"

"I love everything that I've seen so far."

"That's good," Cayden replied. "I should show you the sand dunes. Perhaps we can do that tomorrow. They're absolutely huge. Taller than me," his eyes went wide as if to stress his point, "and I'm pretty tall, unlike you, Kumari. You're pretty short, aren't you?"

A punch to his gut came seemingly out of nowhere and then Armel was wrapping an arm around his younger brother's neck.

"Ignore him. You're perfect, Kumari."

Armel's words and the cheeky look on his face had her blushing deeply before she was moving another step along the line.

"Next we have Barin."

Barin bowed his head before taking her hand in his and kissing it.

"Kumari," he said in the most pretentious voice Bae had ever heard. He must have been in his mid-twenties but the way he was acting, he could have easily been forty. "Welcome to Canku."

"Thank you," Bae replied.

Then she met Donovan and Dustin. Although they were Barin's brothers they were significantly less pompous and Bae happily chatted to them both for a few moments before moving onto the next suitor.

"This is Cadman."

Cadman was slightly slumped as he stood before Bae. He looked at the young Queen with lazy disinterest.

"Kumari."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Cadman."

The prince's only response was a nod of his head. One thing Bae was sure of, she was not looking forward to the day when she'd have to spend an afternoon with him.

Last there was Cadman's little brother Cadmar. He was a drastic improvement on his brother. He had a handsome face and his hair was cropped short.

"Kumari." Cadmar like all the others bowed before her before engaging her in conversation. "I saw you enjoyed our beach yesterday."

"Yes," Bae replied, "it was lovely. Thank you. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of Canku."

The awkward introductions done Bae was escorted outside by Prince Ojo, her suitors following closely behind.

"Should we take a walk along the beach, niece?"

"That would be lovely," Bae responded.

"I mean we could walk over to the training ground but I don't imagine you'll enjoy that as much as the beach."

There was a guff of laughter that Bae automatically recognised as coming from Armel. She'd never learned to fight. It had never been considered necessary because she had an insane number of guards at her disposal. That was the worst part though. Bae didn't want her guards or her family to be at her disposal. She wanted to be an asset to the Ren instead of a liability. And right now, in a fight she'd be no help at all.

"Uncle, can we eat alone for lunch?"

"I was thinking about inviting Prince Armel but if you'd rather it be just the two of us..."

She glanced back to where Armel was walking beside his brother, his eyes focused on her. She wouldn't give up the chance of a meal with Armel for anything.

"No, it's fine. You should invite him."

"If you're sure," Prince Ojo replied. "Was there something you wanted to discuss privately?"

"It was nothing that won't wait for another day."

"We can always make time to speak later today, Bae."

"I would appreciate that."

The conversation moved on and Prince Ojo gave a sneaky look behind at Bae's suitors. "What do you think of Armel? I sent him to you on purpose, you know."

"I would never have guessed." Bae giggled happily, refusing to answer his question.

"You like him. I'm glad." Bae's uncle apparently didn't need her to tell him. The answer was written on her face. "I suppose it will really depend on what the magic chooses but your mother always said that the magic somehow managed to choose the one's she'd already fallen for. I hope you are as lucky as your mother, Bae."

"Thank you, uncle."