Asher, The Royal Goldsmith

Soon after they came back, Vinasaka along with Mir and Mihas went to Gurusji’s ashram. A kara was readily needed again. When they stood outside the humble abode of their guruji, Mir stared at the hut like a kid looking at a candy.

“What’s so special?” Vinasaka popped his face in front of him which startled the boy who was deep in his fantasy.

“Ah, no-nothing actually! I have never really had a teacher of my own so…” the particular words would have sounded far more melancholy if only Vinasaka hadn’t reacted like a brat, “Mir, come on, you were plenty strong without a master. You think we’d be able to fight together today if you had a master.” He didn’t mean ill, since it was evident that he was quite envious of Mir’s talent with the help of his lips drawn straight and his eyes half shut looking like the most dejected fellow ever.

When guruji came out of his hut after a while with a brand new ‘kara’, he looked at everyone and smiled at his old students, but the moment he saw Mir he rather stood at a position without moving , either his legs or his eyes. Mir was really impressed to look at the craftsmanship of the particular item. The kara was made of gold no wonder but it was still dark with a little red stone on top of it. That red stone, more like a gem, shone its best whenever the sun’s rays inflicted on it. Mir was so busy examining each and every corner of the kara thoroughly that he hadn’t earlier noticed the gaze on him.

That night the two of them were gathered at the cliff of the woods sitting at the edge dangling their legs with Charon and Lyca sitting on either sides as if keeping guard, talking about the gentle breeze, the upcoming wedding ceremony and two kingdoms becoming relatives soon, Vinasaka asked Mir, “Will you leave after the wedding?” Somewhere in his mind he knew maybe it was best not asked but he has to listen to it some day and truth be told, the sooner it was, the easier it was.

“Nope, I am going to stay as the Princess’ guard.”

“Ahh,” Vinasaka nodded way too sadly but as if suddenly realising the reply, he stood up on his legs with his eyes struck out at the person beside him who was lazily sipping the ‘Buransh’ without moving his gaze from the scenery before them.

“Did you just say you would stay?”

“FOREVER?”

“What is this way of putting it? Quiet, and sit down! Will you listen to a story, Imay?”

Vinasaka was clearly too excited to remain calm at this point. However he obeyed and took his seat and said, “Story? Alright let’s hear it! We haven’t anything better to do anyway.” Vinasaka didn’t pay much heed as he thought it would be no more than an ordinary story after all.

The story started as, “There was a boy who lived alone with his father. His father was poor and always blamed him for the death of his mother.” Vinasaka wondered if it was a typical sad story but didn’t complain and continued to listen nonetheless. “The boy worked and trained day and night to become strong so that he was useful to his father but his father didn’t wait for him.”

Vinasaka scratched his head as to wondering where the story was headed to.

“One day, the child met another boy and they quickly became friends. He was happy because it was the first time that he had ever made any friends. But on a day when he was supposed to go visit his friend, his father left without saying good-bye.” Mir paused his story and meanwhile Vinasaka had probably caught on to the fact that the story wasn’t too unfamiliar after all, that the boy was none other than Mir himself. “Even if he didn’t have too good of a relationship with his father, he never thought that he would be leaving his only family aside.”

Vinasaka murmured, “So he never died? He abandoned you.”

Mir was about to protest by saying that the boy was not him but then Vinasaka was not that big of a fool, so he just kept quiet. They were old enough to not get emotional or weak by these kinds of comments. They kept quiet for the rest of the night before going back.

From the next day on, the wedding preparations began at full speed. The card manufacturer was to visit the court since the king said he should be choosing the wedding cards to be delivered to the guests himself. The ministers were busy with the decorations and lighting of the palace whereas the women were all gathered, selecting the most gorgeous robes for themselves. Princess Ariah was immersed in looking for jewellery for herself when she couldn’t simply make up her mind. She seemed to pick one up only to keep them back again. Of course Vinasaka and Zaharia were sitting across helping the Crown princess select her wedding robes and jewellery. She took out a gorgeous red varanasi silk saree which was instantly approved by everyone. She turned to look at Mir and there was his approval as well. When Novah found Ariah was having trouble choosing jewellery, she asked, “Ariah, what’s wrong? Is nothing coming to your liking?” Zaharia instantly apologized, “I apologise Princess Ariah, the kingdom of Hearts might not have been able to satisfy your tastes. We shall call for better goldsmiths and silversmiths next time.”

Watching Zaharia panicked, Princess Ariah became flushed as if she understood that it might have been an insult to them. “I am sure that is not the case, princess. Ariah would never think so,” Crown Princess Novah quickly acted as the pacifier. Ariah was thankful but she had to quickly choose something to show what Zaharia was thinking was not true. Therefore, without much thought, she pointed at Vinasaka’s hand and said, “I quite like the red gem that the third prince has on his kara.

Everybody took an instant look at the shining red gem on the kara on Vinasaka’s hand and when Vinasaka was almost about to say, “Sure…”, he was zipped by his sister Zaharia beside him. She apologetically claimed, “i am afraid princess, it will be hard to obtain since it is a very rare item,” she looked at Ariah’s confused expression and thought maybe she was really refusing them, everything they were asking for, so she continued after a pause, “Ahhh...but if it is you princess, I am sure there will be a way.”

On the other hand, Ariah had no idea what she had asked for.

That evening when she was taking a pleasant walk in the garden with a female attendant, another servant came in and said, “Princess, sorry for the disturbance, but there is a goldsmith asking for your audience.”

“Goldsmith?” she wondered to herself but allowed it nonetheless. It wasn’t like she was busy or anything else.

She seated herself on a bench and waited for the goldsmith to arrive.

“Good evening, princess. It’s an honour to be able to have an audience with you.” He bowed as soon as he entered, so it was hard to catch his face at once. When he looked up to see the princess, both had visibly blushed at the other person, though Ariah was quick to hide it.

To avert the awkward situation, he quickly introduced himself, “I am Asher, your highness and I am the royal goldsmith of the kingdom.”

‘He is so young!!’ That’s the only thing going on inside her head. Yes he sure was young, but most importantly he had a well maintained physique which could make any woman of the kingdom swoon.

‘Was it because jewellery making is quite a physically draining job?’ she couldn’t help but have her thoughts go haywire.

“I heard that the princess did not like any of the jewellery sent to the palace yesterday, so I am here to enquire about her taste myself.”

Princess Ariah, thinking that he must have heard about the red gem that she had wanted, asked Asher about the same, “Yes, it had so happened that earlier the red gem on third prince’s kara caught my eye and I was wondering if I could have something made out of that gem.” She momentarily got embarrassed about the fact that the gem that she had picked out suddenly due to the awkwardness of the situation actually became such a huge deal. Not that it didn’t deserve it, in fact the red gem was one in a million. Never had they seen a gem as shining and brilliant as that one.

Asher looked like he wasn’t expecting such a request. The royal family had simply sent the goldsmith in order to get the preference of jewellery designs from the lady herself, but he had never expected her to make that kind of a request.

It was at that moment where Mihas had overheard a part of their conversation and he couldn’t help but step in.

He was about to intervene when he heard Asher’s voice, “Yes, princess, I will be sure to make something that fits your taste.”

There was no way Mihas could interfere now or it would only become an insult to the princess. The only thing he could do was tail Asher when he was about to leave.

“Asher...Asher, wait,” he did wait and bowed instantly after finding out that it was the second prince even if he couldn’t see the gesture.

Mihas continued. “How could you agree to the Princess’ request? You know that making jewellery for the princess won't suffice just with a few red gems. Are you planning to bleed yourself out till you die?”