Chapter Forty Six: HERE’S TO THE PRINCESS!

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The tent was voluminous. It was white with countless columns supporting it. Men, women and children of all ages busily brought in and placed tables and chairs in one corner of the pavilion, leaving a wide open space in the center.

On my way in I got recognized by many people and many waved their hellos to me from a distance. Then I bumped into Miroi.

“You again!” I said.

He grinned widely. “Khazrum is looking for you, Princess.”

“Where?”

He pointed to one corner of the tent where a tall blue man stood asking those around him a lot of questions. Just the sight of him made me happy. I rushed to him and hugged him from behind. He stopped talking and heaved a huge sigh.

“Young lady,” he said without turning. “I will ground you!”

“I love you too!” I came around and held him. “Oh, Azure! You won’t believe the things I saw today. Gustak is amazing!”

“Look at you, all so happy!” He chuckled. “I’m so glad you’re feeling at home.” “Uhm – where’s Demon?” I felt a little guilty not even missing him all day.

“I don’t know. Haven’t seen him since morning. You know he has his plans.”

Hmph! “I wouldn’t be surprised if he snuck out to whore around.” I couldn’t help it!

“Hmm-mm!” Azure shot me a warning look. “Don’t you be saying such things about him in public, darling! Besides, all the women he hung out with are now dead.”

“What?” I gasped. “So that cemetery is really for his one night stands?”

Azure looked at me like I’d run mad. “Excuse me? And what cemetery would that be?”

“The one at the castle, in the backyard, with blue snow?”

He looked confused for a second and then burst out laughing. “Is that what he told you?”

“Yes, he – okay. So that’s not what it was, right?” I felt angry. Demon! I so hate you!

Azure shook his head. “Those were the graves of all the soldiers who died in battle for Volttus since the inception of the Realm.”

“Oh.” Damn that Demon! “So why are the women dead?”

“Old age. He is five hundred years old. You don’t expect ordinary mortals to live that long do you?”

Wait a second! What was Azure saying? I swallowed hard and asked, “How long ago was it that he – that he –”

“About fifty years ago. Then he lost all interest in that too.” Azure looked at me. “You see now why I was so eager to make him human again? He was becoming empty through and through. The night I brought you here was the first night in fifty years that he’d asked me to send for someone.”

“Holy shit!” My exclamation brought a momentary hush around us.

“But I haven’t even started yet!” A sad protest erupted from nearby and I found Jay pouting with a violin in his hand.

“No, not you.” I tried to explain. “Please, carry on. You play great.”

He smiled and tickled the strings of his instrument, perhaps to test it. “Play Raieem!” a man shouted from a far end of the pavilion and a few people clapped to support the request. Jay nodded and started playing a soft but joyful tune, perhaps an icebreaker.

Azure led me to a cluster of chairs and we sat down as I began telling him about the wonderful day I’d had. The tent had begun to fill up as crowds poured in from every direction. I noticed many men wore a certain pale olive green livery. They were perhaps the soldiers the three generals had brought with them. I hadn’t asked Salaar anything about it so I made a note to do so when I met him next.

Jay had paced up his music now that a drummer had joined him. And the drum that man played was unique in its own right. It appeared to be one instrument with two heads – a wooden stump that diverged into two circular ends. Each circular end was closed off by a thin skin stretched over it, secured with ropes that crisscrossed the length of the stump. The drummer played with either one hand over each drumhead or with both hands on one head to get different beats out of the instrument.

A young boy, late teens, wearing straight pants and tunic, stood in the middle and started dancing. Then, he pulled a girl from the crowd. She wasn’t wearing anything like my dress. Her top was a nice red frilly blouse with a flowing maroon skirt. Just then another young girl joined the couple. She wore a bright sapphire and yellow dress like mine. In fact, her top was so small it could’ve easily passed for a bikini if not for her lacy chunri that draped her nicely.

As the youngsters indulged in dancing, a group of older men and women set up the food buffet, a drinks stand, and more chairs. Once the venue was adequately furnished and the food abundantly available, the party took off. Dancing, eating, drinking, and shouting out song requests: it was a real bash!

Demon was nowhere in sight. Neither was Kabir nor Ina.

Several people came up to me to say how happy they were this glorious day had finally arrived, etcetera. Many asked me to join them in dance or make a speech but I politely declined. Miroi had spotted and asked me a couple dozen times for a dance but each time I declined. He didn’t attempt to pull me in like last time, which felt very nice. Even Jay raised his violin and voice above the crowd and graciously declared, “Here’s to our Princess! Welcome back Your Highness!”

Cy had stopped by and after a smiling courtesy to me, grabbed Azure to join the dancing. I saw Baruk too in the midst of a group hovering by the drinks but neither Demon nor Salaar were in sight. I started to feel edgy. An entire day had slipped into dark hours but Demon hadn’t come to check on me. And why exactly should he do that?

I didn’t know. But he should! I frowned.

“Aww, come on Princess! It’s rude to refuse a guy as many times as you’ve done me!” Miroi sat down beside me. “I may look bad but I’m a good dancer.” His tone was so earnest it made me smile.

“You don’t look so bad either, Miroi.” It was true. He was a wide shouldered, brown eyed man with curly hair and a dimpled smile. He could’ve done better with his choice of clothes but green wasn’t entirely nauseating either.

I took his extended hand and followed him onto the dance floor. The music was fast paced and he was twirling me around but I didn’t mind it much. To be honest, the quick movements took my mind off Demon for a bit.

Then, I saw Salaar enter the pavilion.

He wore the same clothes as that morning and looked just as smart as I’d remembered him. As he entered, several people greeted him. Little boys gathered around him and shook hands with him like men about to take on some serious business. He smiled at all the little faces and answered their questions as seriously as they were shot at him. And when the tiny inquirers were duly satisfied, the suave General went straight to where Baruk and a few men in livery were patiently waiting for him. Then, they animatedly engaged in some discussion I couldn’t hear above the noise of the music and dance.

Though Salaar hadn’t seen me on the dance floor, my eyes were fixed on him. I was watching him laugh, smile, talk and listen to his peers. I didn’t know what to call this newfound interest but it was there – very real and very obvious. Even Miroi noticed it.

“Would you rather dance with the General, Princess?” he asked politely.

“Uhm – no.” I was a little surprised at his observation. “No, I just – can we stop though?”

“It’s over already.” Miroi smiled just as the music stopped too.

All the dancers on the floor stopped moving and applauded the musicians. I sneaked another quick glance at the General. He still sat there, quietly and gracefully. Suddenly, my spirits floated down to the floor. I looked at where Azure had been before but he wasn’t there. I couldn’t see him anywhere inside the tent, which meant he might’ve gone in search of Demon. I wished he had. I needed to see Demon. I suddenly wanted to be near him so badly!

“Dear people! Let’s take a breather here – especially for the dancers!” Jay’s announcement pierced the noise. “For I have been asked by one little guy here –” he pointed to a five year old standing near him, “to play a lullaby Mommy hums every night!” A few teenagers in the crowd started to boo the little guy but Jay glared at them. “Now, now, be a sport all you young folk! This night celebrates all of us! And I have my reasons to play this tune as well since we just got our Princess back, let’s welcome her with some motherly notes!” At that the crowd broke into applause.

Aww! I smiled at him.

He smiled back and placed his violin at a certain delicate angle that I’d seen him do every time he was about to play something passionate. Then, he struck a note – long and lingering. The wordless song dipped and rose and the crowd swayed with every change.

As for me, I felt frozen in time.