“I do, but it does no harm to wish that we could help.” The blonde’s eyes crinkled into a smile as she squeezed his hand
gently then nodded understanding. “Thank you.”
Arjun only nodded as he waved away the woman’s words. She looked into the air at his side, then waved and started
toward the ship. When he felt a slight coldness against his arm, the prince smiled as he lowered his head and closed his
eyes. “And thank you, Xena. You helped to save all of our lives and especially my dear Zara’s,” he whispered, knowing
that the ghost heard him when the coldness went away.
With a sigh, he turned to Abu and nodded. The burly man’s eyes twinkled as he bowed his head, a slight tinge of red
crossing his cheeks. No words were needed between them because each seemed to know the other’s sentiments.
Regardless of what happened, Abu had given Arjun’s land the opportunity for a future. If everything went according to
plan, there would be at least one heir born who would be able to continue to rule the land with compassion and intellect.
Without waiting further, Abu turned and followed Gabrielle to the ship.
“Arjun,” Isa’s soft whisper pulled his attention away. Looking up at his latest lover, he reached up and lightly ran his palm
over the man’s soft beard. “Arjun, why will you not let me stay?” Sadness filled the man’s voice.
“No, my dear sweet man, this is not your battle; it is mine alone. Mine and my people,” he told the taller man. “In time,
when this matter is resolved, you may return and live with me if you like… with us,” he added as he glanced at Hiresh who
sat nearby astride a horse. “You may live with us for however long you wish, this I promise on my word as a prince!”
It seemed that Isa would protest at being dismissed. His brows grew deep in a frown as he looked down at the ground.
The sadness covered him like a heavy blanket.
“Oh, love, my sweet Isa. Don’t be afraid. I will not leave you too,” the young prince assured as he cupped the young
navigator’s face and forced him to look at him. “I have no intentions of having this battle be my last. I promise you, my
sweet Arab, I will not go away from you.”
Isa gulped deeply, his eyes misted over as a sigh escaped him. In the awkward silence, the tall man looked away as he
brushed unshed tears from his eyes. When a sad smile crossed his features, he looked down into Arjun’s eyes.
“You had better not go anywhere, my prince, because I promise you, I will be back,” Isa smiled before leaning down to
kiss Arjun’s lips. When they pulled apart, Arjun lightly touched his lips, the feel of Isa’s kiss still tenderly upon them even
as the man turned to board the ship.
With a sad smile, Prince Arjun turned away and moved to his gathered men. As he mounted his horse, he noticed
Nivedita saying her own farewells to the big Arab guard she had become involved with. When she joined him, she
mounted her own horse and sat atop of it, a sad sigh escaped her as she unconsciously wiped at the tears in her eyes.
“Oh, honey, don’t we just make a pair!” He shook his head as he wiped the back of his hand over his eyes. With a slight
chuckle, she looked at him, then turned back to wave at the passengers who gathered on the ship’s deck.
“You know, Nivedita, it’s not too late for you and Pritam to join him,” he spoke softly as he leaned toward her. The sad,
lonesome figure of Jamil stood on a crate on the deck of the ship in order to get a better look at them.
“The suggestion is enticing, my prince,” she replied as she waved at the black clad figure. “Such a thought is very
tempting, but… I cannot go. My place is with my people, my place is by your side, my Prince Asoka.”
The young prince smiled as he took her hand in his. “This mess will end quickly, you will see. And I have a feeling we’ll
be seeing that one again,” his eyes smiled as he glanced at the man, then at his friends, both new and old alike. “Perhaps
all of them.”
“I hope you are right,” a smile crossed her features even as the tears slowly streamed down her brown cheeks.
They waited in silence as they watched the ship slowly leaving the dock. When they saw the people waving, they waved
in return, glad that for a few days, they were able to share the company of their new friends. As he watched the ship
growing smaller, he only sighed as he sent a prayer of protection for his friends and new love.
Despite the rebellion that now plagued his land, his entire concentration was on the fate of his friends. He would be all
right, this much he knew. But the fate of his dear friend Zara, the future of his new found friends Gabrielle and her ghostly
soulmate and that of his new love, Isa, was not so clear to him. All he could do was hope and pray that it would all turn
out for the best; that their future would be as it was meant to be.
