Chapter 50
"She told me she'll be here."
Ja Lia said, looking from one side to the other. One of the guards didn't seem convinced, so he shot at him,
"But aren't you two living under the same roof?"
Ja only nodded. He didn't know how to explain further.
Explain that Lailah who would show up as the lady told him that she would meet him on the way.
He had been standing by the gate since heaven knew how long and he couldn't even trace her silhouette let alone her form.
"There she comes."
He said finally as he turned to the West of where he was standing.
The two guards were standing at the mouth of the gate.
Lailah was dressed radiantly. Twas some gown decked with several precious stones. He had no idea from where she had gotten the dress.
The chest of the gown tend to push up the swell of her breasts such that even he was salivating for a suck.
She got to him. He wanted to be sure that she was the one and not the lady.
"Is it you?"
He tried a whisper but twas way too loud for that. One of the guards already eavesdropped.
"You don't recognize your wife anymore?"
He looked away from Lailah to the guard and smiled.
"This man needs help. I think that warrior was right about him."
The other guard said to the one who had questioned him.
"Which warrior?"
Ja quizzed. The guard smiled and said,
"Doesn't matter."
Ja thought for a while. He knew who the crazy fellow was referring to. Of course the bare-chested animal.
"To the Duke's palace, eh?"
The seeming head of the guard said. More of a question.
Ja followed the two as Lailah took suit. She had been quite all the while. That was unlike her.
She was walking side by side with him. He turned and threw a glance at her.
"Your hair."
He muttered. Few strands of her hair were displaced. She quickly tucked it in and smiled at him.
"Twas a rough quickie. Pardon me."
She said amidst chuckle. One of the two guards walking at the front, walking them to the palace, looked at them. He seemed to had heard.
Ja shot at him,
"Would you concentrate! Nose-poking."
The fellow wore him out with a rude gaze. He didn't care.
"You already have a new catch."
Ja said to Lailah. One thing was the effort of making the conversation a coded one, another thing was keeping it as much as a whisper as he could.
"It's a hobby."
She said, pushing one of her elbows into his side.
"Or do you want a quickie too."
She said rather loudly. That same guard looked back again. Ja didn't know what to do. He only wore Lailah out with an odd ogle.
He almost pushed her away, but she laughed it away. He hated her with passion.
"Maybe that guy wants."
She said tossing her head at that particular guard.
The guard turn hastily and hopped on it,
"I'd be glad."
Ja Lia muttered.
"Fool!"
Feeling pity for the foolish guard who had no idea what he would be getting himself into if he ever embrace the quickie. Lailah would never resist.
Lailah chuckled.
"Let the poor guy be."
She said. Ja Lia hurled,
"Enough, Lailah."
He wanted to hold back the name. He looked at her. She didn't seem to mind.
"Oh Lailah!"
The guard muttered, looking forward.
They continued with the walk silent.
Ja Lia began to nurse the odd of everything happening. He had called Lailah by her name when she was wearing the other lady's form.
He hoped that what he was thinking wouldn't happen.
They approached the castle of the Duke. The village was hell of a scene.
The Duke seemed to have a settlement which somewhat was a fort. His fort had a large gate and after the gate there was a vast expanse of land for several businesses, then a space, then the castle.
They got to the castle and the two guards stood at the gate of the castle.
They turned at Ja Lia and Lailah. Their own half of the duty was over. They took different directions as the guards at the gate opened for them.
"Bye, Lailah."
Ja heard that guard calling. He hoped that the fellow would hit wisdom.
The palace seemed not to be a place of welcome for them. There were numerous chiefs having a discourse with the king.
The guard was about to take the two of them to the a secluded room till the Duke would be through, when the Duke raised his head in their direction and saw Lailah. He lost focus.
The swell of her breast from distance called at him.
"Let them close."
He ordered the guard. The guard led them to the throne and bowed before the king. He turned and left.
Lailah was beside Ja and both stood before the Duke backing the chiefs dressed in royal suits.
"I won't be able to have a word with you anymore, my friend."
The Duke said to Ja Lai, feigning as though he was not taking a note of Lailah, who he mistook as the lady who had come with Ja the previous day. Well, Lailah was wearing her form.
"We have a pressing matter concerning the politics. The Duke of Kula had just ensured the death of all the princes all across the land. He had asked for the war."
He stopped talking for a while. Ja Lia had no idea why the Duke was telling him all.
But he did well by wearing a rather surprised look.
The Duke continued,
"Rumor has it that my son is still very much alive and the two foolish warriors I sent had been beheaded. How could they had lied to me?"
Ja couldn't tell if the Duke was angry or pleased or probably confused.
"You, hang around. When the flame wanes out, we'll have our talk. And by the way, never seen your wife in this state. Very hard to tell if she's pregnant."
The Duke said with a smile on his face. Ja looked at Lailah. She was a hell of an actor. She was looking down, as though she was shy to look into his eyes. Whereas all happening had been her plan.
"Raise you head, woman. The Duke of Havila calls."
One of the chiefs said sternly. Lailah acted rather shocked and looked into the Duke's eyes.
As their eyes met, the smile on the Duke's face melted into a light laugh. Ja nodded his head. The game was on.
"Hula"
The Duke called at one of the guards,
"Take my friend for sightseeing. I'll have few words with his wife."
He turned to Ja Lia.
"She'll catch up with you. Enjoy the view of Havila."
Ja did a quick glance at Lailah. She threw a cunny smile at him.
He turned and walked out, the guard leading him.
His part was done. The seductress' turn. Though he had his hidden plot.
Veiled from all. Even from Lailah.
