The 'naga's bride' stood straighter when she heard the slithering of his scales against the floor and bowed politely as he made his entrance, waving his fan.
"My lord," she greeted humbly.
Her calm demeanor was temporarily shaken as Charik cried out to her in a burst of excitement.
I should have expected that, she thought as she immediately dropped most of her anxieties. He clearly was not angry, and she was glad.
"Oh, Charik. I'm fine. Really." she exclaimed with a small laugh as he examined her body. There were indeed scratches scattered across it. There were only a few that looked like they needed a little attention. She had fell at one point and had caused a series of scraps and small cuts on her right arm as well as bruised her right knee. Razi thought she had a bruise on her back, but she wasn't sure. Her left foot had a blister. Her forearms, neck, and the back of her legs had mosquitoes bites. There probably were more, she realized, but the woman didn't care.
Nothing serious, she mused. Most of the marks and bruises would be gone within the week. Hardly anything to make a fuss about.
Her eyes looking up towards Charik with a genuine fondness.
It was a puzzle, even to her. Why did she want to leave so badly, when she had someone who genuinely cared for her well being, possibly the only person ever? Well, she mused, not human, but a being none the less. In his frenzy Razi managed to embrace him and give him a gentle kiss on the lips.
Razi patiently listened to Charik's speech, her heart feeling heavy once again.
She wanted to be free and begone of the harem life, she really did. But despite the necessity, she hated lying, and she hated seeing the trouble she caused. The woman was stubborn- Razi knew trouble would have been caused, anyway. But knowing and seeing it through Charik's expression, his keen eyes observing her body, his words...Those were two different things.
Without meaning to, her eyes narrowed. Sha-Razi could feel the heat of tears starting to come in.
Why must she had been so stupid and get caught? A few more days, maybe less, and she could have been in a new place, a nameless stranger....
"No, my lord," she replied, hollowly, "It didn't. None of these minute scraps were of it's doing."
Razi bowed her head, respectfully, though she always wanted to hide her shame and guilt. To hid her disappointment.
"I'm sorry for making you worry so," she said, not bothering to apologize to the other harem members who were currently absent.
"Has...has anything else happened in my absence?"
Anything to draw the attention away from her.