Chang sat there for a while after Jian left and touched the spot on her forehead. Eventually she got up to dress herself, skipping the constricting undershirt, and went to eat.--
The first two days that Jian was gone Chang tried to fill her days with activity to help pa.s.s the time. Everything seemed to have become rather tasteless and bland without Jian there. Her mother always seemed to tire early when they would explore the ma.s.sive gardens that surrounded the palace. As her mother and Hao Jin Ying were unable to accompany her most of the time Chang did a lot of exploring by herself; exploring the ma.s.sive sunlight palace halls filled with beautiful tile mosaics.
She practiced her horsemanship too in the palace paddock area, using the beautiful mare that Jian had picked out for her before. After two days of practicing she felt comfortable enough to ride into the town on her own. Chang thought it had been a very interesting place and hoped travelling there might lift up her mood a bit. Remembering Jian"s words she grabbed one Amira"s hijabs to match some new , much better fitting clothes she had received from a maid yesterday before going out.
Chang told Hao Jin Ying that she was heading out alone as her morher was ever-unavailable. Chang knew she could be pretty dense sometimes but she knew her mom was keeping something from her. Everyone was and it was beyond frustrating and hurt her a little that no one trusted her with the truth. She wanted her mom to be the one to tell her the truth, and at her own volition, so despite her sadness she waited for honesty.
Chang tied the horse leadline to a tree surrounded by a small gra.s.sy patch. The palace guard. whom Hakim had ordered to follow her and protect her dismounted as she tied the line, giving the horse room to graze. Chang was startled hearing the mans boots. .h.i.t the ground, he had been so silent, and she so preoccupied in her thoughts, she forgot that she had company.
"Ah if you would please just stay here, I"d like to be alone for awhile." Chang turned to the man and hesitantly asked for her privacy, it felt weird having someone follow her around silently.
"Lady Dumont I have my orders, while this area is safe, Effendi Al-Ha.s.san and Effendi Liang would be sorely displeased should anything happen." The man resolutely replied, refusing her request.
"But you just said it yourself this area is safe, I will be sorely displeased if I dont have my alone time."
"You will not even notice me Lady Ha.s.san, I have my orders to see that no harm comes to you."
Chang"s patience had reached its limit and she snapped at the man who she knew was only doing as he was ordered.
"If you dont let me be, I promise to hurt myself, in some way or another." Chang saw the man"s uneasy look and pressed further. "I promise though if you let me be, I will be extra careful and come back within the hour to this spot."
"Lady Dumont-"
Chang saw the man"s wavering mind and snapped a small branch off of the tree and pressed the jagged end against her wrist lightly applying pressure; her eyes narrowed in warning to the man.
"I mean it."
Chang knew she was being difficult, but she really didnt want someone she didnt know hanging around her like p.o.o.p on a goldfish.
The man held his hands up helplessly unable to fight against her in her position. Seeing that he had surrendered Chang threw her stick on the ground, her threat having accomplished what was needed.
"Within the hour, I promise."