Kitanna
Chapter 186: MEN OF IPOLO

Chapter 186: MEN OF IPOLO

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: RAINING MEN ~ RIHANNA FEAT NICKI MINAJ]

Axilla trotted behind Cortez; the atmosphere was a little tense and awkward. He had defended her in front of a noblewoman, even making the woman apologize to her.

When they finally stopped, Axilla looked at her hand where Cortez still gripped tightly.

"Oh, so sorry, Milady, please don’t behead me," Cortez teased, letting go of the girl’s hand as if it was burning his hand.

Axilla rubbed her hand gently, her eyes avoiding meeting the prying gaze of the mother eagle in front of her. "You didn’t have to go too far by mentioning my relationship with the royal family. I’m still just a maid back at the palace," the young girl muttered.

"Ever so humble, that’s your charm," Cortez chimed, resting his back on the wall while teasing the girl.

Axilla cleared her throat, trying to find words to reply to the young master but she was at a loss for words.

"Thank you," Cortez remarked.

"Hm?" Axilla tilted her head slightly.

Cortez pushed his back away from the wall, now balanced on his feet. "When someone compliments you, say thank you," he remarked.

Axilla fondled with her gown shyly. "Thank you, young master."

Cortez nodded his head, dipping his hands inside his pocket. He said, "Don’t always allow your anger to speak first. I noticed the fire in your eyes when Abigail did that to you, but you should understand that this is her turf. Not like I would sit back and watch her harm you, but there are so many ways to deal with ingrates like her." The young master advised.

"I will take note of that. Thank you for stepping up for me; I hope it doesn’t affect your relationship with her," Axilla said, circling her feet on the ground.

Cortez threw his head back in laughter, "I would be afraid if there was any relationship to start with. Be careful around here; some of these men here are vultures dressed in silk." Saying this, Cortez walked out of the corner he had dragged Axilla to.

Axilla stood there for a moment, holding her chest; the words and actions of the young master made her have tiny butterflies flapping in her stomach. She raised her hand where Cortez had pecked earlier, raising it close to her face as she tried to touch it with her lips.

"Axilla!!"

Axilla jerked when she heard her name; she pushed her hand behind her like she was caught doing something wrong.

"Yes? Kayla." She rolled her eyes when her friend rushed to her side.

"What has got you red? Did you do something wrong, eh? Were you caught trying to...." Kayla narrowed her eyes on the young girl.

Axilla gulped, "Trying to?" She asked feeling nervous.

"Steal glances with one of the Ipolo men!" Kayla clapped her hands excitedly.

Axilla sighed deeply; she was saved by a whisker if not how was she supposed to explain to this hot-headed friend of hers that she was trying to kiss the same hand Chief Cortez had kissed earlier, it would only lead her to be taunted forever.

"Ahaha, they look good, yes." Axilla laughed, turning her direction to face the men near the port, at the same time she saw Cortez sharing a smoke while laughing with the other merchants.

"So handsome" Axilla drooled; her friend nodded in agreement but had little idea who she was talking about.

Kayla shook her head after admiring the young men; she turned to face Axilla with a frown on her face. "Why didn’t you tell me you belong to the royal family?"

Axilla’s eyes widened; it escalated too quickly, news about her serving before in the royal family. "I don’t belong to rather; I used to be a maid there."

"No no Milady, the news flying around is that you’re a princess. Don’t say much, I pledge my loyalty to you forever I’m sorry for all the times I hurt you please please forgive me" Kayla bowed deeply.

Axilla held Kayla’s shoulder stopping her from bowing because any deeper, Kayla’s forehead would touch the ground. "Kayla stop it, you’re doing too much. Where did you even hear this rumour?"

Kayla raised her face, the apologetic face turned to a mischievous grin, "I was behind you when Chief Cortez finished Lady Abigail’s whole life in one statement...it was so refreshing to watch." Kayla couldn’t stop herself from laughing.

"You were there?" Axilla didn’t remember seeing anyone else back there.

"Of course, either I’m too tiny or that Chief Cortez covers your eyes that you didn’t notice. When he dragged you away, I had to wait in other not to disrupt your good time!" Kayla’s voice reached a higher singsong pitch when she said good time.

Axilla pinched her friend, laughing at her silly jokes. "Kayla, you deserve a time on the stage." She informed her friend.

"I get that a lot; anyway that’s how I got to know about you only to step outside and hear the rumour mongers call you a princess." Kayla remarked brushing an invisible dust off Axilla’s gown before she continued talking.

"Let’s go look around, Chief Cortez will greet a lot of persons today." Kayla completed looking outside.

Axilla nodded, following her friend to walk around the port while they watched people move their goods here and there.

"Look at those seagulls!! They are mating." Kayla pointed out.

Axilla rushed to cover her friend’s mouth, "Keep it to yourself; you’re embarrassing both the seagulls, yourself and me." She pleaded.

Kayla nodded her head, waiting for Axilla to release her mouth and when she did, the girl continued. "Why? It’s something natural and beautiful; nobody should be embarrassed about it except it’s what you’re imagining to have with Chief Cortez."

Axilla stopped walking, molding a large sand she turned her neck as if ready for war, then she aimed to land the sand bomb on Kayla.

Boom!

Everywhere grew silent when the sand bomb landed on someone, and the person was not Kayla.

"Oh my god!" Axilla held her chest as the person who received her sand bomb attack turned to meet her eyes.

Kayla rushed to stand beside Axilla and she whispered, "Ipolo crew Chief, the infamous Chief Theo. You’re done for, Axilla. Goodbye my friend."

The girl Axilla called her friend slipped away, leaving her alone to face the stranger.

"I- I’m sorry! I was aiming for my friend it’s a mistake please forgive me." Axilla bowed, praying that the man would forgive her, but he didn’t respond as he continued to walk close to her closing the distance between them.

Axilla gulped; she looked around waiting for the right time to bolt from there. It didn’t matter nobody saw her face, she nodded to herself calculating her movements.

When the man almost got closer to her, Axilla made a run for it, racing back to where their carriage was parked without looking back.

Back at the shore, the man who received Axilla’s sand bomb pushed away the sand that rested in his crisply ironed shirt, and he smiled.

"I’ll take that one home," he said loudly.

The guard that had been standing behind him bowed, "I’ll get her on the ship before we depart."

The Chief of Ipolo smiled, nodding his head as he watched the tiny girl running as fast her limbs could carry her.