The Lost Dynasty

Chapter 29

Kyda followed Saif blindly to the royal stables.

Not knowing her purpose of are going there with the royal Khagan.

The stench of manure travelled up her nostrils as soon as she entered, making her face shrivel in revulsion.

Saif faced her "Have you ever ridden a horse?" he leans against the fences his eyes were memorising every inch of what made up her features, including what she considered as flaws. Kyda nodded no "To be honest, we barely have any in the city, I'm from" her words resulted the Prince to stare at her in disbelief.

"How else would you travel? Walk?"

Kyda couldn't help but to snicker at his comment "We have these things called cars to help us to get to point A to point B". But this had made Saif even more befuddled as Kyda took notice to it.

"Cars are huge metal boxes with wheels that we sit in" his mouth gapes slightly "A cart?".

Kyda took a moment as she thought of her next words more considerately "Sure".

Saif smiled brightly as he clasped her hand softly and held it close to him so no one else could "I want you to meet someone" he then began to drag her before she could get a word in or quire to what's going. She looked around as she remembered when she first entered the stables, home to valiant war heroes that never get the recognition they deserve. Saif guided her to the same black militant stallion first visit in this grand yet odorous stable.

"Meet Shahzor, but don't get too close, he perceives strangers as threats" Saif explained.

"He gonna be carrying me through the conflict... I wanted you to meet him since I was told you were worried about me going to perform my duties".

He fought the urge to smile but failed, knowing for sure, Kyda is bothered by the dangers he would face in the battle.

"Shahzor will take good care of me, he has been through worse conflicts and made it out victorious. He will ride me to triumph".

Kyda did not heed his warning from earlier. She made her way towards the black stallion.

The same black stallion that has gained a reputation for dangerously striking a fleet of men with just vigorous strikes of his hooves.

The same horse who took multiple of lives at lighting speed.

The same animal that is known to be a widow maker.

Kyda went towards the oak stall with an open window to allow the creature to stick his head out.

Kyda began to caress his nose, noticing his desire for a nurturing touch.

Shahzor was not some war machine, but a living create that needed affection just like any other living thing. Saif stood back in amazement "He definitely takes a likely to you... he never does to strangers". Kyda faced the Khagan (Prince) "We actually met before; a little boy helped me get to know him".

"Little boy?" Saif repeated her words in misperception.

Then a light bulb lit in his head "Oh you mean Ail" he called out to him "Ali come down".

Kyda faced Saif noticing what she is doing. She didn't mind it; she was glad since she would like to show her gratitude towards the young lad.

Allowing her to be granted a peace of mind and showing her that this magnificent creature would overcome the hazards that would come from a battle.

Kyda faced back at Shahzor and continued to nurture the emotional abandon creature. Caressing its nose while tanging her fingers into his mane and stroke it down in a downward motion to undo the nots

"Kyda, this is Ali, he been caring for Shahzor since he could walk" Saif announced.

Kyda faced them with a smile, but it began to drift away after she soon came to the realisation "Hi? ... you're the boy I met in the stables?". Kyda wasn't acquainted with a child but now a grown young man "Yes, it's an honour to meet you again" Ali respectful nodded his head to her.

He's grown up?

He's a young man.

But he was just a mere child when Kyda last visited.

Kyda stayed silent as she was processing all of this.

A lump in her throat began to form.

Her fingers and toes became numb.

As perturbation prickled up her body.

And her eyes be hung to sting, resulting to for tears to welled up.

Saif noticed how moderately silent she suddenly became and nodded Ali away for a moment. To have some privacy with her "What's wrong, My Alula?" he tenderly cupped both of her soft cheeks and caressed them softly with his thumbs. Kyda soon made eye contact with him "How long have I been here?". Saif stayed silent for a moment "I'm not too sure... but for leisurely amount of time?".

Kyda unleashed her tear drops down her now red rhubarb cheeks "And I'm still not home" she removed herself from his grasp and sat on the intricately hand-crafted bench, with horses galloping through the nature scenery, carved into its frame, presenting a story. Kyda place her head between her hands as she leans against her knees while sitting, trying to recuperate the number of days that she has been here.

Possible months.

She whimpered softly in attempt to conceal her cries as she began to reflect on the life, she had accidentally abandoned. Leaving poor Priscilla alone for her to take the blame for the mess Kyda made. And possible receiving a huge backlash from her mother, for "losing" Kyda on her watch.

Even though, it wasn't Priscilla fault.

Her undone essay in the neurological effect of child neglect, for her Psychology class.

Not like she started on it.

Her beloved Nana (grandma).

Already losing someone she dearly cared for, just for her to lose another.

Has she eaten?

She never eats whenever she in despair.

It was a huge struggle for Kyda and Dr Mahmood to even feed her after the unfortunate event of the recent passing of Kyda Nani (grandad).

How many heartbreaks does she need to go through just to find her peace?

And her Ammi (mum)...

The confusion is just killing Kyda from the inside.

Would her own mother be glad about her sudden disappearance without a trace?

Glad that the disappointment no longer trails behide her, "tarnishing" the name she built herself with a PHD and family reputation?

Or...

Is she all destroyed from the inside?