The Lost Dynasty

Chapter 32

After a semi long quarrel, in the context of, what was classified as a kiss or not.

Kyda was sleeping soundly on Saif chest as he secured one of his arms wrapped around her, allowing his insecurities to overwhelm his anxiety of abandonment to become a reality. In fear that she may leave in the middle of the night or would be taken away by desert bandits. As his other hand was behide his head, supporting him upwards. They have almost slept throughout the day, underneath the shade and by the time they got up it was sunset. Saif woke up first to find Shahzor by the water, uncommonly a hawk with a royal crescent medal on its collar had sat on top of him casually making Saif flitch in shock "How long was that there for?" he asked himself. His sudden body movement woke up Kyda in a daze, causing her to groan and rub her eyes in exhaustion "What's wrong?". Saif quickly got up and made his way to his horse "It's a bird message from the palace" Kyda sat up and realised, their texting was through birds.

Saif untied the paper from the bird's ankle and unrolled it.

As soon as his eyes laid on the paper, his gaze presented horror.

Kyda stood up and dusted off any sand that was clinging onto her clothing before facing him "What does it say?". Saif began to ruffle his hair in frustration and kicks the sand as his anger built up. Kyda watched him cluelessly with no clue how to deescalate the situation.

He seems so happy earlier.

Why is he suddenly like this?

"Saif, what did the letter say?"

But his royal highness seemed to have blocked her out. However, it wasn't just herself but every living thing around him as he paced with an alarming look "I need to get back... where the saddle?" He asked himself. "SAIF?!" Kyda called out before forcefully snatching the letter out of his hand and began to read the handwritten letter.

Marathas had declared for war

Come home and perform your duties or I will.

-Owais

Kyda faced her chivalry of a prince for answers but all he could focused was to report back to his brother to perform his assigned duties. Saif placed a saddle on Shahzor back "What does he mean by duty? What do you need to do?" she was left out of the loop and wanted to assistance him in any way he could. Without another minute to lose, Saif, placed his hand on her hips making her jolt slightly in shock. She was then picked up without any warning, as if she was light as a feather and was placed onto Shahzor. Saif jumps on straight after, behide Kyda and grabbed the reins with both hands, securing Kyda in between like precious cargo. "Saif it's going to get dark soon, let's just go tomorrow morning, better to be safe then sorry" knowing it will be difficult for Shahzor to see in the dark, since he won't be able to see his hooves placement to avoid slipping.

Saif did not pay attention to her heed and galloped onwards with only one goal on his mind. "Saif, is it that much of a big deal?" Kyda groans as Shahzor was already struggling on the upwards sand. He wasn't answering, he was filled with agitation in his eyes and his knuckles went whiter as he clenched onto the reigns. Kyda was becoming irritated by his actions and her patience was reaching to its limit. He wasn't listening to her when he always did and wasn't paying any awareness to her like he would

Was Kyda becoming obsessed with his attention?

Was she seriously that self-absorbed?

Or was it because she felt like she mattered to him and didn't want to lose that feeling?

She never felt like she was worth anything back in her timeline.

All eyes were on her, waiting for her to make a mistake so they can hold it against her till she six feet deep. Having to see herself being unfit to be a daughter to a PHD single Kashmiri mother, who faced sexism, racism and society backlash but still managed to get her daughter to school on time. Moreover, to perceive herself as a sore thumb in the crowd. She didn't fit the society standard of the western people, and she was not appropriate enough for the people in her culture with her own thoughts and jeans.

"SAIF, LISTEN TO ME!" she exploded.

She slips out of his hold and slides off the horse as the horse still traveling at full speed.

By placing herself in danger, it forced Saif to halt his emergency travel. "Kyda, I don't have time" Saif became more perturbed, but she refuted "What's going on? What's so urgent for us to go back to the palace in the middle of the night? Shahzor can't even see where he's going, we're all gonna get hurt or put in danger". Kyda stormed back to the oasis that was once enjoyable and memorable location yet empty without him, Saif groans in aguish "It will be fine, I'll be guided Shahzor" he yacked the horse reins to the left to trail behide Kyda.

"Saif, are you even hearing yourself? I can't barely see where I'm even going? How can you even navigate your way safely back home?". She glanced back "And don't you say the stars" Saif ruffled his hair in pure frustration "The stars give me an accurate direction". Kyda faced him but continued to walk backwards "But the stars don't tell you when there a steep slope or a-". Saif noted her suspense of her sentence. He believed, she came to the realisation that she may be overreacting "My Alula, please get on, I'll explain on the way there" he said to her feebly.

However, Kyda wasn't moving "I can't" Saif raised an eyebrow in perplexity. Kyda looked up and gulped "have you gotten taller? ... WAIT WHY AM I GETTING SHOTER!?". Saif eyes shot open and jumps off of Shahzor in a heartbeat and towards to Kyda to only stop from a distance to analyse what's happening to her.

"Saif?"

She called out to him in a shaking tone.

He looked up and gave her a fake but reassuring smile "Don't worry you will be fine" he began to look around to see if there were any tools, he could use but there was a low chance of finding one since they were in the middle of nowhere.

"Saif... what's going on?" She tried to move her body in a haze of panic, not realising she allows the sand to swallow her up faster.

"SAIFFFFF!"