Shadow Seer [18+]

~ Three ~

CONTENT WARNING: Physical/Domestic Violence

Sanaa sat in her bathtub two weeks later, when there was pounding on the outer chamber door. Her handmaid Miri, startled, dropped the soap she'd been using to lather Sanaa's skin. Fatima, who stood arranging Sanaa's cosmetics and clothing, hurried to answer the door. Sanaa leaned against the bathtub, water droplets clinging to her skin.

"How is Taleb, Miri?"

"I await news of his return, mistress. He was called to Bashaii." Miri said. Taleb was a guard who Miri fancied herself in love with. Sanaa lived for tidbits about their romance whenever Miri deemed to share it. Miri was a little older than Sanaa and as such had a lot more experience with men. Miri had a lot more experience with everything. Sanaa had been so sheltered during her time in the palace that most things remained foreign concepts to her despite her natural intelligence. Petite with large light brown eyes and smooth terracotta brown skin that glistened as she moved, Miri was a beautiful woman and never seemed to lack anyone from her bed. Fatima was her elder sister and shared the same colouring. Both women had dark hair that fell to their waists in a thick braid. A usual fashion amongst Sotaini women.

Sanaa turned to Miri, guilt-ridden for the part she played in his deployment to Bashaii, and said, "I'm sure he'll be returned to you soon." Miri said nothing, a polite smile playing on her lips. Sanaa sighed, returning to face outward so Miri could continue washing her.

Sanaa was silent, contemplative as she realised that Miri and Fatima were still not as open with her as she. They told her of their romantic trysts but nothing of real importance. She tried pressing them for information but always gave up, knowing they would be breaking the emperor's rules for doing so. She didn't want them to be punished for her curiosity. She'd had enough of people being hurt because of her. Often, she would wait to listen to their gossiping after hours when they thought she'd long been asleep but hadn't yet returned to their own quarters. It was the only way she heard any genuine news of the world outside, except for Archimedes, and even he was restrictive in the things he shared. Sanaa longed for someone she could confide in, someone who related to her plight. She'd had siblings once. A little brother with dark hair and eyes as black as pitch and another growing in her mama's belly.

Disturbed by her sudden homesickness, Sanaa straightened, and snatched the washcloth unceremoniously out of Miri's hand, just as Fatima returned, clearly ruffled. "What is it, Fatima?"

"The emperor has returned, and he wishes to see you."

Sanaa didn't like the way Fatima was looking at her, eyes wide and shooting looks at the door from where she'd entered. "What happened?"

Fatima said nothing, wringing her fingers together before hurrying towards the clothes she'd laid out for Sanaa.

"Fatima, answer me." Sanaa demanded that Fatima look at her, tears pooling in her own eyes as Miri helped Sanaa step out of the water.

"They lost, mistress," Fatima mumbled, eyes downcast. "The emperor's army did not take Bashaii as you foretold."

---

The slap across Sanaa's face echoed like thunder in the war room. She was only saved the full extent of the blow by her veil that dulled the impact. The blow would still leave bruises on her face though. Some of the emperor's previous work had lasted for weeks before he requested to see her maskless again.

She hoped it would bruise for months.

Standing in the heart of the war room, Sanaa cradled her stinging cheek by the table, with the emperor positioned in front of her, his councilmen and the Alamuhim encircling them from all sides. While the shame of Ghassan's abuse was constant in the company of these men, she found some relief that Amir was not present. She never liked him to see her at her weakest, at his father's mercy. It didn't serve any attempt she might have made to intimidate him with her scything words. However, since Amir was the one who had been assigned to take over Bashaii, his absence was concerning.