Shadow Seer [18+]

~ Twenty Six ~

It was a glorious morning in Ahkalthia, the sun beating harshly overhead despite the early hour. It would only get hotter as the day drew on, but Miri and Sanaa travelled in a decorative litter for the journey from the palace, protected from the harsh rays. Where Sanaa had previously hidden in her litter, scared of the cityscape, the cloth covered windows were open for her to observe the bustling world beyond. Ghassan's threatening words, momentarily forgotten, Sanaa peered out into Ahkalthia and drank in all its wonder.

Her previous visit felt so long ago now that she wished to step into the streets and wander among its people. She wanted to feel the air of it against her skin and smell its aromas, but there was still that invisible barrier of anxiety that she would have to work at tearing down. She was free. Not as free as she would like, but for the moment at least, she was away from Ghassan and that was more freedom than she'd known in ten long years.

Market vendors yelled their wares while soldiers patrolled the narrow and cluttered streets. They carved a path through the dense crowds as people jumped aside to allow members of the emperor's household to ride through the city. Amir rode on Kage at the front of their small procession, alone, and so the crowd bowed their heads as he passed. Sanaa stared after him, unsure of how she was supposed to feel. Every day was a new battle about her feelings for Amir, but after what Khalar had said about him being whipped...

She vaguely remembered the room exploding into darkness before she'd blacked out. The smashing of glass and general sounds of destruction, she realised had erupted from Amir. He had fought back somehow, and Ghassan and Khalar had punished him for it. Sanaa had seen Amir mount his horse, but there was no evidence that he was in any pain. Maybe he was healed, maybe Khalar had lied and Ghassan had never really beaten him. Then why won't he look at me? Sanaa thought sadly.

Ghassan's words came back to her, and she realised how stupid she must actually be. If Ghassan had threatened her to stay away from Amir, then there was no reason to think he hadn't threatened Amir to stay away from her. She understood being out from under Ghassan's roof didn't mean she and Amir could suddenly jump into bed together, but she had hoped they could find some way to talk. She knew she had dismissed him, told him to leave her but she could not get Khalar's callous words out of her mind. He had no love for the prince or for her and something inside her simply wanted to protect Amir from that. In this sick, sad world, it seemed they only had each other and even that relationship was tenuous. Perhaps destiny had decided that she would never feel his mouth on hers again. He'd left her with only the memories of his kisses and the promise of his love and she didn't know how she was meant to survive without it again.

Sanaa sighed and turned from the window, "Have you ever left Ahkalthia?" she asked Miri, who was looking out of her own window, daydreaming. Miri turned to her with a smile.

"I was born south of here. A small village no one has ever heard of and to which I never wish to return."

Sanaa giggled, "That bad?"

"Not for all." The smile fell from Miri's face as she contemplated her next words. "But for a young girl with no family, it was... difficult."

Sanaa felt humbled even without knowing what Miri referred to. She knew instinctively she wouldn't like what it was.

"Why?" she asked quietly

"My father died when I was young, my mother shortly after. Fatima and I were forced to find other means to survive."

Sanaa didn't bother looking deeper into that, "How did you end up in the palace?"

Miri smiled secretively before looking toward the window once more.