Talking to the Moon ✔

- Chapter: Twenty-Eight -

Power: the word seemed ridiculous in my mind. Why would anyone feel that I possessed powers? What sort of powers would someone like me have? I stared at my reflection and then at my hands. Master Wali said that the powers were not extraordinary but they were present in me. He said he could sense because he found something odd about me. But he was not the only one who found me odd. How could he expect to believe him based on that reasoning?

I tilted my head and observed myself. Maybe, he was simply playing with me, a punishment for waking him up in the night. But he did not seem too alarmed when I ended up in his house. It was almost like he was expecting me.

I wanted to smash the mirror in frustration. I wanted to go back to my village, back to my simple and routine life.

"Ayah, are you coming with us?" Asad entered my room and I saw his reflection in my mirror. Did he grow taller? His hair was longer and he was wearing it in a different way. He looked healthier and happy. There was a glow about him that I had never seen before. Could it be that he liked it in the palace? What if I decided that I had enough of this? Would he feel bad leaving the palace?

"You're staring Ayah." He smiled at me kindly and I noticed his gaze fall on my neck for a brief second. I felt better now and my neck was not sore anymore. After that night, I went to meet Qamar regularly. He did not talk. He just stared outside rocking back and forth. Sometimes, he would be enraged by my presence and I would have to move out as soon as I entered. Other times, he would just accept me as one of his visions.

But there was no progress being made and that infuriated me too. I wanted to help the Monarch but I also did not know how to. Omar was nowhere to be seen after my outburst and Aqib had to remind me that Omar was the current head of the kingdom. I could not possibly think that he would be free all the time to handle my issues. Aqib had not taken my outburst very well and it was only fair that he didn't. Omar was his childhood friend. I would not like it either if Aqib shouted at Asad.

I had apologised to him but he still was wary around me. Laia had mentioned that it was just their bond. Apparently, even she could not come between them if she tried.

Coming back to reality, I nodded my head. Aqib had decided on a whim to train Asad how to swordfight and had invited both us to the training ground. I was glad because I would get to meet other people and Aqib had mentioned that the stables were near the training ground. Maybe, I would get some quite moment with Ra'ad.

My brother blinked at me confused then shaking his head, he said –

"Come on. It will be fun. You will see me getting humiliated."

I smiled at him and followed him.

_

A warm breeze touched my skin as I entered the training ground. I could hear the clanks of metal against metal as the soldiers practised. The heat was not too much but one glance at the people training made me feel bad for them. They were drenched in sweat from head to toe. They gritted their teeth and huffed every time they made their move. I knew I was not capable of this. But I admired the strength of these men who were not much older to me.