Serenity

Zalmai

The house of the Zadraan chieftains was a maze of corridors and rooms. The dark stone walls threatened to consume the slight girl. She skipped around the colossal columns as though she was a shadow. The Jalalzai were known as the qabeela of giants, and what she had seen so far had proved just that. Hajra had told her that her husband was some puny weak man, it would make escaping all the more easier. After all that is why she had agreed.

Zalmai was the giant of giants. His massive build terrified people but inside his chest lay a gentle heart. He was a simple man, peaceful, he never sought to create war or quarrel. How ironic that he had married a woman from a tribe who were known to do just that. Maybe she would be soft and tolerant, after all her father had been so. Lost in his thoughts he did not notice the girl heading straight for the entrance behind him. Her shawl obscuring her face, he could see the displeasure in her fierce eyes

'Move aside boulder!' She waved him aside impatiently

The accent, and roughness of her dialect revealed to him exactly who she was. He should have known she would carry the blood of Danaii

'Are you deaf like a boulder too?'

What was she doing? Had no one explained to her that she was not permitted to venture into this part of the dwelling. Her rooms were in the west wing

'You should go back'

'You should move aside'

It was all a brave front, the giant made the girl's heart tremble. She wished he would go away and let her escape in peace

'Listen boulder do you know a small punny man-' she gestured to a quarter of his size -' about this short? He is called-'

And suddenly she forgot what he was called

'Er...he has a name.'

What was the dwarf's name?

'Zalmai. That is what he was called'

He seemed taken aback for a second before nodding ' I know him'

'Don't mention this to him'

She side stepped him and ran off, her veil trailing behind her. He did not know what to make of her

                         *******

The smile stretched wide on her face as she poured water from the plant into his drinking glass. That should drive him away for sure

The door opened and she waited for the small puny man to step in but he never did. The boulder from earlier stepped in and closed the door behind him

'Are you stupid?! Does this look like your room?'

'Yes' he replied calmly -'it does'

'Then I was brought to the wrong room'

'You were not. I am Zalmai and this is my room'

Her face which was flushed red moments ago lost all its color. Her small frame visibly shaking

'I thought you were small and puny ..'
She was lost in thought, a furrow between her eyebrows, fists clenched
'I will kill Hajra'

Whoever Hajra was he felt really sorry for her, he had no doubt the vicious girl would do so

He approached her the way you would a predator 'Sakina .. '

'Go away. I'll talk to you after a year'

'Why?'

'Because I feel like it.'

'Do you need anything?'

'I want you to disappear'

He reached for her hands, she tipped the plant water unto his face

'Don't touch me' her tone was cold and held a finality..