Star of Persia

Chapter 4

I am speechless as I stare up at the mountain of a man that I ran into moments ago. It only takes me seconds to recognise him as the head eunuch, Hegai.

"Well?" The custodian says, crossing his arms as I flounder for words. He raises an eyebrow at me expectantly.

I take a deep breath in and steady my voice. There is no reason for me to be afraid, I tell myself silently, no reason at all.

"I was just going for a little swim," I say nonchalantly, pretending to be unperturbed that my little adventure has been discovered.

"A swim," Hegai repeats with a disbelieving grunt. His keen eyes sweep up and down my figure as he assesses me. "At this hour?"

"Yes," I answer softly, unsure of what else to say. I have the sense to be a little nervous, but I refuse to let my hands tremble or my voice waver. Hegai has the power as my caretaker to punish me or make my life miserable if he sees fit, and I can't help but pray that he is a merciful man.

"And why," Hegai says wryly, "did you think that was a good idea?"

I hate lying, so I answer simply, "I couldn't sleep."

The eunuch is silent for a moment as he appraises me. His critical gaze examines my face as if he is weighing something in his head. I meet his stare and hold it, willing him to see the honesty and innocence in my expression.

"I apologise," I murmur sincerely, "if I have caused you any trouble."

The hard lines around Hegai's eyes seem to soften at my words.

"You are not making excuses for your actions?" He says as if surprised by my response.

I smile softly and shake my head. "My cousin tells me that transparency is like drinking crystal clear water and dishonesty like a cloudy mud."

It may be my imagination, but I could have sworn I see a twinkle in Hegai's onyx eyes at my words.

"Is that so?"

Much to my astonishment, I joke lightly, "I don't much like to drink mud."

Now I am certain that there truly is a twinkle in the tall eunuch's gaze. He is quiet as he regards me thoughtfully. My breathing remains even and calm as I wait for a response. After seconds pass by without an answer, I begin to doubt my recent decisions. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so light-hearted, especially with a man of rank. In fact, I really shouldn't have wandered through this unfamiliar place at an unknown hour in the first place.

As I am internally debating my words and actions, Hegai noiselessly offers me his arm.

"Allow me to walk you back to your room," he states firmly, leaving no room for argument. I recognise the underlying authority in his voice.

My hand loops itself through Hegai's muscular arm, and we begin to walk. The steady sound of footsteps breaks through the quiet, and I do not dare to peek up at my custodian. How he knows where to take me, I do not know. He guides me with confident steps through the hallways I had so recently wandered down.

There is the magnificent tapestry that I took shelter under earlier, and beside it the fine marble statue I had delicately touched as I peered curiously at its smooth lines. My feet tread over alabaster stone inlaid with a strange reflective pebble I have not seen before.

We travel through hallways identical and symmetrical, each with a door spaced evenly along the stretching corridor. All this time, Hegai does not even glance at me. When at last we arrive at a familiar door, recognisable only from its position at the end of the hallway, overshadowed by a sultry sculpture of a barely covered woman draped in jewels, my escort stops and turns to me.