CHAPTER FOURTEEN

MAZEEDA QUICKLY MOVED HER HAND away before Khai could brand it with a kiss, making him frown and straighten himself upright.

He fixed the sleeves of his shirt, finding the cuffs quite interesting now.

“What do you mean ‘me’?” The queen asked her king, tired and forevermore confused by his words.

He laughed coldly, cruelly even. Something quickly washed over him --making him different-- something Mazeeda was too slow to catch on at the moment. “Do you really believe that I spare you because I want to? That you are somehow special to me?”

Her eyes wavered, only slightly, but he saw it and was enough to tell him everything. “No,” she spoke in the same glazed tone. The cold was something peculiar to her, but she would become a cold cruel thing for the Caliph.

His lips curled up meticulously, his white teeth gleaming even through the yellow light of the stubborn sun. “So bold of you to lie to a liar, love.” He grasped her square chin. “Your face denies everything though.”

Pushing his hand away, Mazeeda got up from her bed and quickly found the floor moving. Even though she was a head shorter than him, she was not afraid to use the dagger in her hand. “I could kill you.”

He laughed, head tipping up towards the decorated ceiling. “Oh, but I know you won't. Not when I have the answers to your questions.”

“Then spill them out,” she growled out. “Even darkness cannot drive out darkness.”

Khai grinned. “Oh yes, yes it can.”

“You're a corrupted person.”

“And you are naive.”

The Malika’s hand rose up high before it came barring down onto her husband's cheek, striking true. Her right hand clenched at the hilt of the dagger, contemplating if she should use it.

The Caliph did not dare to touch his searing cheek. He stared at her in raw shock and surprise, he had never seen her loose composure.

Grabbing her right hand in his own, he roughly pulled the crooked weapon out of her hand, cutting her palm deeply.

Mazeeda hissed and jumped back from the searing pain. Such a sensation felt so new to her now.

"Dance for me,” his silky and teasing voice told her, “and make me fall in love.”

She laughed, a type of laugh he could get drunk off of. “I am not a dancer. I am an assassin, Khai.”

A sweet and innocent smile emerged from his sun scorched face. “Yes, you are. And yet, you have not killed me. Why?”

The assassin turned around from the books she was examining on the shelf to look at the prince, who sat lazily in the chair. “Because,” she said slowly, “I may have indeed fallen for the very person I am supposed to kill.”

Khai reached for the girl's wrist and grew intricate designs of swirls with his calloused finger. “Aye, so have I it seems, Mazeeda.”

The storyteller gasped at the withdrawal, stumbling backwards until her back hit the wall. She could not grasp at the air around her for some reason, her head pounding mercilessly against her skull, her palm still pulsing from the pain.

“What was that?” she managed out in a strain. “What did I just see?”

The Caliph looked at her quizzically, eyebrows arched up in amusement. “I saw nothing,” he told her, not a flicker of emotion on his face.

“I saw it...I saw you and me and-” She shook her head to compose herself again, she did not want to look like a madman. “What did you do?”

“I did nothing.” He slipped the dagger into the waistband of his trousers. “What you saw was a figment of your insane imagination.” He pivoted his foot and stalked to the door.

His hand fell onto the handle. He turned. “I will see you tonight, if not later.” And left.

Mazeeda yelled out at him in outrage once the door closed. He spoke in riddles and she did not like it one bit.

And what the hell did I just see? She asked herself over and over again.

SHE HEARD GIGGLING FROM THE bush behind her, making Mazeeda open one eye. She had been bathing in the radiating heat for almost an hour now and it felt good against her skin. The peaceful garden and the sound of the fountain put her mind at ease.

And then there was a triling giggle once again.

The queen turned her head, both eyes opened now, and watched the perfectly manicured bush with suspicion. “Hello?” she said cautiously. She sat up straighter, listening intently.

A head popped out of the bush instantaneously and Mazeeda knew that ponytail anywhere, only this time it had twigs and leaves. “I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry!”

The little girl came through the bush, her head bowed in obedience. Her hand was fidgeting, as if it couldn't grasp onto something.

“Sonya, what a surprise.”

The daughter of Amon looked up in bewilderment and excitement. “Malika! What are you...what are you doing here?”

“Oh?” she teased. “I could say the same to you.”

The young girl flushed. “I'm hiding.”

Mazeeda smiled. She realised that if Sonya was born in Evilla, she would fit in perfectly. Such mischief in such a small body. “From whom?”

Sonya looked around cautiously before leaning in. “From my father.”

A small laugh came through the queen. “Oh, I see. And for what reason?”

A frown on her face. “I have reading lessons and those bore me down.” She threw a fist in the air. “I want to be a great archer like you and Khai.”

“Hmm,” the storyteller contemplated, running a hand through her short hair. “Perhaps those reading lessons are important as well.”

“And why so?” she pouted

It was Mazeeda's turn to lean forwards. “Because even I have never learned to read, only taught to spill out such words into the air not paper.”

“Sonya!” Amon's voice boomed in the distance.

The girl began jumping on the balls of her feet. “Let's make a deal,” she quickly said. “I teach you to read and in exchange you tell my father you never saw a trace of me.”

There was no hesitation as they both stuck out there hands and shook on it.

“My mouth is sealed.”

Khai's cousin slipped again into the bush and quietly hid there in anticipation.

When Amon came into view, looking tiresome and anxious, Mazeeda vanished her smile and carried on with her sun bath.

“Malika! Have you seen my daughter?”

She looked squarely at her husband's uncle, eyes unwavering. “Sadly, I have not.”

Amon cursed under his breath. “That girl…” he sighed out and left without another word.

Sonya stepped out in triumph, chest pumped out. “Excellent! Now, meet here at the same time tomorrow, okay?”

Mazeeda simply nodded and watched her skip away in her own little victory.

And then she stopped and turned around. “I like your hair short. It suits you.”

The queen's hand went up and touched the ends of her hair, surprised and taken aback by the compliment. She thanked her quietly.

“MAY I ASK YOU A question?”

“Of course, Mazeeda,” Adelah said as she filled the tub with the smell of Jasmine, something the queen had yet get accustomed to.

She would much rather step in camel dung.

Lifting her right hand out of the water, Mazeeda examined the vanishing hennas. “What do these designs mean?”

The maid stopped what she was doing to take a look at her art work. “They are the works of my ancestors. See these vines that run from your pinky to your elbow? That means perseverance. And the flowers I've drawn among them wishes you happiness.”

She turned Mazeeda's hand over.

“And this eye on your palm? It can mean many things to others, but I have drawn it for protection. And the other palm is the sun, for regeneration. But what you make of it all comes down to your own perception, my queen.”

“I see.”  She looked closely at her hands then, wanting to know the art of henna making.

“My lady, I'll be back.”

As Adelah left, Mazeeda closed her eyes. Her thoughts wondered to this morning and the vision she saw for only a split second. She was sure it wasn't a memory, never had she shared one just like that with Khai, and yet, it felt all too real.

When the sound of soft footsteps came into earshot, Mazeeda asked, “Adelah, does Khai wear such hennas like mine?”

The footsteps stopped. A long pause. And then an answer. “Why not ask him yourself, love?”

The storyteller's eyes shot open and she nearly jumped at the sight of Khai at the threshold. His blue and gold trousers high on his waist and cuffed at the ankle but the V of his shirt low in contrast.

She immediately wrapped her arms around her chest and crossed her legs. Such a horrible situation she was in! The water had gone cold in an instant. “Where's Adelah?”

Khai invited himself in and propped himself at the end of the tub. “I sent her away.”

She sunk lower until the water rose just below her lips. “What for? I haven't finished my bath and you're early.”

“Oh?” Amusement and mischief played on his face. “Perhaps I shall help you, love of my heart?”

“Absolutely not!” She tightened her arms and looked away, ashamed of her burning face. “I'd rather stay in here until the water freezes.”

To be stark naked in front of her husband felt embarrassing and too intimate. She wanted him to leave so she could calm her frantic nerves. Mazeeda did not like the flutter in her stomach and blamed it on the dinner she had eaten hours ago.

“As you wish.” He crossed his legs, not once had his gaze went lower than her breast bone. “And until then, I would like for you to tell your tale.”

She finally turned her head to stare at the Caliph. Her eyes dropped down to his open chest before looking back up.

She sighed, not knowing if it was from relief or defeat, and began her story once again. “Sharik put on the last of his costume, fixing the tight cuffs of his outfit, the thin sleaves soft, airy, and see-through.

‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’ Saadulah asked as he finished painting his friend's face into a pale blue color.

‘No,’ he said truthfully. ‘But this is the only idea where I can thank her.’

Sharik looked nothing like the sun warrior he was with his now painted skin and moon clothing loosely clinging onto his strong body. His brown hair and amber eyes the only giveaway. The mask that he'd wear would hopefully cover it up.

He only hoped this would work, if not, it would be the end of him.

Leila looked beautiful tonight, and she knew it.

She wore a long sleeved dress that reached the floor with opened slits that rose up high at the waist on both sides, showing off her sculpted legs. It was a classic but sophisticated moon dress, its white color a close second her own pale skin.

Stepping out of her room, two maids guided her outside where the party was held. The festive music was symphony in her ears, making her hips automatically sway. Putting on the waning crescent mask over her right eye, it was time to ease her mind.

She weaved in and out of people's way, greeting and catching up with old friends she had lost connection with.

‘Leila!’ a voice boomed.

The priestess turned around, a smile forming on her lips when she spotted her brother. He rushed up to her and hugged her with one arm.

‘Splendid night, is it not?’ he asked her, taking off his silver mask and clearly drunk already. ‘A night to dance and drink and have fun.’ A pause. ‘A night to fall in love.’ He looked at his sister.

Her sharp eyebrows raised. ‘Oh?’

He dipped down to her ear and breathed out, ‘I know a great guy who would suit you. A moon warrior praised among the moon swept sky.’

Leila frowned, for she knew who her brother was preaching about. ‘Nakia?’ Her eyes began to wander through the crowd until she found the passive warrior standing in all his glory, chest opened and tatted. ‘He's so serious though.’

Hasan took a swig of his white drink. ‘But a fine husband he will be. A warrior no doubt to protect you.’

His sister laughed. ‘I can fend for myself quite fine. If I couldn't, why did father allow me to go down to the battlefields?’

Too proud, Hasan stuck out a tongue and waved his hand in the air. ‘Nakia! Have you met my sister yet?’

She stood in sudden anxiety. ‘Prick.’

The priestess’ brother left her be and looked for more trouble to stir around the party.

Forcing a smile, Leila greeted Nakia respectfully with a nod. His white mask was plain, embroidered with blue and covered the upper half of his face.

‘It's a pleasure to be in your presence,’ his deep voice traveled through her ears. ‘I've fought alongside your brother in every battle.’

‘Of course.’ she needed to stay interested out of politeness.

‘I'm pleased to have gotten the time to know you. You see…”

Leila was losing interest fast, her ears too busy catching other conversations far more interesting than the one she was in. A squeal behind Nakia's shoulders caught her attention and she looked towards the sound.

Over the soldier’s shoulder, she found a group of girls surrounding a man, whose face was covered in an enormous moon and sun mask.

Such an exotic combination for a mask, she thought to herself.

She watched as the girls tried to peel off his mask and his helpless pleas to stop did nothing. Watching him struggle among drunk women made Leila bite back a smile.

‘Excuse me,’ she told Nakia before waltzing right into the scenario. ‘Please have some courtesy among our moon warriors, girls.’

All four women turned at the silvery and strong voice, frowning from their scolding. When they realised who it belong to, they straightened up and apologized before leaving.

Leila watched them leave before turning back to the man. ‘Let me apologize for that, they usually behave themselves in events like these.’

The masked man looked at her with his head tilted, studying her.

She became wary of it. ‘I must say though-’

He stepped up to her, and Leila realized how strange his eyes were. Amber like a sunset and warm like fire.

‘I would like to thank you.’”

Mazeeda was shivering by the time she finished the portion of the story. Tightening her arms, she tried to hide it from Khai, but when she looked at him, he had his eyes closed and head tilted back against the wall.

“Khai, are you asleep?” she asked warily.

He was out like a candle.

Sitting up in the tub, she removed an arm off her chest and moved it towards his face. Perhaps she could-

He grabbed hold of her arm mid-air, making her yelp out in sudden surprise. “Allow me to give you a towel,” he croaked out.

And with that, the queen watched her king walk out of the bathing room. She was sure it got colder.

|AUTHOR'S NOTE|

wow, idk how to feel about this chapter, it's long and I feel unsatisfied with it?i was supposed to publish this like days ago but i found it so hard to write this. i might just revise it later.

thoughts??

pronunciation:

Nakia: Nah-kee-ah

Saadulah: Sah-due-lah