Aminah’s guards stayed rooted in their spots. They would not move without her order, thus the king’s guard was stopped at the entrance unable to make their way to the front.

  Duke Majidi sat high on his horse, the reins loosely held in his hand. “Make way for the king’s guard,” he sternly said.

  Eyes moved to the whip on his waist. As long as he did not reach for it, danger was still able to be avoided.

  Aminah’s guards turned to her.

  Her second-in-command Zaccai, took one step towards her. “General?”

  Babu limped towards Aminah’s staff. “Scholar Aljehni,” he whispered his voice back to normal, his eyes no longer dazed, “he can help. I do not, I am unable,” he banged on his head, his tearful eyes stared at her weapon that was now a hair’s width away. “It is too late. Scholar Aljehni, it is too late,” his bloody hand gripped her staff and aimed the sharp end at his neck. “Please,” his voice cracked.

  With clenched teeth Aminah did not hesitate and with a slight movement of her arm his body fell to the ground with a thud.

  She took a step to the left, her eyes never leaving Babu’s body. “Make way for the king’s guard,” she ordered.

  Her troops moved immediately, opening a path.

  Dismounting his horse Duke Majidi made his way to her and lifted his hands to greet her. “General Aminah.”

  Moving her eyes away she greeted him with lifted her hands as well. “Duke Majidi.”

  Duke Majidi stared at Babu’s dead body on the ground. “Young Lord Jian?” He drawled out.

  “Yes.” Aminah glanced swiftly at Amenah and Dharam to discreetly head back inside, then to her husband who nodded.

  “The king wished for me to apprehend the young lord that you killed.” Duke Majidi turned his body over to examine the cause of death. “A slice across his neck. How merciless. Him dying is not because I was too late, but because you wanted to,” he spoke in a slightly irritated tone. “Why?”

  Aminah looked towards the sky and let one end of her staff hit the ground, clanging against the stone. “Young Lord Babu broke into my home, attacked my family and brought with him bandits. As a general it is my job to protect the peace. Thus I took him out unaware that the king wished to arrest him. Surely if I had known.”

  Duke Majidi chuckled. “Yes, if only you had known.” Clapping his hands he turned to the men that were tied up and silently sitting on the ground. “Allow me to do clean up for you.”

  From the corner of her eye she watched her husband push Dharam and Amenah who were still outside the rest of the way to the house.

  ‘Do not look,’ she silently pleaded. Then with a nod her troops moved back.

  Duke Majidi pulled out his whip and with 3 swings the heads of the ‘bandits’ rolled on the ground. When he was finished he rolled his whip back up and turned to Aminah with a reminiscent expression. “Consider my debt to you paid General Aminah. This is all I can do.” He turned to his men. “Collect the bodies, let us return to the king.”

  Within a hidden room in the manor, Chiara kicked the back of Asbed’s knee. “How is it you are my brother when you are so stupid? Surely you have a rock for a brain. Maybe Roset planted it for you.”

  Asbed fell from his high place on the chair, his fingers clutching the windowsill before he crashed down. “If you hit me, you can not complain when I hit you back.”

  Chiara held her finger to her mouth. “Shh. Do you want everyone to hear where we are?”

  The secret room behind the bookshelf in Scholar Aljehni’s study was not very big. Inside was a table, ten chairs, and a window. The window measured to be two chairs and one Asbed high off the ground. And after being kicked by Chiara, when Asbed fell the chair crashed to the ground, scaring the already nervous Roset.

  Roset clung to Aaleyah, his small arms snaked around her neck. His face was so close to hers they practically breathed the same air. Aaleyah rubbed her hand on his back in smooth circles. “It is just Asbed and Chiara being brainless. No need to be frightened.”

  “You-” Chiara stomped her foot in annoyance and moved to Aaleyah, but Zale stepped in front.

  “Chiara we are all nervous, but as you told Asbed we must stay quiet. There is no use arguing with each other,” Zale reasoned before returning to his seat next to Aaleyah, his finger running over Roset’s back to help soothe him.

  Asbed grumbled, “I only saw a bit before I was injured.” He gave a pointed glare towards Chiara. “I am almost positive I saw mother's troops.”

  Aaleyah rose from the chair with Roset in her arms. “Mother is here?”

  Asbed nodded and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

  Roset lifted his face from his safe spot on Aaleyah’s neck. “So when can we leave? I want mother. I want Amenah to be unharmed,” he listed his worries in a small innocent voice.

  Asbed shrugged. “It should not be long. But remember we cannot leave until someone tells us it is safe.”

  Chiara rolled her eyes. “Obviously, no one here planned on running out alone.”

  Asbed raised his head towards the ceiling and groaned. “Must you work so hard to be a thorn in my side?”

  “Change to the other side then,” Chiara rebutted.

  “Or you could choose to be something less annoying.”

  Roset’s eyes began to water and Aaleyah decided she had enough. “If you do not know how to behave then do not call yourselves my older sibling. Why is it Zale and I are the only ones worried for Roset?” She rolled her eyes.

  At her words two pairs of golden eyes turn to inspect Roset whose body shook as he held back his tears.

  Chiara came to caress Roset’s face. “Forgive your sister, do not cry.”

  Roset moved one hand from its tight hold around Aaleyah’s neck and squeezed Chiara’s hand. “Do you argue with Asbed because you are scared that our family is in danger?” A silent tear rolled down his cheek. “Do you think Dharam and mother will get hurt?” His chin shook and more tears fell from his honey eyes.

  Chiara lifted Roset into her arms. “No, of course not Roset. Asbed and I argue all the time.”

  Aaleyah moved away towards the chair under the window and gave Zale a knowing look.

  Asbed motioned for Chiara to take a seat before sitting next to her. “Roset us arguing means that everything is well.” He poked Roset’s cheek with his index finger.

  Chiara glared but remained silent.

  “Could you imagine if Chiara and I got along? Would you not feel uncomfortable?" Asbed asked Roset with a twinkle in his eyes.

  Roset giggled. “So everyone is safe?”

  Behind Asbed, Zale hoisted Aaleyah on his shoulder and then climbed to stand on the chair. Aaleyah wobbled slightly and used her hands on the wall to steady herself. She accidentally locked eyes with Roset and motioned for him to stay quiet.

  Chiara squeezed Roset’s hands. “Of course everyone is safe. We are Aljehnis,” she stated with conviction.

  “Exactly. You never have to worry about anything. As long as you have an Aljehni with you, you will always be safe,” Asbed added with pride.

  “We Aljehnis are very strong Roset. We can never experience harm when we are together.”

  Aaleyah shook her head for Roset to remain quiet and balanced herself on Zale’s hands as he lifted her off his shoulders.

  “Do you feel better now Roset?” Asbed asked.

  “Roset?” Chiara called.

  Aaleyah slowly pulled herself up, almost reaching the window. “Aaleyah and Zale!” Chiara yelled.

  Zale flinched and Aaleyah lost balance, falling from his hands.

  The door to the secret room opened. “Alright everyone you can come out-” Dharam words faltered as he rushed to catch Aaleyah. “Why!” He yelled, catching her safely in his arms. “Why must you two always cause trouble?”

  “Eh! That is not fair.” Zale scrambled down from the chair and pointed at Asbed. “He did it fi-.”

  Asbed cut Zale off. “Everything is safe? What happened? Zale and Aaleyah only told me a small amount, and Chiara knew nothing.”

  Aaleyah did not care that Dharam yelled at her. Nor was she affected by Asbed letting her and Zale take the fall. She jumped out of Dharam’s arms. “Amenah? Is Amenah alright?”

  Dharam subconsciously rubbed his ear. “She is fine. Father is attending to her.”

  No sooner had the words left his mouth had Aaleyah brushed past him racing for the door out of the study.

  Pausing, Aaleyah turned around and raced back. “Where exactly are they?”

  “In her room, father says she should rest after she receives treatment,” Dharam answered with a sigh as Aaleyah raced away again, Roset following after her.

  Dharam crossed his arms and stared at Zale. “Not following?”

  Zale reached in his chest pocket and pulled out a cloth. “For your injuries,” he said before calmly following the direction Aaleyah raced for.

  Dharam chuckled and whipped at the blood by his mouth and called out, “You know for all the things I did, this one injury shows my skill set.”

  Zale turned to give him a smirk before continuing out the door.

  Dharam turned to Chiara and Asbed’s stare. “What?”

  “What do you mean what? Obviously we wish to know what happened,” Asbed said, perturbed.

  Dharam scratched the side of his face lazily. “Babu-”

  “Mother said you are not to address him like that,” Chiara pointed out. “He is studying to be a scholar instead of a general sure, but we must address him as Young Lord Jian, and in the future Scholar Babu,” she grimaced and added, “if he passes.”

  Asbed snickered. “Chiara do not pretend to be so kind to him. As your brothers, we know that you do not like him.”

  Chiara held her head high and jutted her chin.

  “Are you channeling a donkey?” Asbed teased.

  Chiara swung at Asbed and after missing stumped her foot and turned to Dharam. “Just tell us what happened!”

  Dharam rubbed under his eye and yawned. After everything that happened arguing with his younger sibling was just what he needed. He opened his arms. “Come here.”

  Chiara and Asbed glanced at each other and then back to him. “Who?” They asked together.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Both of you. I need a hug,” Dharam confessed.

  Asbed pretended to fumble with the ribbon tying his curls up. Keeping a smile on his face he mouthed to Chiara, ‘He may have hit his head.’

  Chiara coughed. “Can you just tell us what happened?”

  Dharam frowned, his hands still open. “No hug, no information.”

  Asbed hugged him immediately. His hands barely circled around him before he moved away, “There I hugged you. What happened?”

  “Chiara?” Dharam called.

  Chiara scratched her arm. “I can just ask Amenah, you are not the only one who knows.”

  Dharam shrugged and walked back into the study to take a seat. Resting his legs on the corner on the table, his feet dangled off. “That is true. Although mother asked for my telling of the events. The general found my information useful.

  Chiara gritted her teeth and moved to hug her brother, only aiming to give a quick hug like Asbed did. Of course Dharam had other ideas.

  His arms wrapped around Chiara pulling her towards him, her balance lost in the war against his strength. He ruffled her hair, destroying her neat perfect ponytail.

  “Dharam!” She pushed against him trying to get up. “Get off of me!” She yelled, swinging her hands on Dharam’s shoulders.

  Laughing Dharam released her and stood. “As if I will tell you two anything. Whatever mother and father wish for you to know they will let you know. I am not going to do anything to get myself in trouble.”

  Chiara was fuming but Asbed held her back from attacking her brother. “It is a losing battle Chiara, let it go.”

  Chiara kicked at the air. “You ruined my hair!”

  Dharam stopped at the door. “You know, family is to watch out for each other.” He left his hand on the door handle. “Look at Ley Ley, Zale and Roset. The moment they had a chance they raced to see how their sister was. How come you do not ask how I am? My feelings are hurt.” He held up the cloth. “Zale cared about my injuries.”

  Chiara rolled her eyes, but Asbed hesitated. His eyes scanned over him and much to Dharam’s shock moved to give him a hug. Unlike the swift hug he did earlier, this hug was tight enough to affect the minor injuries Dharam had.

  Asbed patted his back. “I do not know what happened, but I am glad you are alright.” The words of comfort were awkward and unnatural coming from Asbed’s mouth, but regardless the words still had an effect and he hugged Asbed tightly.

  Chiara nibbled at her lip. Her eyes scanned the room avoiding his gaze. She rubbed her nails together before she rushed off. “I will make you some tea.”

  In Amenah’s room, Aaleyah stood outside the door, hesitant if she should wait to be called in.

  Roset had no such worries and ran past her. “Father, Menah!” He cried, sprinting around the room divider.

  Aaleyah was not to be left behind and followed after Roset.

  Father rose from his seat beside Amenah’s bed and held up his hand. “No running inside,” he calmly reprimanded. He lifted his chin to greet Aaleyah. “How are your studies?”

  Aaleyah’s face blanched. “Father surely we can address my studies after Amenah is-”

  “Your sister is fine,” he cut her off. Lifting Roset into his arms, he kissed his cheek whilst looking at Aaleyah with cold eyes.

  Aaleyah took a step back bumping into Zale.

  Zale raised his hands to greet his father. “Aaleyah was in the study until we were told to hide. She is almost finished scribing and translating the scroll you assigned to her,” he reported.

  Their father nodded. “Good, finish it today.” He motioned for them to walk out of the room, “Your sister is not gravely injured, and has taken medicine to help her sleep. When she wakes, remember to control your noise levels. For a week she will be sensitive to loud sounds, so no fighting,” he told them with a pointed look.

  Aaleyah and Zale gave lingering looks at Amenah but followed their father’s silent order to leave.

  In the throne room of the palace the cup in King Saamun’s hand cracked under his hold. “What did you say?” He gritted out.

  Duke Majidi kneeled on the floor inside the empty hall. “My apologies your majesty. This subject has failed in obtaining Young Lord Jia-”

  King Saamun threw the cup, shattering it on the floor before him.

  “Do not call him that!” King Sammun rose and paced in front of his throne. “I gave you one order, was the duke always this incompetent?"

  Duke Majidi kept his head down accepting the insults. There were no words to defend himself, he had failed his orders to arrest the young lord as well as the ‘rebels’.

  “Despicable!” Ceasing his pacing, the king faced him. “Why did you not arrest General Aminah?”

  “The order to arrest the young lord, and the attack on the Aljehni estate happened too fast for General Aminah to receive the order that he should have been kept alive. Thus she fought the men who attacked. General Aminah broke no laws,” Duke Majidi stated coldly.

  King Saamun laughed darkly. “She killed someone the king said not to, she shall be punished!”

  Duke Majidi blinked.

  “I want you to arrest her. Arrest the general! She has disobeyed the king!” He threw the platter of grapes that was next to him onto the floor, the clang of metal echoed throughout the hall.

  “Shall this subject also be punished?”

  Groaning, King Saamun ran a hand down his face. “And why,” he waved his hand for the duke to stand, “would you be punished.”

  He stood with his hands at his side. “The king asks me to arrest General Aminah for disobeying orders that she was not aware of. Thus this subject should be punished for not telling the order fast enough. If this subject moved faster, General Aminah would have known that the young lord needed to stay alive, and she would not have killed him. The one responsible for the death of the young lord is I.”

  King Saamun’s face grew dark. “You dare threaten me? Have you forgotten who I am?” The bottom half of his face lit with a smile. “Forgotten who takes your punishments?”

  He dropped to his knees once more, raised his hands and bowed low. “This subject dare not.”

  “Do not forget your place. All that you have was given by me. You are my sword, you aim where I tell you to aim, you attack who I tell you to attack. You are a weapon, weapons need not think, only obey.” He sighed. “If you wish to be punished for your lack of speed then send Megera.”

  Duke Majidi’s teeth bit down on his tongue to hold back his anger. “Yes, your majesty,” he gritted out.

  “You are dismissed.”

  Rising Duke Majidi bowed once more and left the hall to give the order for his sister to attend to the king.

  As he made his way to his sister’s chambers, he recalled General Aminah’s words from before.

  One Red and eight Blue moons ago Lord Majidi had left the training camps heading for home. He was excited to see his sister after so long, and now that his training was over he would stay home for the moon.

  “Lord Majidi.” Aminah had greeted making her way to the exit with the reins of her horse in her hand.

  He raised his hands to greet her. “General Aminah,” he greeted coldly.

  “Is Lord Majidi returning home?” She had asked making conversation, but her eyes made him aware that there was more she had wished to say.

  “I have finished my training and will be returning to my sister for a moon,” he answered with mocked politeness.

  A sad smile graced her lips. “Duke Majidi has been ill for some time.” Her hand reached into the pouch on her horse to pull out a small box. “Tea leaves, they should aid in your father’s health.”

  “General Aminah is kind.”

  Aminah glanced around the empty road and stood closer. “Lord Majidi is very talented, surely one could find a bright path outside the palace.”

  “The palace is the perfect place for me to show my skills. The king has noticed me and wishes to have me close. Is this not the brightest path?” He had asked, dropping the formalities. After all, the two were close in age. Yet she had achieved more than he could even fathom. Her military experience, and skillset was something known by all. The only thing people knew about him was his family name, and tragedy.

  “Khastan-”

  “General,” he cut her off. “Why do you address me without formalities?”

  Aminah pulled her horse to block them from sight of the watchtowers. “Khastan the closer you get to the palace the more you place your family in danger. Did your father not ask you to form a path away from politics?”

  “Wise words from someone who has a husband that stands at the royal family’s side. You, a Medes, married the Aljehni. When have you ever had to work hard?” His words dripped in so much jealousy that he was unaware of the pained expression in Aminah’s eyes.

  “This is not about that, I only wish to warn yo-”

  “But it is!” He seethed. “It is about that. From your first breath you lived on a golden spoon. The gods continuously blessing you with talent, skill, power, riches, a successful marriage. It matters not if you fail, the world will forever only see you shine.”

  Aminah’s eyes were filled with unshed tears. “Must you continue to hate me this much, Khastan?”

  Khastan Majidi was too enraged to hear the pain in her voice. “Hate?” He laughed. “What husband would I be if I did not spend my living days aiming to turn your heaven on earth into hell? Everytime I see you, I only remember that you did not help Istria.”

  “I tried!” She reached for Khastan’s hand but he had slapped hers away. “Khastan I tried, but I could not.” Her voice trembled, “There was nothing I could do. But I am trying to help you now. Please just listen to me!”

  “Aminah! My wife is dead because of you. She drowned and you watched. You are a monster, dressed in sheep’s clothing.” He relished in the pain her brown eyes showed, the visible flinch she had had in reaction to his words.

  “I truly did everything I could. Khastan you have to believe me.”

  He pushed her, Aminah stumbled falling against her horse.

  “Why must I? Why do you insist on speaking to me? Why do you continue to crawl into my life? Is it to gloat?”

  Aminah shook her head. “Fine. Hate me, but these words I must say to you. You must hear them, and after I vow never to speak to you first,” she had promised, her eyes filled with desperation.

  “What is it?”

  “The king wishes to use you to attain your sister. Whatever you do, you must keep Megera away from the palace,” she warned.

  “Is that all you wish to say?”

  Aminah shuddered. “Yes.”

  “Good night, General Aminah,” Khastan said and walked away.

  Now as Duke Majidi made his way to his sister he recalled that night. If only he had listened to Aminah and kept his sister away. So many things could have been avoided. Too many of Megera’s tears were shed because of his foolishness.

  Knocking on the door, he heard a come in before entering. “Megera?”

  Megera Majidi was once a beauty. Her tall frame, broad hips and soft lips formed a star that exuded soft elegance. Every step she made left men dreaming of their own family with her. Her long brown hair was always held up by the most beautiful hair clips, unlike most women who kept strands of hair to frame their face; Megera was different. She had kept all the hair pulled away so everyone could take in her sharp features and snake eyes.

  Her high cheekbones, and long lashes gave her an air of nobility. Her smile was gifted by the gods. She was someone Goddess Anahita would be proud of. So when she went to her rooftop that was high above most homes in the area, only the palace sitting higher; she bathed with no fear of anyone seeing.

  She bathed completely unaware that from the high balcony of the palace, King Saamun sat and pleasured himself at the sight of her. And it was after that day that the King had finally decided to take a concubine; her.

  The king’s words were honey that left Megera feeling warm and blessed to have caught the king’s eye. She believed that he found her character beautiful, she never knew that he was aware of her unclothed body.

  Khastan believed the gods were pouring blessing upon them. His father passed from a cold and he was named Duke Majii. He had been worried about leaving on missions with his sister alone at home. So when the King expressed his interest in his sister, asking, pleading to be allowed to marry her; of course Duke Majidi could only say yes. The king had fallen for his sister, it was due to politics that he could not take her for a wife, and only a concubine. Was that not the bright path that his father had wanted him to take?

  Megera looked up at her brother, the cut on the side of her mouth prevented her from smiling brightly. Her right eye was no longer swollen and the bruise had almost faded away. “Khastan, you have come to visit me.” She rose quickly and swayed on her feet.

  He caught her small frame. “Be careful. Does your ankle still hurt?”

  She shook her head and he caught sight of the yellow bruise on her neck.

  “It does not hurt, I have just been sitting for too long.” She moved out of his arms and returned to the table she rose from. “I am making you a new jacket. It is a crocodile, do you like it?”

  He ran his hand over the stitching of the golden crocodile. “It is lovely, Megera.”

  Megera held his hands and urged him to sit. “My time at the palace has been better. I have been left alone for almost an entire moon.” She rolled up the sleeves of her dress so he could see the bruises on her arms, the fingerprints left from the king’s love. “See! I am almost healed,” she joyfully exclaimed.

  He moved Megara’s loose hair out of her face. The king hated for others to see her, and in a fit of rage and jealousy took her hair comb and hit her with it. Since, Megera no longer wore her hair up, and ordered for every hair clip and pin to be thrown out.

  She left her hair parted down the middle hanging low and dead to cover her face. In the end it seemed to be a wise choice, her long brown hair could cover her bruises.

  “Megera,” he called in a forlorn voice.

  The joy in her eyes dimmed, her teeth chattered against each other. Her fingers tightened on the sleeves of her robe, pulling it closed. “He has asked for me,” she whispered dejectedly.

  He dropped his head. “I am so sorry. I have failed you.” He had grown brave, forgotten how weak he truly was. His pride wanted him to repay his debt to Aminah so he could continue hating her. He wanted to never owe her again. For it was Aminah that warned him. Aminah that tried to save his sister. Aminah that saved his life. Duke Majidi was just too prideful, he did not think things through, and now his sister must pay the price.

  Megera held her hands to stop them from shaking. “I understand.” She released a shaky breath. “Brother please do not come see me for some time. I will write to you when you can come.”

  Khastan could feel his heart break at her words. She was healing, the king had not asked for her for so long. The next time he sees his sister, how many more bruises and wounds would she have? “I am sorry,” he whispered dejectedly.

  Megera smiled softly. “The only one I could never hate in this world is you Khastan. You never have to be sorry. Thank you for visiting, but this one must attend to the king.”

  Khastan rose and left the chamber vowing to never waiver again, his job was to follow orders, not think if they are right or wrong.