Unbound: Slave to the Desert Sands

The Kala'ree

Kaia prepared herself for death. She attempted to keep her head held high while taking a steadying breath. Last thing she needed was to faint from fear in front of these men. She had already seen them kill, they were skilled warriors, assassins even. She had no chance. Her obstinance had likely earned her some particularly painful death, rather than the quick one Markus had received for... what? Why did he even have to die?

    Quick as a snake, Zahir's hand flashed out, hooking his fingers behind her neck and his thumb under her chin, pulling her closer so they were face to face. His hot breath brushed across her face as she stood here frozen.

    "Pretty little thing, aren't you" Zahir murmured in Razaaki, making Kaia's blood run cold. She tried and failed to suppress a shutter. A cruel smile lifted one corner of his lips. Zahir lifted his injured figures to her face, delicately brushing the hair from her forehead. His eyes glittered dangerously. "An eye for and eye,"  He purred, his deep voice rumbling through Kaia. He pressed cruelly on the deep gash on her temple, the wound that Kaia had all but forgotten burned with a flash. Kaia gasped in pain, unable to help herself. Zahir stepped back, releasing her, looking satisfied. 

    "Put her with the Kala'ree for now," He ordered Aseem, who had stood immobile still gripping Kaia's upper arm, "Tell Azra to find her something other than these bloody rags."  Aseem bowed his head again. Zahir turned on his heal and returned to his horse, mounting the giant beast with a graceful leap. 

    Aseem turned and started walking, Kaia being dragged along behind him, grimacing at the burn of the rope on her hands and neck as it moved. She was shocked when she realized they were moving toward the encampment of white tents, the construction of which had apparently already been completed during the short encounter with Zahir. He pulled her through the camp, where many of the Razaak were already sitting around fires, cooking some sort of meat that instantly made Kaia's mouth water. When had she last eaten? Many of the Razaak were unmasked, their faces were similar to Zahir's with tan skin and black hair, eyes that ever so slightly slanted downward in the center. They turned and watched as she and Aseem passed. Their eyes were sharp and alert even after a day of travel, missing nothing. They looked nothing like the exhausted Creesans she had seen following the caravan. Kaia felt like a lamb being led into a pack of wolves the way they stared. A few shouted out to Aseem who waved them off dismissively without a word. He pulled her to to a larger tent in the center of the camp, one with a thick belt of blood red silk draped across acting as the door. Kaia looked around realized it was the only tent with any color on it at all, the rest were plain white canvas with no markings to distinguish. Two huge masked Razaaks stood along either side of the entryway, guarding whatever was inside. Whether it was to protect whoever was in there or to prevent them from getting out, she didn't know. Kaia gulped, her fear threatening to take over. 

    They entered the tent and Kaia was hit with a sickeningly sweet smell of incense. She recognized cinnamon and honey, and also something else she could not quite place. The tent was much larger than it appeared on the outside, red and gold silks were draped all over the sides making it seem warm and colorful. A large fire was in the center, the smoke escaping through a large hole in the top of the canopy making the tents warm and comfortable even in the cold mountain air. Large, lush pillows sat around in various groups. Despite herself, Kaia found the place comfortable and inviting looking. Kaia was surprised to see women, maybe fifteen or so in small gatherings around the tent. They all seemed busy with various projects, Kaia saw some embroidering, others cooking and to her extreme surprise, even a few appeared to be reading. They all looked up at Aseem and Kaia entered the tent. 

    One of the women rose when they approached. Kaia gawked at her, unable to help herself. She was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She didn't not appear to be that much older than Kaia, in her early twenties perhaps. Her long black hair fell in perfect waves all the way to her waist. She wore loose pantaloons of white linen with thin transparent silks the color of blood falling in flattering waves around her hips. Her tiny waist was exposed, and on the top she wore the same linen covered in red silks. She walked toward them sensually, her hips swaying with every step. Golden beads jingled as she walked, strung up around her waist and wrists. Her face was covered by a completely see through belt of red silk strung from ear to ear. Kaia wondered what its significance was, as none of the other women had their faces covered. Her face was beautiful and serene. She had large full lips that parted in in a smile as she looked at Aseem, and greeted him with her arms extended as if to embrace him. 

    "Aseem" She purred, approaching them. Aseem looked and her and nodded, clearly a gesture of respect to the woman.

    "Ma'Kala'ree"  He addressed her. They did not touch but the greeting was warm. The woman's eyes drifted from Aseem's face to Kaia's. 

    "What's this then?" The woman asked in Razaaki. Aseem looked to Kaia, seeming only then to remember she was even there. 

    "Zahir's find. He asks that you keep her here, doesn't want the men... distracted," Kaia blanched, trying not to look at him. The Ma'kala'ree, as Aseem had addressed her, looked at Kaia her eyes growing slightly colder. She walked around Kaia examining her, like a wolf would examine a kill. 

    "This is a pretty one, doesn't look like the other Creesan's we have," She said to Aseem, "I suppose I could make something out of her, if it is what Lord Zahir desires." She turned to Aseem who nodded. He produced a knife from within his robes. Kaia paled and shrunk back, horrified. He grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her to him, putting the blade to her throat. She closed her eyes waiting for the strike. She let out a gasp when she realized he was cutting the razor sharp rope around her neck, and swiftly cut the ones around her wrists. There was some amused tittering from the girls surrounding them, the Ma'Kala'ree silenced them with a glare. Kaia rubbed her neck, her cheeks reddening slightly. Aseem straightened and nodded again to the woman before turning on his heel and exiting the tent. After he was gone the woman turned to Kaia.

    "So," She said in lightly accented but flawless basic Creesan, "You're the girl who nearly bit the Prince's hand off." Kaia was so shocked her mouth fell open with an audible click.