Unbound: Slave to the Desert Sands

Blunder

     The picturesque lake was like nothing Kaia had ever seen. The trees stood around the clearing like sentries and to the east and west, peaks of even taller mountains crawled along, like the turrets of a wall that divided Creed from the vast, unknown dangers that lied north of them. Beyond that the tall bodies of the pines blocked everything except the vast blue sky above them. The air was chilled, and even as the midday sun gleamed above them, frosty clouds appeared with each breath. 

     The slaves had already gotten to work assembling the tents and canopies, far more spread out than they had been along the mountain trail. Kaia let out a sigh of relief, things suddenly felt less rushed, as though the Razaak had relaxed as they reached the summit. The thought suddenly sent a trickle of terror down Kaia’s spine. Had they been expecting some sort of retaliation? Creed did not have a big army that Kaia knew of, almost all of the kingdom’s soldiers resides in the capital. The kingdoms had been at peace for hundreds of years as far as Kaia knew so there had never been reason for soldier’s presence in Bleakburn. Did soldiers guard the borders along the mountains? Kaia highly doubted it. The only way through these parts of the mountains was through Bleakburn, and no cavalries had been seen. Kaia brushes away the tendril of hope that had appeared at the mere thought of rescue. 

      She turned to try and catch sight of what the Kala’ree were doing and saw that their pavilion had already been assembled and they were getting to work unloading the carts. She started to make her way in that direction. Stepping carefully around Razaaki men and women who were hurrying about. She glanced over her shoulder to see Sarah and Mary following behind her. WHAM! Kaia ran face first into a rock hard surface. She let out a small yelp as pain shot through her jaw. She ricocheted backwards until a hand shot out and caught the neck of her tunic and pulled her back upright. Kaia opened her eyes and looked into the masked face of an Ula’mor warrior. She gasped in horror, too petrified to speak. The man’s black cowl covered most of his features, his black eyes glittered cruelly at her with amusement. Something in those eyes looked familiar. She looked down at his waist where a blood red sash hung along his belt line. Zahir. 

      “Eager little thing, aren’t you?”He asked in cool Razaaki, so calm it was as if they were old friends in conversation. Instinctively she reached up to try and free the fabric of her tunic from his grasp but quick as a snake he released it and snatched her wrist, twisting it awkwardly in a way that made her gasp with pain. She looked away from him, embarrassment flushing her cheeks.  He pulled down his cowl with his free hand, revealing his handsome features as well as a satisfied smirk. He pulled her closer so that he could murmur in Razaaki close to her ear. “It would be good for you to be taught some respect” Kaia shuddered at the words, a chill running down her spine at the proximity of the man she feared above all of the Razaak. Zahir drew back a curious look in his gaze and looked like he was going to say something else when someone cleared her throat behind Zahir’s broad back. The Ula’mor prince turned and Kaia saw Azra standing there, looking The man squarely in the eyes. A look of irritation flashed across Zahir’s face but before Kaia could blink it was gone and replaced by a courteous smile. He nodded his head to Azra and greeted her shortly,

      “Greetings, Ma’Kala’ree “ Then Azra did something Kaia had never seen her do before and bowed her head respectfully to Zahir. Kaia realized suddenly she had not seen the two interact before apart from the night they had saved her from unthinkable horrors by the bonfire, but even then their attention had not been on each other. Kaia wondered if the Ma’Kala’ree and the Razaak prince did not like each other. Azra was always treated with respect. She was the highest ranking Kala’ree, but even the Ula’mor men seemed to rank below her, until Zahir that is. Azra’s expression was unreadable as she replied,

      “My apologies, my Lord, but my apprentice is needed in training.” Her words sounded sincere but a look on her face reminded Kaia of someone who was daring to be challenged. Zahir looked at her for a moment and then glanced at Kaia as if suddenly realizing he was still gripping her wrist. Slowly, as if unwilling to do so he released his hold, allowing Kaia’s arm to fall to her side. Azra’s face was expressionless as she bowed again and turned to leave while saying, 

     “Come Kaia.” Kaia did not hesitate, she bowed her head toward Zahir and hurried after the Ma’Kala’ree. She didn’t dare to glance behind her to see if he was watching her. 

     She followed her mentor into the Kala’ree pavillion where the setting up had finished. Many Kala’ree were lounging on the luxurious pillows and day beds in the main chamber. Some were applying kohl to their eyes or braiding each others hair. Kaia had never seen them so relaxed. Azra led her into her private chamber but this time the Kala’ree in yellow were no where to be seen. Azra sat herself gracefully down on one of the pillows and gestured for Kaia to do the same. Kaia sat, feeling nervous. The Ma’Kala’ree looked serene but Kaia sensed some tension in the air that she did not understand. Azra watched her for a moment. Her brown eyes were gentle but attentive, as though scanning Kaia for something. 

    “Kaia, I feel I must warn you,” her voice was soft, “the scorpion prince is not a forgiving man.” Kaia gulped realizing she was talking about Zahir. Azra continued, her voice escalating as she spoke, “You continue show disrespect and poor judgement and place yourself in situation beneath the status of a Kala’ree.” Sudden anger in her voice made Kaia flinch back. She had rarely heard her speak in such a way. Kaia didn’t understand the Ma’Kala’ree’s sudden fury and struggled to think of a way to explain to her that it had been an accident. But Azra continued on, leaning toward Kaia, slamming her hands on the table between them. “Are you trying to get yourself  sent to be a lowly slave, or worse killed?!” She practically screamed at Kaia in rapid Razaaki.

     “No! I’m not! ” Kaia pleaded. Azra sat back onto her knees, lacing her fingers together with a satisfied look on her face. Kaia blinked unable to comprehend what had just happened and why the Ma’Kala’ree’s rage had vanished. Slowly in dawned upon her that she had just answered a question which, as far as her captors knew, Kaia should not have been able to understand. Horror gripped Kaia, unsure of how this revelation would sit with her mentor. But Azra did not look the least bit surprised, in fact Kaia detected a hint of satisfaction in her gaze, as though she had had her suspicions confirmed. Kaia immediately felt foolish, what had she expected? To gain some kind of information to escape by keeping her advantage a secret? She had underestimated Azra.

     “It would seem, apprentice, that we have a lot to learn about each other.”