Blood [Epic of the Mediterranean

A Reunion

Nothing in hand had seemed like a tough job to Shadi for the excitement of going out after some time had washed off any frustrations which would have caused a barrier. Humming a very common tune which didn’t seem to be going much in cord, she carefully outlined black soot on the waterline of each eye, embellishing the azurites into looking larger and more attractive. With one tassel earring drooping down onto her shoulder, she turned to the other woman in the small yet habitable room which they shared. 

Hands loosely draped over her knees while being scrunched over to the wall, it seemed as if the emerald eyes which gazed out of the only window found another reality than others among the shadows of dawn. The incomprehensible expression on Naya’s face made it difficult to interpret whether she was in a deep thought or merely zoned out. The night breeze slowly rustled her long hair which seemed to have their own will and were never tied into restrictions. She narrowed her lids as it moved amongst her lashes, not too harshly.

Moon was in full plight, a lovely nightfall to behold and lived identically, only, she wasn’t quite sure about it. Shadi and Katana were generous and wanted to provide her a space to fit in, or at least try. Tracing her neckline, her fingertips felt the thin gold chain before she pulled it out from beneath her cloths, the only material imprint left of her ancestry. Everything charred within the span of a night, all that they could have called theirs. But then again, material possessions never really mattered to her, ever since they first had to abandon everything and flee after the battle of Cunaxa, a traumatic scenery.

What was hers to begin with, material was to get destroyed and she was nowhere near to get affected by it. But wasn’t it a bit too early to accept? Where were the waves of melancholy to drown her? When were the flames of revenge going to scorch her? Perhaps knowledge was the evil, which was correctly held guilty for many things, only it could be applied differently in different aspects. No, perhaps it was there, only way deeper to be uprooted so soon. Or was it? The inconsistent rebellion was unbearably torturing which burned the inside of her eyes and made her head and heart throb continuously. This lovely night, this enchanting moon, she deserved nothing. Just the all-pervasive hug of doom. Naya’s grip loosened on the pendant as her hands travelled to her head, grasping her hair roots as she forcefully shut her eyes.

“Naya”, Shadi glanced at the woman in horror. She extended a hand, but couldn’t make it to her shoulder, as if an invisible wall. The lamp fires flickered inconsistently. Her aura was getting thicker which sent a chill down her spine, as she called the name yet again, this time with more concern.

Naya’s eyes darted open in a sudden flash which seemed to have spun back time to its original state.

Shadi’s hand retreated slowly as she looked around them with uncertainty, “What happened? It seemed…so depressing. As if'', she hesitated while searching for the correct words, “A saya! Yes, that’s it.” The desperation of trying to fit the feeling into a socially possible and still convincing statement which won’t question her sanity could be felt in her words.

Naya sighed as she scrunched her eyebrows while looking away, possibly thinking of a reply. “There is nothing like a saya. That is, not in here at least”, she shrugged disapprovingly while shifting on the mattress which covered the wooden bed. A rather comfortable luxury, considering the circumstances. Picking up the other ear jewel dropped beside her knee, she closed on to the other, pushing it into the vacant earlobe. “I am sorry for demeaning your spirit”, Naya smiled sluggishly, “It’s hard to keep up with your liveliness.”

Outside the main palace gates, Katana was waiting for the company. The saffron flag of Bactria waving proudly.

In the midst of killing time, two young maidens happened to pass by him asking for directions, that’s all that they had to do actually. After that, they didn’t happen to progress to their destination. Instead ended up getting stalled by the intriguing pleasantries of the stranger. Good humor, amusing company.

Shadi hurried out. “No way! We are already late. Not to mention Katana already decided upon betraying us”, she sighed as the two stepped out of the bastion premises of the fortress refitted by the Kayasth dynasty of which Asmaka was but the second generation. 

“Enjoying yourself, aren’t you now? Forgetting about not philandering around, maintain some dignity”, Shadi commented while appearing behind Katana in a sudden jiff. 

“What? Undignified? Me? I was only bidding these ladies farewell”, he smiled playfully as the two unacquainted women decided to take their leave, blushing at something he might have said while returning the goodbye, acknowledging that they themselves were running late. 

“Ah! Now, where do you want to start from?” The sky was already dark in contrast with the streets which were as glistening and young as could be. The outer fortress walls were covered from all sides with festive colors, extending into the endless lands of the kingdom. Assembled systematically and spaciously with the area around and before the gates completely vacant.

Being established close to river Oxus, the city of Bactra flaunted more diverse faces of nature and was one of the few Persian states which wasn’t constructed over barren lands of dust and sand. This also meant that the impetuous turn of desert weather from immense heat to unbearable cold was not a concern here. This was another aspect which Naya had to adapt to, after the naturally occurring wildlife present even around the non-royalty. 

The three advanced further into the still growing makeshift fair for a market, trying to lose themselves into the vibes of the overpowering commotion. Shadi and Katana seemed to be conversing about something which Naya had no desire of listening to.

Lights as if a million stars had showered from the universe together adorned almost all the stores, inside the lamps of diverse shapes and designs. Some for sale, others for mere tradition. No matter how deep she tried to lose herself, the bewitching aromas trailed after her everywhere. No, it was more like it now constituted the very air which she inhaled. Entrancing every inch of space around her, hugging her body underneath the fabric. 

Jewelry was abundant with most of the merchants dealing in it, and an equally active market. The sounds of metals and stones, a hairpin falling along with some anklet bells being tried upon, a well-heeled lady trying many neck pieces in one go and a man searching through some light weight chains, delicately crafted, to find just the right one perhaps, all jingling together.

But the most captivating music was the one created by the street musicians. Their sorna and tombac synchronizing into what seemed to be a Luri harmony. The classical melody was enough to remind the spectators about the rich and overflowing culture of their valiant, mighty of the mightiest Persia, greatest empire which the world had ever seen. The soil which they proudly call their motherland.

“Beautiful”, Naya murmured, finally realizing that this wasn’t the first time she had experienced this. The tune carried nostalgia with it to which Naya couldn’t help but smile as her surroundings gradually shifted to a delusion of Ecbatana, and she to a way younger version of herself, into a Persia whose thrones had recently shifted to an unforeseen yet tyrant power, something of which she was a part.

Shadi clinked her hands covered with glass bangles before Naya’s face from behind, “How do you like these?” Beaming with the pleasure of her new buy, she again started to inspect the hoops made of a million different colors, shimmering so intensely that they seemed to be freshly polished stones.

“How?” Naya was pulled out from her thoughts, “They seem pretty on you.”

“Yeah, I think so too”, the woman accepted gaily.

Katana looked at the two before speaking, “Aren’t they great?”

“The bangles?” Naya decided to catch up with the pace, glancing over the costermongers.

“The artists. Whether it be the music or the delicate crafts, all that they create has a spirit of their own.”

She agreed, marking his words. Anything nurtured and made with a whole heart and unconditional perseverance carries that emotion with itself forever. That is what happens when sometimes we look at an object and feel that whisk of warmth making its way up to our hearts. Whereas, on the contrary, a thing raised in ignorance, even though having life, can be left void of this petty seeming yet dynamic intangible water of life. 

“How long do the palace walls stretch?” They had surely walked further away from where they had started, and yet again had the grand structure appeared. Only, this time the walls seemed to be way shorter, the grand architecture and the vast gardens more clearly visible across them. Yet, it felt unusually lifeless, like a whimsical spell of sleep put on time by the night itself. 

“That…is not the palace”, Katana glanced amidst the crowd into the same direction Naya had mentioned, “But the abandoned manor premises which once housed the enthralling and the very roots of cultural and intellectual preservation, the Bactrian courtesans.”

No wonder it seemed empty now. Which would once have been the assembly of art and entertainment, unmatched splendor, beauty and feminine charm which enthralled and bewitched the very culture of dance and singing and the hearts of many.

Courtesans played a very important part in shaping art, as the highest once were also sometimes termed as the mistresses of the cities where they lived. Having unmatched intellect and the talent of being the face of their traditional forms. 

“Master Asmaka had the manor shut down, along with the brothels of the city. He thought that it was low for men to seek pleasure houses as such. He seems to have some sort of deep-rooted hatred towards them. And as for the courtesans, he said that it was a highly disrespectful way of addressing an artist. They should be known by their names and the art which they performed. It seemed pretty sure that he had other reasons for doing this. Nonetheless, all the women and men from the manor shifted to other palaces and are still prominent. After all, the master loves art. That, and the thing that he doesn’t take in slaves”, Shadi hesitated at the last line, sensing the level of hypocrisy which might have hurt her.

As for the brothels, they had resurfaced again, and the Lord’s anger seemed to have subsided for he didn’t quite bother with them again. The ministers of his state didn’t come as clean as he had wished. They longed for women and boys in their beds, and they made their ends meet.

Naya couldn’t pay more heed to what she heard except for just one thought, the Lord must hate her very much to go against his own values just to propose his distaste. Her wandering gaze suddenly caught sight of a certain shine, captivating and attractive. Of course, the whole market was filled with jewels, but the charms and stones on that specific makeshift shop of a wooden cart seemed more tempting. Perhaps because she never actually had gone around town, looking at the assorted and one-of-a-kind goods sold by such costermongers. Naya went on to look at it with eager eyes, for the air around the dealer seemed inviting. Even so, it did not really have any customers.

Shadi had shown her the in-progress temporary pavilion which flaunted to be the most anticipated by the people, given how they appeared enchanted even before it being set up. Bhadra was the trader who owned the venture, and as it seemed she possessed great goodwill in the market. Most people were attracted to the bigger traders, perhaps forgetting that the small has its own delight. 

“Charms!” Shadi followed after her, as the two ran their fingers across the diverse pendants, some with adjoining chins and threads, while others being solitary in their existence. Different but fascinating. Some with heart wrenchingly deep tints, while others being lively light. 

“This is the tear of gloom”, the old lady said while picking up a finger length dark blue stone with numerous cuts folding into a drop shape, which looked as if the deepest parts of the oceans were encaged inside it. Next, the aged owner picked up a fierce amber crystal fading out into a light orange at the sides, “And this, the wrath of retaliation.” The stones couldn’t have been expensive, but the way they felt sure was riveting. 

Shadi decided to move ahead for there was something she had set her eyes upon. They had decided she would wait for Naya there, after finding Katana who seemed to have lost somewhere. 

“You seem to have named them all”, Naya smiled, still engulfed by the mesmerizing pieces of earth in different forms. There was more to the seller then what could be seen, and she knew it, but of course, there was no way she could ask about it, “Sad enough, I can’t buy anything I won’t be able to pay you in return.” 

The woman’s lips curved upwards, wrinkles making their presence more eminent, “Worry not, young lady, for you have something even more precious for which I would gladly trade these.”

Naya raised a brow, wondering whether what she meant were her platinum ear pieces or the gold studs, for that was all which hadn’t changed till now. Nothing else could be considered precious as such. Suddenly, the realization struck her. It wasn’t the ear adornments which had caught the woman’s interest, but the pendant which she wore beneath her robes. With an invariable expression, she moved a step back cautiously, “I think I’ll have to disagree over your idea. I have utterly no intention of doing so.” 

The trader looked at Naya intensely but spoke no more. At last, she sighed, “Very well, if that’s what you want. Not like I expected anything. Only, I would have certainly loved to know more about it.”

“There is nothing more to it than its existence, really”, the monotonous reply was believable enough. Self-explaining that the possession had moved no mountains for the girl till now, neither did she have any wondrous anecdotes of its procurement.

Naya spared a last glance to the small stall before bidding farewell. Surely, there were many secrecies which the woman might have held within herself, many things which she was curious about, but then again, what if the woman would have seen through hers? Every person is a story within themselves. A story which possesses the capability of bringing tremors if unleashed. Perhaps that’s why they are kept concealed. 

Sauntering forward under the artificial shade made out of vibrantly designed carpets, there were just two more shops ahead before the street split into a small lane in between of the ascending market. The commotion was surplus and quick to come and go. Shadi must be getting impatient if anything, that is, if and only if she had found the accessory of her taste. Naya decided to pick speed for she also had to search where exactly the other two were.

No sooner had she closed the four-step gap into the further continuation of the shops, a sudden jerk pulled her back into the alley while securely covering the mouth with one hand. The unexpectedness of the move prevented Naya from doing anything until they were inside the deserted path among the shadows of the roaring crowd. A single person with no seeming weapons as of now. Certainly not with a robbing conscience. 

Before she could reach for whosoever was holding her from behind, a familiar voice penetrated her ears, leaving her outright flabbergasted. 

“My Lady, please refrain from speaking aloud, for that would be troublesome”, Ziba vigilantly moved off her hand from her mistress, letting her turn to face her.

Naya’s features ran through an array of changing reactions in mere seconds as she failed to find the right words for letting out of her mouth. “How, ah”, her eyes brimmed with pieces of relief as she placed her hands on the either side of her treasured knight, “You are alive.”

“Certainly am”, Ziba couldn’t share the same feeling of contentment though, as a look of despair and ache refused to quiver from her stern expressions hidden beneath the dark scarf. She knew very well that if her mistress was still alive within the territory of the enemy, it could only mean torture and lifelong misery of dragging her family’s fate on her shoulders without receiving the rest of death. Her life never seemed to be moving ahead of pain. Even though she was pretty sure that Asmaka must have no intention of keeping her alive for much longer either. She silently searched for all the potential marks of torment, realizing how it mustn’t have been a new thing to her mistress. “I have less time and more distress if I stay here for any longer. Maintain calm, I will visit you in the palace itself. Very soon.”