Desert Camping

Aara watches Two as he pokes at the fire. Another responsibility. Why is he here? He should have known I wouldn't be able to refuse him. The comfort of a  fellow cadet, someone who looks and sounds like home. A home I don't really belong to anymore. How could I refuse someone willing to witness my life, whatever happens or wherever I go?

Someone willing to witness my death?

"Four, get off your ass."

Goddard shrugs. "At least I was nice enough to back off when someone expressed total and complete disinterest in me. I'm at least leagues smarter than he is."

New Friends

Aara chuckles. "It hurts," she admits, laying a hand across her midsection. "Catching statues wasn't exactly in my training."

The physician nods as he probes her bruised abdomen, moving her hand out of the way and raising her shirt higher. "You did a brave thing. You could have been seriously hurt."

She grimaces as he pokes her. "So could the Khalif. He is far more important."

The physician nods. "And you will live. There will be soreness, and much bruising. I suggest no sparring or strenuous activities for a few days. Relax. Allow the Khalif to treat you as a lady of leisure."

Aara groans. "No, please don't tell him that. I'll go mad if I have to lie around doing nothing."

The older man laughs and hands her a pot of ointment. "This will ease some of the discomfort."

She nods and watches him go, leaving her door open. Gingerly she pokes her stomach, testing the swelling herself. "It's not so bad," she mutters as she gets up. Catching herself in the mirror, she holds her shirt up. Her torso is bruised from ribs to hips, her back scraped and bruised, but nothing broken. "Mm, maybe it's a little bad."

Benham Alcazar in Araby

It's late when Aara slips out of her rooms and makes her way to the roof of Koroush's palace. Stepping out of her sandals, she unwinds her scarf and unpins her veil, leaving them in a pile before walking across the marble. I'm glad this is the same, she thinks, gazing at the rich surroundings and holding a blanket around her shoulders. Potted fruit trees, flowering arches, braziers, benches and softer seating are spread across the roof, arranged in intimate little spaces so that guests can gaze upon the city in comfort. As a girl, this had been her favorite place; for one so short, it had given her deep pleasure to stand on the thick, waist-high wall surrounding the area and look down upon the entire city. Now, it only served as a reminder of the suffering of her people by some unknown force.

Altdorf...And the Truth

Once she spots the walls surrounding Altdorf, Aara reigns in her horse. I can't do this. I can't go into his city and tell him about his father. Swallowing hard, she calls out to Goddard, trying to smile when he turns to look at her.

"Nuur'eni, let's celebrate," she suggests. "Let's go to the bath house and indulge ourselves a while. A bath, the steamroom, a massage. We deserve it, don't you think?"

After the Stone

Aara doesn't speak as they ready the horses to go. Instead, she pulls her white gloves from her saddlebag and wipe the blood off her hands and swords before turning them inside out and tucking them away. He didn’t even put up a fight, she thinks, biting her lip hard. He made a deal with a god to save his son and did everything he could to help us to this end. Otto, I hope it is what you truly wanted. I hope my own Ustadh made me into a worthy assassin for such a teacher and friend.

Pressing her forehead against Kasida's saddle, she considers her promise to Otto. If there was one thing a Mashi Al’Maut understood, it was her responsibility to her dead. I can't tell Goddard, not ever. And I can’t put Otto's name on me, she thinks, panicking slightly. Goddard would know somehow, even if it were in Arabyan. I’ll have to put The Guardian of the Stone, and keep it at that.

Camping in the Dwarven Ruins

As they party sets up camp, Aara unsaddles her horse and feeds her, making sure Kasida is settled before removing a small black pouch from her backpack. She takes her time tying her hair out of the way and rolling up her sleeves, eyeing the small creature tied to her saddle horn. "You and I are going to spend some time together," she says, dragging him behind her down a random hallway.