Desert Shadows, Chapter Three

  “Look at all of them,” Hasibah broke away from Thorin as they entered the courtyard. Her eyes were wide with astonishment as she slowly spun in a circle, trying to take it all in. Every inch of the courtyard walls was covered in trailing vines that hung heavy with flowers. She grinned over her shoulder at the older man and held her hands out in utter delight, “It’s magical! Not even the Djinn have anything like this!” “Because they don’t listen to the lands, Hasibah,” Thorin dropped onto a bench with a sigh and watched her explore the tiny courtyard. Thorin stretched out his legs, “The desert has hidden beauty but you can’t force it. You have to encourage it.” Hasibah chuckled but it was not a sound of amusement, “And the Djinn are masters at forcing things to bend to their will.” Thorin tilted his head, his gaze sharpening as Hasibah turned away to dip her hands into the tiny fountain at the center of the courtyard, “Bend yes, but some do not break,” he leaned over and broke off a two thin, greenish-grey stems from the plant beside him and offered one to her, “Hollath. Children here chew it as a treat,” he chewed his own stem for a moment, looking away in thought. “The djinn took me from my parents because they needed strong children to work in the mines. They weren’t bad masters when we were young. There were treats and breaks and plenty to eat,’ he shook his head, “Never had I seen so much food. As we grew older, that changed. Breaks were gone and the food dwindled til only the strongest of us managed to mine without beatings.” “The djinn love children,” Hasibah spoke around the twig as she sat beside him. She had seen the children in the mines. Her father had shown them to her as examples of the kindness that the djinn showed the primitive people they cared for. He never showed her the adults for they were dangerous, like wild animals. “Yes, but their love is a terrible love for they treat the adults as animals in cages,” Thorin glanced at the young woman beside him and studied her for a moment. She seemed to look beyond the walls of the courtyard in thought. “You haven’t spoken of your place with them. Were you one of their Companions?” She stiffened and shrugged, “There’s little to tell,” she took her time turning to face him. She had lain awake at night trying to come up with a story and now was the time that she had to test it. Hasibah settled in next to Thorin. She liked him. He was kind and funny. Please, let this work. “I was a Companion to the High Djinn’s daughter. We grew up together. I had the same lessons that she did, ate the same foods, dressed the same way. I was her shadow.” Thorin turned her to face him, “The High Djinn? Really,” at her nod, he shook a little, “Do you know anything about them that could help us?” Hasibah shrank back against his hands, “I don’t know anything, I was just around his daughter and he never was. He rarely saw her except at public rites.” There was real fear in her eyes and Thorin dropped his hands quickly. The girl’s cheeks were waxen and her breathing was loud and harsh in the still courtyard. He cleared his throat, “I’m sorry. We’re fighting so hard that any information could save lives.” He stood and offered her his hand. Hasibah managed a smile, “Could I stay here for a bit longer? It’s so peaceful.” Thorin nodded and left the courtyard, pausing only to glance back at the woman seated on the stone bench. She was staring at the fountain, her expression unreadable. The fact that she had been the Companion to the High Djinn’s daughter was interesting. He would have to report that to Nazim immediately. Companions were their Djinn counterparts in many ways. She would have stood between the Djinn girl and attackers, stood in for her at public rites, been the girl in so many ways. He would have to tread carefully so as not to scare the girl, but she would have to be questioned at some point. Some point very soon. Hasibah sighed and leaned forward, dropping her face into her hands. The story had worked but at what price? She knew she could not pull off posing as a slave or servant. But now they would be interested in her for her knowledge. Why did she mention her father? She pushed off the bench and shook herself, taking a moment to square her shoulders and push back her hair. Her hand froze as she realized that she was reaching to adjust the veil that she no longer wore. The veil that she would never wear again.  She had two weeks to make her choice. Stay here and live a lie, always wondering if she would be caught, or return to the desert and certain death. Hasibah bent down and inhaled the heady fragrance of the tiny purple flowers that had always been her favorites. “Kimtles bloom here only because Thorin is a wizard with plants.” Hasibah spun to face Nazim. He had been so quiet! He smiled slightly, aware and amused that he had surprised her. She lifted her chin at his smile, “They are lovely. I always favored them but they are so rare.” Nazim studied her as he leaned against a pillar, “Thorin caught me in the corridor. You have had an interesting life.”  Copyright 2013
Erika Napier
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