Hussein signaled to his men to put down the palanquin. "I come here on urgent business, not pleasure." His ever-deepening smile lines smoothed out, and his deadly focused eyes indicated the importance of the situation.

"Of course, let's not delay any further." Suleiman motions for him to go inside. Hussein hesitated, whipped his head around, looking back to the palanquin; a loose cloth from his keffiyeh blew in a soft wind onto his face. It covered his wide grin as a small girl emerged from it. All eyes shifted to her.

She walks hastily towards the kings, her long black waves bouncing on her back, underneath a net veil that matched her long plain orange dress with colourful beads on its helm. Hussein holds out his hand for her, and she gracefully takes it, her small hand drowning in his large, bony one. "Salam uncle," she greets Suleiman, bowing her little head slightly. "Salam Aisha, Oh, how big you've become. "Last I saw you were quite short," they conversed, making their way to the doors. Suleiman occasionally scans his crowd looking for his missing son.

His eyes finally locked on him. "Ali, there you are. "Come out, don't hide like a girl. The crowd parted upon noticing him. Ali walked to his father with Hassan, who hurriedly made his way beside him. "Sorry Abb, I mean Malik, I was having problems with my wardrobe." Suleiman shoots him a cold glare. "Clearly!" He said it disgustedly, noticing his ruffled hair lacking a keffiyeh and an inside-out caftan. Hussein puts a hand on him to cool him down. "Go easy on him, he is but a child." Suleiman decided to deal with him later when the guests were gone. He softens his glares. "Salam Uncle, I hope you had a safe journey." Ali made a half bow, ignoring Suleiman. He lighted up cheerfully, smiling at Hussein.

"Salam Ali, yes it was pleasant, but I do worry about your wardrobe." Ali guiltily lowered his head, a little ashamed of his appearance. "Baba, you are embarrassing him." Aisha defended him, then turned to Ali. She let go of her father's hand and took Ali's. "Come, I shall escort you to go change. I help Baba with his keffiyeh every day. " "I am sure Baba and Uncle won't mind. She stares at them for approval, her small eyes shifting from each one.

"Of course not," they both replied in unison. Ali moves her hand away "I can change on my own, thank you." "Even so, I shall escort you; I have a lot to tell." Ali hated her blubbering. She was one year older than him, but her brain was younger than his. They all went inside, followed by the crowd of soldiers behind them. Once inside, the children parted from them as they walked towards a small library on the second floor.

"Friend, I fear I cannot stay for long." I have come to ask for a favor. " Suleiman invites him to sit down on a large cushioned bench."You know, you can ask anything. We are bound to be family anyway." He offers him water brought by a servant."The plague has returned. This time it has consumed all the northern regions, not only my territory. I had to let go half of my staff. " Sadness fills his features, but he hides it with the glass of water as he drinks from it. "Yes, it hasn't been kind to me either. Most of my borders are infected. " Sulieman agrees.

"With that, it is not safe for my Aisha." I beg that you take her only until the plague has cleared should she return. " "You have my word." I will ensure her safety. But where is Rayna? " Hussein shifts, wanting to stand. "She stayed behind to look after everything in my absence." I must leave now. Suleiman persuaded him "No, you must rest and have dinner with me." Then tomorrow you can leave. I have already made the preparations." Hussein gives in. "If you insist."

Dinner was grand. Every noble family was invited. Servants were busy rushing through the dining hall. A large meal was prepared, and the most famous singers and dancers performed. It was truly spectacular, but Mina could only catch a whiff of the strongest fragrances in the center of the castle, which was a long way from where she was supposed to be because no slaves, only servants, were allowed there.

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After the ordeal, she searched for Hassan throughout the palace but never found him. She eagerly waited to confront him at noon the next day. In the morning, the guests went away, leaving the girl behind. She cried a lot when her father left. Suleiman had her locked up in her room until she was calm again.

The girl turned the palace upside down. She was quite a handful. Her pranks spared none. However, like her father, she was very kind, even to her slaves. Mina was assigned to make and deliver her oils and fragrances. This made a perfect excuse to go to the garden for ingredients. Every evening she would arrive at the spot, but no matter how early she was, she would always find a letter waiting for her and not the small boy.

At first, it was hope that made her show up, then it became custom for her to pass by the rose bushes. The letters had two messages: an apology for not showing up and a plea for more time; after the fifth one, she never got another. She thought of telling the king about the secret passage, but whenever she read the letters, she was reminded of her pendant. He was her only chance to get it back. Mina kept each one of them as evidence to defend herself in court. proof of the deal that was made.

Life at the castle was changed overnight, all thanks to the little girl. She would run around breaking and spilling things while playing in the kitchen. She made the bitter chef chase her by deliberately sabotaging his soups. At times, she let the animals in the royal stables loose just to chase after them. When Suleiman heard of her mischief, he would prescribe a punishment, which would always end up in a disaster.

One time, he made her sleep in the royal stables with the goats after she was caught bringing a young goat into the castle. The stench of its waste took weeks of cleaning to get rid of. She claimed to want to care for the sick creature, but Suleiman condemned her to the stables for the night. But that was not all. At night, she let loose all the dogs, claiming that they were too noisy for her. They scattered throughout the castle grounds, making a mess of the place. The next day, a search party had to be dispatched to round them up. Because her

time was short in Mahdiya, the guests kept their word by returning early for her. They came bearing the worst news: the death of the great northern king. Unfortunately, he was taken down by the plague months after he left Mahdiya. Aisha cried a lot. She never ate nor played anymore. Mina saw the sorrow in her pain that she did not understand.

She was not beaten nor bruised, yet she was in grave pain. This made her confused, even though Munir did not know how to explain it. Everyone tried to comfort her before she left, even the chef, who made her favourite date biscuits for her journey. The journey back to her kingdom was longer than she remembered. All of Mahdiya helped its neighbors in mourning. A seven-day holiday was declared to honour their great friend. It was a hard time for all the kingdoms of the east.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Northern Territory, Khalid receives the devastating news. Daysham was a place that really treasured its king. Hussein's father, during his youth, built a small village near the farthest border of his kingdom. He made sure it was off the grid; no map could locate it; it was only known to the few; he created heaven for freed slaves, widows, orphans, and war victims. The neglect

made it more like hell, as with time it was forgotten, the alms they used to receive ceased. Hence, the people resorted to other means of livelihood; every criminal, evil mastermind was harbored there. Most people were recruited into different gangs of robbers, smugglers, and raiders. Though they defied some laws of the kingdom, they really valued them when it was befitting. The northern region was so civilized that it had a culture like none other.

Khalid stayed with Zainab, an elderly kind woman. The people were very strange to Khalid. They really cared for each other to the extent of giving up their homes to act as infirmaries. All of their stored goods were given to the community. Zainab offered him a room in her house to stay in, but it was mostly abandoned as he was always at work. With the disease spreading, funerals were forbidden. Instead, each village in the kingdom held a small commemoration ceremony. They would burn their dead in private.

Things were different for the king since no ceremonies could be held. The king was burned like any other commoner. All his rights were granted with the traditional six beats of the drums; his personal royal flag was lit on fire and replaced by a plain white one; his ashes were scattered in the desert winds. Following the funeral, the queen ascended to the throne, ruling as regent for her ten-year-old daughter Aisha, who was rarely present.