13: The Surprise Ambush

Rooh Farah.

After Faris has left, I entered the tent that was meant for me. Inside was a burning lamp, a bedding made of luxurious silk sheets and a blanket, few throw pillows all with royal emblem embedded. By now I'm sure Namir is a prince because someone else could never. 

I ate a lot from the meat, dates, raisins, buns, and fruits served to me by Faris. I was famished for years and I finally got to have a taste of the food of heaven on earth. I'm now even wondering if Faris meant it when he apologise that the food served is imperfect since this is an emergency trip. I was eating like someone will snatch the food away from me, like this is a dream I'll wake up from and the food will not be in front of me again, like this is my last meal. 

Until i heard his voice,

His very hoarse and majestic voice,

I could catch a glimpse of him from the creek of my tent. Reciting a poem in an enchanting manner and sharpening his sword at the same time. 

يظنونني ملكاً وأنا الملك

حاجتي للكلمةْ

حاجةُ السَّابقِ للحَجَرِ والنّارِ

حاجتُه للبَلْطةِ والرُّمحِ والدرعِ

للأُنسِ بالنايِّ..

أثريتُكِ

أثريتُ ظنَّ الحياةِ بأيّامِها والذئب بلياليه

أثريتُ جوعَ الفرادةِ

بقيتُ فأبقيتُ كَسْبَ السبيَّة حيّاً

..

ما أكلتهُ الحروبُ بقاياكَ

ما ألهمَ المُهمَلَ

واحدٌ من رعايا فتنتكِ المُفترِسَة!

فطنتني

_I need the Word_

_like my ancestor’s need for stone and fire_

_like his need for an axe, for a spear, for a shield_

_like his need for the solace of a flute..._

_I enriched you_

_like life is enriched by day_

_like a wolf is enriched by a night with no moon_

_I enriched the longing for transcendence_

_I stayed neither to preach nor to barter with the skins of animals_

_I stayed to bear witness to the dignity of women enslaved_

..

_Wars consumed your remains_

_Their traces captivated your disciples_

_in thrall to your fierce charm_

_You taught me_

_You delivered me from ignorance_

_They think I am a king:_

_Yes, I am the King_

They cheered impressed after he finished, it was impressive for me too even though I don't understand a single word from what he said. But it's reassuring and calming.

I slowed down on eating as he read a poem after another, until I'm full and they started taking turns with his soldiers. Faris was also impressive i can't deny, i never knew he can speak Arabic this fluently. 

What if i could also read and write? Maybe i wouldn't be as miserable as i am, maybe i wouldn't have been molested, maybe my mother would've still been alive, maybe... Just maybe... I would've been a ray sunshine to my people instead of doom on the darkest night.

With so many thoughts, my eyes got heavier so i lay down on the ground instead of the luxurious bedding prepared, it will never be for me because i knew i don't deserve it.

...

Once again i saw the boy who ruined my past , present and future. He came nearer with evil smile that traumatize me once again. I want to scream but couldn't find my voice, i turned to run but a huge wall was placed behind me, and when i turned again the boy just keep getting closer and closer. 

Save me Master Namir! Please help me, you promised to protect me.

Licking his lips like a hungry dog, He then grab my wrapper and split it into two pieces. I didn't know when sudden courage instill into me and ...

i raise my hand to lay a sound slap on his cheek.

But the scene blurs into more darkness, and i swear the figure in front of me looks like the _Prince_

"Master Namir??!" 

He didn't say anything but i could feel him shaking out of anger.

Did I.... Did i just.... Oh my Allah!!

I screamed with all my might getting up when he drag me down with so much force that i hit my bum hard on the ground.

I quickly got on my knees rubbing my palms together begging, not even realising that the wrapper covering my lower body isn't there anymore, it's dark anyway.

"Please forgive me Master, it was a mi...."

أمير الفرسان!!

prince of knights!! 

Faris yelled from outside and light immediately brightens the surroundings.

That's it!

I'm done for!

They're going to kill me for what i did.

I'm going to die naked!!.

One of them barged in without notice, and before he could see me Namir grabbed me waist and pulled me to his body, covering my cleavage with his giant figure and i could feel his arm on my bare skin like a fire on ice.

"Are you okay prince of knights?" He asked wielding his sword, ready to finish the enemy that attacked us, they thought that is the reason why i screamed.

"For what reason are you disturbing my privacy?" He sounds furious and I'm sure it's because of me. 

"Forgive me, There was an ambush!" 

"What?!"

" Four assassins, but commander of knights has managed to capture them "

"I'll be there", he says and the man left.

Now his hand remains on my bum and my breath hitting his chest. He removed the blanket on my bedding and wrapped it around me. 

"I'll deal with you later" he whispers and head outside. That's when i made a mistake of following him outside wanting to apologise again and there the four assassin we're tied to a single piece of a giant piece of wood behind their necks.

"We are just petty thieves please let us go"

He laughed for the first time but instead of sounding nice, it's dreadful.

"Petty thieves managing to get past the warriors that fight thousands head on? Tell me did the queen sent you? She don't want me back into her palace right?"

Now that their cover is blown, the first one tried to chew the poison pill assassins always keep under their tongue for situations like this. It's better to die than to expose their mastermind.

Namir grip his jaw hard, making him unable to move his mouth.

"No need to expose the one who sent you, I'm already sure of my suspect. Just wait a little bit we'll finish you ourselves since we don't kill dead corpse.

"Let's send the queen a massage back as my token of appreciation, Faris finish them!"  Namir ordered.

Faris raises his sword when his eyes landed on me he put it down.

"Rooh go back inside"  he said coldly.

I couldn't get myself to move my feet, when they're threatening to actually kill people.

Namir look at my direction and narrowed his eyes. 

"Faris i said finish them!"

"Rooh go back inside i said!"

To me this is the first time that Faris sounded furious and to Prince Namir; This is the first time that Faris disobeyed his orders so he angrily unsheat his sword and separate the first assassin's head from his body.

I froze.

Then screamed...

And then, i didn't even recover from the first shock when he removed the second assassin's head and his blood splashed on my face. 

This time i couldn't even scream... I just stare in horror and Prince Namir raised the now crimson sword and slashed the third one's neck and his head tumbled on the ground.

I went deaf for a moment, the only thing audible to me is the crazy sound about to burst my brain. 

With his sword hanging against the last one he look at me and smiled sincerely for the first time ever, he's actually enjoying it. 

I placed my hands on my ears and began shaking my head vigorously, tears flushing out of my eyes as blood flush from my heart but that only encourages Namir to slaughter the last one like a ram, succeeding in getting blood all over him, his face is now covered in red colour and he breathed through the blood in satisfaction.

I gasped and dropped to my knees my eyes still on the monster in front of me.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Do you also think Namir is a monster?"

Mrs Imran 💖