But that was what being one of the destined ones meant, having dreams and seeing things and mostly just being confused. All Tahir really wanted was to save his country from the plague. He leaned back in his bunk and tried to imagine it the way he'd known it since childhood. Not the sights, he'd never really seen Arabia, but the smells and the sounds and the way it felt. In the marketplace, everyone shouting out for their fruits and fish and bright colored cloth. And the way it always smelled like spices and the sun was always there to bring warmth. The people, they were good people, and they did not deserve this death that had swept through the land and stayed for generations.
The Death Plague, as it was called, caused painful black sores on one's skin, then one became weak and just slowly started to die. The doctors could not explain it, and no one had yet found a cure for it. It was what had caused Tahir's blindness, his mother had been infected before he was even born. She died soon after his birth. His father, too, had died from the plague. It was why the 40 Thieves had to succeed in their mission; it was the only way to save Arabia.
Of course, the girl wasn't helping. Tahir could not understand why he saw her, but he did, and had for many years. Lately, it seemed she was always in his mind, and it was quite distracting. That was why he had set out to find her, to try to understand. To understand why he loved her. It seemed that she was some princess from the west. He had regretted kissing her nearly the moment he had done it. She didn't know him; it wasn't his right. He only hoped that he hadn't effected her the way it felt like he might have. He wanted her to have a good life, even if she could never know him. And being one of the destined...well, it didn't always seem like a good thing.
Xavia gazed at her sketch of the blind man, willing herself to understand him. She had drawn him quite accurately really. Dripping black hair, wild, yet blind eyes. She only wished she knew who he was. If she saw him again...first she'd slap him, then she'd be nicer and ask who he was. Men simply were not allowed to come up and kiss her with no explanation, but she felt like he had some...deeper purpose. Deeper purpose in kissing her, it sounded insane. And it probably was. She'd most likely read a few too many ancient legends lately.
Xavia sighed and stood up from the stone table and chair. She would find something else to do with her day, something besides staring intently at her own drawings, something even different than poring over her maps. Perhaps she would go run through the obstacle course that had never been moved. Yes, that was what she would do. She was forever glad that they had never taken it away, it had been so fun after Ben and Drew and Travis had showed her the exact right way to get through it. She would usually run through it the correct way, then explore all the other turns and traps of it. She stood up to go.
"Xavia!"
She spun around and gaped upon seeing who was there. It was Afzal, he was standing by the nearest tree to her table! He was wearing a bright orange turban wrapped around his head that went well with his yellow robe. The old man always wore such bright colors.
"Afzal, what in the world are you doing here?!" she exclaimed, as she ran to him. She threw her arms around him, then stepped back grinning widely.
Afzal laughed. "Well, I told you I would come back someday, didn't I? And so I have! Or didn't you believe me?"
"Well, I did wonder when you would come," Xavia admitted sheepishly.
Afzal laughed again, deep and full. "Well, look at you!" he said. "You've certainly grown while I was away. I left you a child, and now you're a beautiful young lady!"
"She certainly is lovely."
Xavia then noticed that King Edward was standing back a ways. She nodded to him, "Hello, Father."
"Hello, Xavia. Afzal here has come to visit us again."
"Yes, I have," Afzal agreed. "But not to find a curse this time," he said with a grin.
The king looked slightly embarrassed at this, and Xavia just laughed.
Afzal smiled and walked closer to the stone table Xavia had been sitting at. "What's this?" he asked, examining her sketch of the blind man.
Xavia rushed over and quickly flipped it over. "It's nothing, just a silly drawing."
Afzal raised an eyebrow at her and picked up the sketch, to further scrutinize it. He never was one for secrets, it seemed. "Hmm," he murmured after a moment, setting the picture back on the table. "A very good sketch, Xavia, you have talent," he said, though Xavia thought that he looked at her a bit oddly after that.
"Thank you," Xavia replied promptly.
"Well, what are we all standing around here for?" Afzal exclaimed. "Let us go and talk!"
"Of course," the king said. "Follow me."
They walked out of the courtyard and out of Xavia's wing to the main part of the palace. King Edward led them to the drawing room.
"Here, sit down, please. I'll go inquire about refreshments to the servants, then I'll join you."
Afzal nodded, and him and Xavia both moved into the room. Xavia sat on the settee, and Afzal on one of the huge, cushioned chairs.
Xavia looked about the dark blue room. She didn't come in here often, and she didn't really like it. It seemed so enclosed, hardly letting in any light. Compared to sitting in her courtyard, or running about in the forests, it seemed very gloomy indeed.
"Did you truly come just to visit us?" Xavia asked, after a moment.
Afzal looked at her. "Didn't I say that we would both travel to my country, Xavia?"
Xavia smiled slightly. "Yes, but do you think Father will allow it? He's very strict, and he doesn't even like it when I go to town. I—"
King Edward entered the room, and Xavia broke off. The king did not seem to notice that she had been saying anything.
"Afzal, my old friend, how have you been?" he asked.
Afzal smiled. "I've been quite well, I assure you."
"When I heard of how bad the plague had gotten, I—"
"Plague?" Xavia cut in. "What plague?"
"There has been a plague in my country for many generations, Xavia. It takes over the body, weakens it so one can hardly move, and then...it kills you. In the past few years it has gotten much worse. Nearly half the country has been taken by it, maybe more. None of our doctors can find a cure for it."
"So there's nothing that can be done?" Xavia questioned.
"He just said—" the king started.
"There's nothing the doctors can do," Afzal said, but there was a gleam in his eyes that Xavia could understand. There was nothing the doctors could do, but there was something that could be done about it. There had to be.
Xavia nodded, with a slight smile. She was starting to feel excited. They were going to find the cure for the plague, she was sure of it! That's why he wanted to take her to Arabia! However, the chances of the king allowing it were...slim to say the most.
"It's really a shame," King Edward was saying. "Is much of your city state sick?"
Xavia looked at Afzal, suddenly remembering that he was one of the rajahs that ruled under the sultan. They each had their own city states that they were in charge of. It was a very high ranking in Arabian society.
"Very much, I'm afraid," Afzal replied. "But let us get off of this dark subject." He glanced at Xavia, and seemed to judge that this was as good a time as any to get permission from the king. "When I return to Arabia," he began, "I would like to take Xavia with me."
"What?!" the king barked with a frown.
"Only for a visit," Afzal said.
"It is much too dangerous, Afzal! You said yourself that half your country was infected with the plague, I will not allow my daughter to be subject to it!"
Afzal listened calmly to the king's protests. "My friend, your daughter was made for adventure. She can never have an adventure if she simply sits here your palace, like she's frozen in an icebox! She needs to travel, needs to see the world. It might not be safe, but it's good."
King Edward frowned. "I fail to see how a plague could be considered good. Besides, she doesn't need an adventure. She had enough of adventure in that foolish business with the curse."
"Father, I was a child then, I barely even remember it! You let Heidi sail around the world with Drew, why won't you let me go visit another country with a friend?"
"Heidi got married. She had someone to protect her, someone to defend her should it need be. But you, you're hardly more than a child yourself!"
"I'm seventeen, Father!"
"You have epilepsia. You never know what might happen," King Edward said firmly.
"But, Father, Dr. Andrew said I've probably grown out of it! I haven't fainted for years, and even when I was younger it was a rare occurrence!" Xavia argued.
"But it could return at any time," the king said stubbornly.
"Sir, I promise that I will take care of her," Afzal broke in.
"Well, I know that you would try, but...things happen."
"And do you think that if she does not go, she will be better off here? With her curiosity in its fullest, will she get in less trouble? Or will she even stay here with you?" Afzal remarked.
The king looked at him, seemingly moved more by this than anything else.
"I'm sure you've heard of girls that run away for adventure," Afzal said. "They usually have far more trouble than they would just traveling."
King Edward looked from him to Xavia, who met his eyes with her head held up in confidence, rebellion most likely. The king sighed. Afzal was right. She was wild, that girl, always had been. Making her stay would probably only bring more trouble. And besides, it was what she wanted. Try as he might, it seemed that he could never deny her anything that her heart was trly breaking to have. She was his daughter, after all. "You may go," the king said in a defeated tone.
"Thank you, Father!" Xavia happily exclaimed. She even got off of the settee and hugged him for it.
"Yes, well, I'll have you know that I'm not happy about it," the king said fussily, though he smiled. Perhaps letting her go would be worth it, just for her good favor.
Well, here is the second chapter! I hope you enjoyed! And a note about Arabia...it's not going to be 100 percent accurate, because its a made up version of Arabia. Arabia in a time that never existed in our world, so to speak. And about the names...they're Arabian. Pronounce them however you want :) I'm probably pronouncing Tahir something like Tah-HEER and Afzal like AF-zahl, but if you like it better another way, go for it! And remember to review! Oh, and in response to Verdant Wings, its not exactly based off of anything, though it will use elements from some Arabian tales and maybe some other fairytales.