Realistic Fantasy

Ch 29

Fahd yawned as he was finally inside his chambers. He walked over to the table on the far side of the room and put down the talisman and the book. He then walked over to his bed and laid down. He felt his eyes closing as he settled in for the night. He was more than proud of himself for what he pulled off. All of his scheming paid off in his advantage. Now he had been rewarded by the sultan as he knew he would be his adviser from here on in.

Malika on the other hand was more than furious. She was already back in the main concubine chamber. She hoped that the ceremony would take the girl's life, but Fahd made sure that it didn't. She also knew her sultan was favoring the girl over her. She had to put an end to it once and for all. What the perfect opportunity to do it. The girl was weak from the ceremony and no one was around to stop her from carrying out her plan. The sultan promised her that she would be his sultana, not this stranger. That alone fueled her anger. Now, all she had to do was figure out how to end the girl's life one way or another.

Shaheen watched them go along with Taleb. He frowned deeply, "I guess we'll find out. Come along, we have the Enx to retrieve."

Taleb frowned deeply, "But won't it be heavily guarded?"

The immortal shook his head, "No, not at night. Only during the day. They wouldn't expect anyone to try for it now. Especially during the race. It's the perfect time."

"Then that means we'll have to..." Taleb started to say as he realized the importance of what's going on.

"Yes, time is of the essence. I know I said that what we're about to do is the last resort." Shaheen replied.

"Alright, I'm ready when you are." Taleb said, and then both of them spoke an incantation. Taleb's eyes phased black as his hands glowed and a magical compass appeared before him.

Shaheen on the other hand morphed into a white falcon and perched upon Taleb's shoulder as he was now hovering from the ground. Taleb got a fix on the Enx and off they went.

The connection between the compass and the Enx was getting stronger the closer they came. "It's just over this last rise."

The falcon screeched in reply and then took flight as Taleb waited at the peak of the dune. He watched Shaheen fly high into the sky and then dove to where the Enx was buried. He then floated over to where it was hidden. He hovered the compass over to his left hand and was digging sand out of the way with his right. He reached in and fished it out. Taleb held it up to the moon, "Well, we found it, now all we have to do is figure out how it works."

Shaheen screeched back, and just as Taleb and Shaheen were about to leave they had a major obstacle in their way. Taleb narrowed his eyes. "Wonderful, and just when things can't go bad enough. This will delay us even more." He put the Enx in his pouch and got ready to defend himself.

"Hey, do you think these disguises will actually work?" Kento asked as they continued to ride to the city.

"We don't have much choice in the matter Kento. This would have to do in the short amount of time we have." Sage replied as he glanced over at him.

Ryo looked over at Cye, "How are you holding up?"

"I'm doing better. With Sage healing me, I don't feel extreme pain any more. Just a little sore, but nothing I can't handle. I'm more concerned about Rowen and my sister." Cye replied as he glanced up at the moon.

"From what Shaheen told us once they have the Enx they would be able to trap Dammar and return him to the lamp while turning Rowen back to his human form." Sage stated.

"More in likely they won't be back in time. So I'm thinking once we get back into the city we hide where we encountered Taleb and then go from there." Ryo suggested.

Kento frowned deeply, "But they don't know where to find us will they?"

"We'll figure that out later. Right now we have to get into the city without being seen." Sage replied as he motioned to the entrance of the city straight ahead.

"There are plenty of tents set up along the front of the entrance which look like they lead all the way inside. We could just sneak in through them." Ryo pointed out as they dismounted.

The four Ronins took refuge behind a couple of dunes as their horses took off. They kept their eyes peeled for their chance to sneak inside. "Hey, I see our chance." Kento said as he was about to go for it.

"Kento, hold on. Fahd's men." Cye pointed out as they came around the corner.

The orange Ronin grumbled a little as he settled back into place.

Ryo frowned a little, "You wouldn't think there would be so many guards out considering the race is going on."

"I suppose they have their reasons, but for now we can't be concentrating on them. We need to keep alert and watch for another opening." Sage replied.

More time passed, and then just as the waiting was getting too much their opening was provided. "Hey! Look!" Cye exclaimed as he motioned to them leaving.

The four Ronins glanced at each other and then quickly got to their feet and were making their way inside by the cover provided by the neighboring tents. "Finally, man, I thought we'd have to wait forever to make it." Kento grumbled a little.

"Just be grateful that we did. I just hope that they don't see our tracks out there." Cye said.

Sage glanced out from where they were and blinked. "I don't think you have to worry about it Cye, because there isn't any."

Cye frowned as he looked at him. "What are you talking about?"

"He's right, our tracks are gone. It's like they were swept away. But hey, I'm not going to argue. We might finally be getting some good luck for a change." Ryo replied.

"Or possibly mystical luck. Do you think Rowen knows we're out here?" Kento asked as they were making their way further into the city.

Sage gave a nod, "I suppose it could be possible. Let's just get there and we can sort it all out later."

The four of them continued to sneak their way around the city and then finally found the place where they met Taleb for the first time and settled for the night.

Kento sighed as he stared up at the moon. 'Kaye, Rowen, hang in there we're coming for you both.'

Malika sent a couple of the concubine to Fahd's room and another set to the sultan's. She and a few more went with her. She knew which place Fahd ordered to imprison Kaye. She lead them up the stairs while avoiding the guards. Once they arrived she sent two of them to distract the other two who were guarding Kaye's door. Once she saw they were gone, she snuck to the door and picked the lock and entered. Once inside she closed the door and walked quietly walked over to where Kaye was sleeping. Her eyes narrowed angrily. "You're not going to be my sultan's sultana that is my right. Not someone who is suppose to be the Moubarak."

Just as Malika was about to move closer she heard Kaye softly say Kento's name. She stopped in mid action and frowned a bit. Who was this Kento she spoke of? It didn't matter, the girl was in her way of becoming the next sultana and she wasn't going to let anyone get in her way. So, she got closer and got her into a deeper sleep and then adjusted her so Kaye would be easier to carry her from the room to a different location.

The girls that distracted the two guards came back and were helping Malika with Kaye as they carried her down the stairs and into a secret room. They laid her down on the ground and then left her there.