Amira stood still for a moment and Malakeh nodded silently. Amira rushed forward to hug her mother and the dark haired woman snapped her fingers. Two hooded figures rushed forward and pulled Amira back, keeping her from coming any closer to her mother. Malakeh's eyes filled with fear and then anger. She looked up at the dark haired woman.
"How many more torments can you put me through Dameer?" her voice was sharp and hard. Dameer just smiled her sly smile and stroked her wolf's head.
"There is much more pain I could put you through." Dameer replied. "However, than you would become useless to me, and I do love watching you dance." Dameer laughed quietly to herself, a cackle that even when quiet filled a soul with fear and dread.
Dameer looked at the hooded men who were gripping Amira's arms. She nodded curtly and they let go, allowing Amira to rush to her mother's side.
"Malakeh, you can assist your daughter in preparation, these men will lead you out." Rough hands once more grabbed Amira's arms and forced her to stand. Two other men treated Malakeh likewise. The wall once more opened up to reveal a torchlight passageway, which Amira and Malakeh were roughly guided through.
Dameer smiled as the wall once more reappeared covering the entrance. She turned her attention to the water basin and waved a purple clawed hand over it, muttering a few indistinct words. Sayad, the wolf growled quietly, a low rumbling in his throat and with her other hand Dameer reached out to stroke him absentmindedly.
The water darkened and then cleared, showing a distinct image. Dameer watched for a few moments before smiling to herself.
"Only one more girl needed…" she murmured.
Fassed hurried out of the palace under the cloak of night. A dark cloak disguised his face as he made his way through the gardens and stopped besides a large sculpted hedge. This particular hedge was sculpted in the shape of a great willow tree. The moon was only half full, and most of the garden was shrouded by deep shadows.
Fassed reached in his cloak and pulled out a long chain, on the end of which hung a heavy silver pendant. The ruby eyes glittered in the faint moonlight and Fassed placed the chain over his head. The pendant rested heavily on his neck as he pressed his hands against the hedge.
He watched silently as a narrow staircase into the ground opened before him. He hurried down the stairs and waited for the ground above him to close again before lighting a torch. He hurried down the passageway, his boots making a dull thudding sound on the packed dirt floor. Soon he came to a large ornate door, outside of which a cloak figure was waiting for him.
"Fassed." the voice was female, and the cloak hood fell back revealing calculating blue eyes.
"Dameer." Fassed whispered. He leaned forward and kissed Dameer's offered hand, not withdrawing his eyes from her gaze. She smiled like a satisfied cat who had just consumed a mouse. The ornate door opened and Dameer led Fassed into a familiar room.
A large mahogany bed sat against one of the walls besides a large bookcase. In the center of the room, engraved on the marble floor was a silver circle. On the other side of the room, across from the bed was a pile of black and silver cushions, upon which Dameer and Fassed took their seats. Fassed looked over at Dameer slyly.
'So you caught her?" he asked. Dameer just smiled and Fassed knew the answer. He leaned forward and caressed Dameer's pale neck with one hand, his other stroking down Dameer's spine. She shuddered slightly in pleasure before pulling away slightly.
"Later…" she hissed. Fassed drew back a slight smile playing across his lips. Yet deep within himself he felt uncomfortable, a wriggling feeling that he could not understand. A frown flashed across his face as he tried to suppress the feeling.
Dameer looked over at a guard and nodded her readiness. The guard stepped aside and music began to play. Beating drums, and a jangle of bells echoed throughout the room as eleven young woman ran out into the room and took their places around the circle on the floor.
The music quieted for a second and Dameer smiled as Amira and Malakeh took their place in the center of the circle. The music began once more and the girls began to dance as Dameer watched, a furtive smile playing its way across her face.
Quickly Damis and Xerxes repacked the blankets and provisions onto Xerxes's horse. Sahar was removing the signs of their stay, watching as they tried to load everything onto Xerxes's poor horse. Laheeb was floating about in the air lazily, showing no signs of helping.
She looked at Laheeb for a few moments before she had an idea. She berated herself for not thinking of it before. It was clear that Laheeb would not be able to find where she knew they needed to go. Besides, Sahar knew how to get there. However, there was something Laheeb could hopefully do.
"Laheeb!" Sahar barked. Laheeb faltered and almost fell to the ground before catching himself just in time.
"Yes, Sahar?" he asked, scrambling to regain his balance.
"Could you conjure up a few horses? Without messing up?" she asked quickly, her voice showing her annoyance at Laheeb's obvious inabilities.
"You only have to wish for them." Laheeb answered. Horses were after all easier to find than princesses, and he knew exactly what a horse was supposed to look like.
Sahar sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. I wish for two horses and a pack camel."
Laheeb grinned. "Your wish is my command my lady." A bright flash blinded Sahar for a moment, and when she looked there were two horses and seven or eight camels sitting in front of her. Laheeb popped up from behind and smiled sheepishly. "Well, I think I got the numbers mixed up…"
Sahar stared at Laheeb. "Mixed up?" she said exasperated. "I asked for a pack camel, not a pack of camels!" she glared at Laheeb. "Fix it!" she demanded.
Laheeb sighed and snapped his fingers. The seven camels were replaced by a single, very large camel. Sahar looked at it and sighed.
"Better than nothing." she muttered to herself. Damis and Xerxes had stopped trying to load everything onto Xerxes's horse. Xerxes looked at the horses approvingly.
"Good. You fetched me a caravan. Good girl." he said absentmindedly. Damis looked over at Sahar, who after a moment shrugged. It was useless to protest. Xerxes didn't get it anyway.
Swiftly Sahar mounted her horse and wrapped her cloak around her bare shoulders to keep from being burned by the fierce rays of the sun. Xerxes mounted another horse and trotted over to Sahar. Damis rolled his eyes and agilely mounted the great camel, the pack horse tied to the camel's muzzle.
Xerxes nudged his horse besides Sahar's and Damis came up on her other side. Laheeb had disappeared back into his lamp, which Sahar carried under her saddle bag.
"So, where are we going?" Damis asked as they began moving west.
"I had a dream…" Sahar replied and quickly explained her dream and the place they were looking for. Damis listened intently and then looked down at his silver ring.
"But I feel like there was something missing." Sahar said as she finished. Damis looked up at her.
"I think I know what." he replied.
My Reviewers:
sophiawin: I hope that the Amira part of the story moved a little faster. Also, can you see where I am beginning to incorporate the original story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses?
EvenSong: Hope this one is as good as the last one.I think the transitions were a little more forced, but you tell me.
Glitterpoison: sorry about the delay in updating I have had this chapter written forever, I was waiting for more reviews.
Metaphorical: I am working on it, please be patient! And i could say the same for you:-P
Akwyn: glad you like Xerxes. I like him too.
monkeys-and-bananas76: yea Damis. well hope you like this chapter.
Lumiere's lover: yep Sahar is one kick ass heroine. only just you wait...and those eyes are adorable. i wish i had a poster too!