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Aubrey continued with his tale.
"I loved the culture of Eastern lands near Egypt. It was all so different form Greece and Rome and the mystery of it intrigued me. I was enchanted by everything and everyone.
"Pheneus and I managed to find our way around after spending a few moments of our time in learning the Sunirian language. Besides, Egyptian was their second language and we were both well taught in that field. When we reached Masreya's home, we were not surprised to find that her means of living were not all that great. Just as Oeliana had said, she lived in a rundown cabin-like place. As soon as she saw Pheneus and I at her door, she led us in without hesitation and closed the door behind her. Her hair was in a wild array of combs as if she had unsuccessfully attempted to look like a fine and normal person of means. Her clothes were no more than rags sowed together and her skin was spotted with age. She was an old woman just like we had expected. A few bits of light entered through the small windows that were covered by wooden planks and cloth. The bit of light that entered cast a sort of orange glow to the whole room. Dust was everywhere, most likely from the desert that lay nearby. Masreya led us far from the door and into a dark corner where candles, relics and parchments were thrown everywhere. She seemed to resemble Pheneus in at least that way. She was mumbling to herself about Oeliana and time as she did this and I could not help but be amused at this strange woman.
"Masreya's eccentric personality did not disturb me in the least but what troubled me was that she too looked at me in that strange manner that Oeliana had done. They all sensed something about me and they feared it. When I bumped into Masreya as she fumbled with taking out the dusty chairs that were hidden away in some room, she backed away as if frightened. She avoided my gaze after this and I grew irritable. Did she too, have a prejudice against slaves whether they were freed or not or did she just hate the Romans and Greeks?
"Masreya finally settled everything and Pheneus and I took our seats on the dusty chairs that she had taken out. Masreya stood and walked back and forth in front of us. She placed one hand on her forehead and touched it as if to bring back her thoughts while she softly mumbled to herself once again. I looked at Pheneus and he only grinned as if it amused him also.
"Masreya began speaking slowly and her voice which I had barely caught hints of was clear now. 'You have spoken to Oeliana then so I see no reason to go on with the trivial details that about what I've seen. Let's get to the most important part and the most complicated.' She was fluent in Egyptian and I was glad that she had decided not to speak in Sunirian. Yet even though her voice was clear now, she still held a bit of that energy and I had to listen intently in order not to be lost in what she was saying. She kept on.
"'Let me see…ah yes! Aisha…you have come for her. Well it might seem simple that way that Oeliana might have explained but I doubt that it will be. Aisha Karmeck Aisree, the fourth daughter of Geiraen, sister of Helios and Tiriao who are close to the pharaoh of Egypt. You cannot just take her away because first of all, her father will be suspicious of you reasons and he does not hold us in high favor enough to give one of his daughters to us. Secondly, if you do attempt this, Geiraen will have you hunted down by his two sons and I doubt that you will succeed in escaping that. Not only that but I've also met the girl and let me tell you, she is the most complicated girl I have ever dealt with. Since she was born she came with trouble, and the life that her father wants for her, that life is not for her. She is meant to be a barren woman, she is not meant to be married. I am thankful that she repels the thought of marriage. Rumors are always being spread on how every marriage arrangement is broken off by her in devious ways. I knew that this would happen and in order to ward off other contemplating suitors, I created a prophecy. This prophecy is not true, not all of it at least. The prophecy states that she will bring whatever man she has to their ruin. Many more suitors would be courting her if it were not for this.' Masreya was lost in thought, no wonder thinking on all the scandals and rumors that happened in Suniria. She looked as us then, the wrinkles in her face darkened by the dim light in the room. Pheneus only sighed tiredly.
"'Masreya, what do you want us to do if her father will not let her go…' Pheneus asked. Masreya only looked at me with wonder in her eyes, as if she was planning something outrageous that no doubt would cause a scandal. She smiled.
"'I have two ways but one we may be too late for. It is said that Geiraen has already chosen a husband for young Aisha and this time I fear that she cannot avoid this match. The woman that has cared for her alongside her father after Sehret's death is Ennira, an old friend of mine who has grown distant. I have not seen her for years and I doubt that she would like for me to take Aisha away when she herself agrees with Geiraen's outlook on his daughter's life. When Sehret was dying after the birth of her last daughter, Eianara, I have always believed that the reason she called Ennira to her side was to plead for her to not let Aisha chose the way of magic. With that belief in mind, I steered clear away from all of their paths and did not think once of Aisha until this vision.
"'Instead I will tell you of my second plan and only plan for now. Aisha has never known the company of someone who does not fear her, all the companionship she has experienced is that of her family and nothing else. She is also afraid of her curse, she steers away from men and it appears that she is always busy getting rid of suitors. It is well known that she is a great dancer; took after her mother. With plenty of time to waste, she indulges herself in dance. Her brothers have been away to Egypt for a long time now and her sister Karicia indulges the wishes of any man that can be pleasing to the eye yet she is not married. Eianara either spends time in bed being sick or plays her music that she loves. Poor girl.' Masreya shook her head and kept going. 'She has no friends besides those that live with her. In the end, she is alone. Befriend her, let her know of what powers you posses, show her the world and she will love you. Now…young man..' she looked at me. I only looked up at her, wondering what barbarity she was going to say to me. 'You seem of the right age to befriend someone of her age for I doubt that she will indulge your aging friend here beside you.' Masreya chuckled softly as she said this. I only wondered to what point I would have to go to get what we needed to do.