Dear Reader,

Sorry it's taken me longer to update than I expected. I do, however, have a pretty good idea of what the next two chapters will be like and I hope to write them soon. Also, to clear up confusion, Ali did believe Yasmine's lie about her name being Fatima and did not pick up on the hint about her mother (because Fatima is common enough in the Arab naming world). He will address her as Fatima from now on. Please enjoy.

-LunarLitLover

Preview for next time: Yasmine, who is very injured, gets to meet Ali's neighbors who taught Ali medicine and helped to nurse her back to health

Recap: Yasmine has been severely injured by her disagreement with a guard and is being housed and cared for by a commoner, Ali al Din. Nazihah, Yasmine's handmaiden, has been left at the palace and was involved in Yasmine's plan. Ja'far hopes Yasmine is never found again so that he may take over.

Chapter 6: Nazihah (Saihah)

The Letter that Was Left

"Saihah, the Sultan demands to see you," Jaf'ar sneered.

"Why?" I asked, pushing my limits.

"Just hurry up, Wench," he snapped as he waved his hand to the guards.

The two brutes grabbed my arms and squeezed them hard as they began to drag me over the marble floor and out of Yasmine's apartments. My feet barely even touched the floor, they held me so tightly.

However, the tight hold they had on my arms was nothing compared to the hold they had on my heart. I was being dragged away like a captive; there was no doubt that I was in great trouble with the Sultan. I only hoped I would not endanger Yasmine or myself. I didn't want her to get caught…and I certainly didn't want to die.

When we entered the throne room, Sultan Zaim was perched on his high throne as usual. However, his eyes were more bloodshot than I've ever seen them and they carried dark circles under them. The number of wrinkles on his face had also increased in the past week, if that is possible; his mouth seemed to be set in a permanent grimace.

The guards made a point of harshly throwing me to the floor at the Sultan's feet; my head was shoved to the ground and I was forced to cower before Yasmine's angry father.

Then the Sultan spoke directly and irately, "Slave, where is my daughther!"

I hesitated before speaking. "I do not know, Majesty."

"Saihah, you have served Yasmine for years and were there the night she left! I am certain you know! Don't lie to me again!"

I wasn't lying; I really didn't know where Yasmine had gone to. But I was smart enough not to deny the Sultan a second time. Instead I decided to tell him any information about Yasmine that I could. "Majesty, if I may, Yasmine gave me a letter to give to you. Would you like it now?"

"What! She did…well…just give it to me, Slave…uh…Saihah," the Sultan responded as Ja'far held out a hand for the letter. I, who had known this would happen eventually, had been carrying it with me ever since Yasmine's departure. I quickly handed it over to the Vizier who in turn gave it to His Majesty.

I saw the Sultan's eyes quickly read over the parchment once, twice, then a third time. His expression was anxious at first but returned to a scowl once he finished reading Yasmine's letter.

I knew naught what it said; Yasmine had not told me and I had not dared read it. I was as anxious as the Sultan to discover its contents. My future was contained in that mix of ink and paper and I could only hope, as I laid there on the frigid floor, that Yasmine insured it to the best of her ability.

After His Majesty was convinced that the letter said the same thing every time it was read, he paused for a moment, lost in his ruminations. Then he gave out orders: "Ja'far, the guards are to continue their search for Yasmine. She doesn't plan on returning in the near future, but if she is apprehended then she will most certainly be brought back to the palace."

Ja'far bowed. "O f course, Your Majesty." The Sultan accepted Ja'far's promise, although I knew for certain that the Vizier had no intentions of keeping it.

It was then that I was addressed. I could not look up at Yasmine's father to see a hint of decision on his face. I couldn't move despite my anxiety. I couldn't breathe either; this was my life at stake here. But I trusted Yasmine, and had to put my faith in her.

"Yasmine claims to refuse to return unless you are kept here, Saihah. You will continue to clean Yasmine's apartments for the time being. But I do not believe you have been truthful with us today. You must know more about my daughter's foolish scheme. You will assist Ja'far with his information gathering. And he may use any means possible to…shall we say…assist you…with remembering adequate information."

Although I was nearly flattened against the cold ground, my heart dropped down, probably through the floor. My body froze, as well. Yasmine had not expected this.

I did not hear it, but we were dismissed. I was yet again lifted by the guards. But instead of being led to Yasmine's old apartments, I was carried down a darker corridor to Ja'far's wing of the palace.

Yasmine had been right: they wouldn't dare chuck me out of the palace and my job with hope of her return.

But she had been wrong too. Neither she nor I had expected this to be my fate.

Neither of us had expected torture.