The days were growing longer, and the nights were beginning to chill everyone to their bones. The candles flickered as a gust of wind blew through the already cold temple. Iryanna couldn't stop herself from huddling closer to Shraga. She was grateful that the other woman pretended not to notice her weakness for the cold. Iryanna was simply astounded by how strong Shraga was to the elements. It would seem the hot days didn't affect her, nor did the cold nights. Where Iryanna was from, the weather was just pleasant. Here, it seemed to have a mind of its own.

For a moment she let her eyes slide to the side to see if Shraga was praying. She wasn't. Iryanna had gathered from the month she had lived there that Shraga wasn't the religious sort. So she wondered why every day at the end of the week they found themselves here in the company of the other wives who bowed their heads to the floor.

The woman was an enigma that Iryanna constantly kept trying to figure out. All the while trying to figure Shraga out, she had come to idealize her as well. The will power that she wielded was impressive, even the Queen seemed to recognize Shraga's ability for strength. However while she idealized her, she couldn't stop from envying her as well. Since she had found Garsiv and Shraga kissing, they seemed to be growing close again. At first she thought it sweet until the cold realization set in. Iryanna was the one left out.

They included her, so that wasn't the issue. They ate dinner together, went on walks together, etc… The problem was Iryanna was most definitely the third wheel. Silent at dinner while Garsiv and Shraga debated philosophical standpoints, war strategy, or even mundane everyday things. When they took walks together, Iryanna trailed behind them silently, never excluded, but never truly invited. She couldn't help it, she was beginning to become lonely.

The moments she was beginning to live for were when they parted ways for bed. She would downcast her gaze as Garsiv would gather Shraga into his embrace, his mouth claiming hers in a way that Iryanna couldn't deny his love for the other woman. It hurt to watch so she wouldn't. Then when Garsiv was forced to drag himself away from Shraga, he would take her into his arms and place a sweet kiss on her own forehead. She would cling to him desperately, taking in his male musky scent so she could think fondly of him while she went to bed.

Garsiv hadn't even officially consummated their love yet, and so she was forced to admit that she was no true wife, not like Shraga. And the way he only kissed her brow was evidence that he too didn't see her as a wife yet. She wasn't sure what she needed to do to get him to notice her more, and she didn't know what to do to get him to validate their marriage.

These were all reasons she couldn't help herself from envying Shraga. Shraga had Garsiv, and while she was married to him too, she had no one.

Suddenly her attention was drawn to a tugging of her sleeve. She startled a bit, but didn't make a noise. It was forbidden to speak during prayer. She looked up and watched Shraga motion for her to rise and follow. So she did as she was bid and the two of them silently made their way out of the temple. Once outside the fresh air made them both breathe in deeply, ridding their lungs of the incense perfumed air that had been inside.

"Why did we leave?" asked Iryanna.

Shraga but pointed down the cobbled street ahead of them. She turned to see Nizam hurrying away from the temple, sticking close to the shadows that the buildings cast on the street. Iryanna wouldn't admit it, but she was most confused as to why they had left because of Nizam. She hadn't paid the older man much thought since she had arrived. He was always cordial when she passed but she had never actually sought him out to speak to him. All she really knew about him was how fond Garsiv and his brothers were of their uncle.

"Nizam never leaves prayer early, and he snuck out," stated Shraga.

Why was this of any importance to them? When Shraga started to walk forward Iryanna caught her wrist to stop her.

"It isn't our business about why he left, and I don't feel right about following."

Already her heart was pounding against her rib cage. In the dark recesses of her mind she remembered almost being abused physically when she had been captured before Garsiv had saved her. She didn't want to be punished for spying on her husband's uncle. The fear she had felt then of what would have happened to her if it hadn't been for Garsiv struck her again now. She may now be a princess, but that didn't mean she couldn't be punished. She didn't want to give reason for anyone to harm her, or be angry with her.

The look Shraga gave her scared her more though, when she looked over her shoulder, there was such a fire in her green eyes. She removed her hand and shrank into herself. Suddenly the hard look on Shraga's face softened and she apologized.

"It isn't our business, but I have noticed he sneaks around a lot lately. I want to know why. If you are scared you can stay. I promise we won't be caught though."

Shraga reached her hand out and waited patiently for Iryanna to make up her mind. It took a moment but finally Iryanna linked her hand with Shraga's, lacing her fingers with hers.

Hand in hand Shraga led them after Nazim. She was glad Iryanna crowded close to her. If Nazim turned and spied them, he would just assume that they had left temple early to shop, for they were headed in the direction of the market. There were a few other wives and concubines on the street with them, so it didn't look suspicious.

She could feel Iryanna's trembling and she could feel the woman's pulse beating rapidly just by hold her hand. It was moments like this where Shraga was forced to admit that Iryanna seemed much younger than she was. Everything either seemed to frighten her, or embarrass her. It was nearly constantly that her pretty cheeks were flushed red and she was looking away trying her hardest to be demure.

It didn't rightly help that things between her and Garsiv was… progressing. There hadn't been a fight between them in what seemed like a while. They were spending much more time together, even with Iryanna, and each night he made it a point to take her lips with as much abandon as he could. Through his kisses, he told her things he couldn't seem to say with words. He kissed her like a husband trying to find salvation in his wife, an insane man trying to find his sanity. She allowed it, though at first it made her feel very uncomfortable. That was until she realized that he was finally coming to terms that he had been gone, and he had only missed her. It was only her that made him truly happy.

Something about this epiphany settled her into allowing his fierce kisses before they parted ways to sleep. The only problem was when they parted she couldn't stop the insistent throbbing between her legs. She was no longer ill-informed on why her body felt this way. The very thing that made her a woman wanted to be filled with him. There had been once that she had been in so much need that she wanted to make her way to his room during the night. She didn't however because Iryanna had fallen asleep on the couch using Shraga's lap as her personal pillow.

Her attention turned back to Nazim as he made a sharp turn between two buildings. Iryanna shivered again. It was the complete opposite from what she herself felt. While Iryanna let fear rule her emotions, she let excitement rule hers. She wasn't entirely in her element as she spied on her uncle by marriage, but she felt like she was herself.

"No need to be scared," she whispered reassuringly after giving Iryanna's hand a small squeeze. Except there was every reason to be afraid. They turned down the same path as Nazim, between the clay brick buildings. He was heading towards the poorer district within the city. This wasn't the reason that they should have feared. He was the reason they should have feared. Not Nazim, no. Someone elese.

Nazim trekked forward, kicking up dust from his sandals from how quickly he walked. His black robes billowed out behind him. Any faster, the man would be running. Where was he going? And more importantly; why the hurry? It occurred to her then she should have paid better attention to the older man. She had always thought his eyes shifted too much for a man who didn't have many secrets.

They watched as Nazim turned down another path, narrower than the one they followed him on. As they made to follow at a respectable distance she stopped suddenly in her tracks, yanking Iryanna back and into the shadows of an overhang. Nazim had stopped and he was stopped talking to a man dressed in Hassansin clothing. Shraga's heart started to beat wildly as her eyes found their way to the cold blue one's that belonged to the only man she considered her enemy. Zolm smiled with just his eyes, signaling he saw her even though Nazim had not.

Without trying to figure out what Nazim could possibly want with the new leader of the Hassansins, which was obvious enough not to question, she spun and started back to the palace. She never noticed how tight her grip on Iryanna was until they both were far away from Zolm. Once she had dragged Iryanna into the markets, she let go of the woman's hand.

"Sorry," she whispered, starting down at how red Iryann's skin was.

"Who was that man? He looked at you like he knew you."

Iryanna may be young and innocent, but she was perceptive. That was a trait that Shraga had to give her credit for. The problem was that Shraga was caught off guard by the question. Without thinking too hard about the answer she blurted out the first terrible thing that came to her mind. "He is my cousin."

"Then why didn't you say hello!"

Iryanna's wonderful face lit up with the prospect of meeting more kin. Shraga just shook her head and started to walk towards the palace. Iryanna was right on her heels. As she walked she took the time to formulate the lie she would tell to Iryanna to hush her curiosity. Yet her mind was hazy just by seeing him. It seemed another lifetime ago that he had her shoved against the marble wall kissing her soundlessly before she smashed an oil lamp into the side of his face.

"We do not like each other, and if you see him anywhere in the palace ignore him."

She halted instantly and her heart hammered in her chest as she turned to stare hard at her sister. The gravity seemed to just hit her. What if Iryanna told Garsiv about Zolm? Immediately she schooled her features into something she hoped looked neutral.

"Iryanna, do not say anything to Garsiv about my cousin and Nazim."

She watched as Iryanna went to question her. Shraga made a tight fist at her side as the tension between them was becoming hostile. Iryanna was hushed instantly by the severe look and she couldn't be more thankful. Instantly she felt a calm settle of her. She didn't know why she trusted Iryanna so much but she did. Maybe it had a lot to do with the fact that she knew Iryanna idealized her.

AN: Okay so this is short and I know leaves off at an awkward area but I had to write it sort of quickly (which may also be reasons for mistakes) to introduce the next chapter that I have been working on like crazy. Honestly I kept reading the other chapter and it wouldn't make sense without this, or it would but it wouldn't be as good in my opinion. So it may be a bit until the next chapter is out and I am not sure if I am going to post it as one long chapter or break it up a bit. However I sort of feel like the planets are aligning themselves for this story... If I am not making any sense just know I am a sleep deprived nursing student now that cared more about getting this out than spending my first day of no class in weeks napping. It is officially nap time now though. Hopefully I will return soon!