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Keyla reached the city of Alamut in the late morning hours of the next day. It was almost noon when she reached the main gate of the sacred city and it was unbearably hot already. There was barely anyone out on the streets and Keyla felt a little lost in this big, strange and unfamiliar city she had never seen before in her life.

She was dead tired on top of the feeling of being lost and Keyla knew she would not be able to keep sitting upright in the saddle for much longer. She needed to find that merchant's shop the apothecary had told her about and afterwards she would allow herself the luxury of a good hospice and would have a long, relaxing bath and a decadent meal before going to sleep for the rest of the day. She didn't plan on trying to get to and hopefully inside the palace of Alamut until nightfall. It was easier and less dangerous if she had the cloak of night to keep her hidden from guards and soldiers.

First though she had to find what she was looking for and had to deliver the goods she had received in Azaak. The description the apothecary had given her had been very detailed and right now it was more than helpful. He had told her to take a turn right as soon as she entered through the main gate into the city and had a chance to do so. It would be a small alley, she was bound to miss it if she didn't pay attention - that was what he had told her - and he had been right. Being as tired as she was, Keyla had almost gone right past it. She stopped Shanse before they had passed the alley now and rode on.

Just as the apothecary had told her, she reached a small plaza. She crossed it and the street she was on now was a lot more magnificent than the one she had arrived on. The houses here were big, more like mansions and it seemed the people living here fancied marble a lot... Keyla swallowed hard. Apart from the palace in Nasaf she had never seen that much marble in one place ever before... This was where the apothecary had wanted her to go? She couldn't believe there would be a merchant here who had actually bought anything from a small outpost in the middle of nowhere like Azaak... Maybe she was wrong here...

But the description was completely accurate. This was exactly where the apothecary had told her to go. She counted the houses to the right side and stopped in front of the fourth one, the one where the apothecary had told her to deliver her good to. She still wasn't sure she was right at this place but she didn't want to believe that it had been some sort of trick. There was only one way to find out anyway. She stepped closer to the large, wooden entrance door and knocked.

It took a long moment before the gate was opened on her and Keyla had already expected nobody to answer her when a servant appeared in the doorway now. He looked her up and down with a frown, obviously anything but pleased to have been disturbed. Keyla hid back the wish to sigh and looked the man straight in the eyes. People had believed her to be a young, adventurous, well situated traveler. She would not allow this guy to unnerv her or send her away.

"Yes?"

"I came from Azaak with a delivery for your master."

The servant didn't even hesitate for a single moment which was the last thing Keyla had expected to happen. Even though she had wanted to be tough, she had not expected it to work. But it had... Or maybe the servant had only seen her father's sword right now and had debated if it was truly wise to try and get into an argument with her. Anyway she got what she wanted, a nod and a door being opened on her.

"Come inside and wait in the yard. I will get my master."

Keyla followed the servant inside and had almost gasped out loud seeing the inner courtyard of the house. This was a... marvelous place and she couldn't believe it all belonged to just one man. Even thinking about how filthy rich the merchant had to be the apothecary had sent her to made her feel drowsy... The merchant she had stolen the money from in Nasaf was nothing against all this... Keyla was ripped out of her thoughts when she heard a voice near the staircase that lead to the upper floor of the two story house.

"That's him. He said he has something to deliver."

"Of course he has. Go and get us something to drink."

Keyla watched the servant wince and had to hide back a grin. She should not have been gloating - she hated this kind of servant and master relationship, it had been one of the reasons she had not had wanted to follow Dastan and Bis to live in the palace - but she couldn't help it. He had been anything but... nice when he had let her into this house. She watched the servant leave and focused her attention on the servant.

"Welcome young traveler. What can I do for you?"

"Actually I came to do something for you. I arrived from Azaak this morning. The apothecary Hazim asked me to deliver something for him."

"My merchandise!"

"Yes."

The merchant's enthusiastic reaction had surprised her. She had never seen any salesman so happy about the arrival of his merchandise but then again she had never really known one before. Keyla hid back a frown and lead the way back to Shanse, taking the saddlebag off and handing it to the merchant. She really needed a bath and a bed now, she had been troubling herself with this excursion long enough.

"This is yours. I'll be leaving now. I need to get some rest."

"There's no need to leave. I haven't had a guest in this house for a while and I like having visitors. You are very welcome to stay."

"What?"

"Hospitality is the least I could offer you, young traveler. After the Persian army invaded our city I did not expect any messengers or merchants to arrive here soon. I am glad my merchandise arrived here before the princess' wedding. I'm deeply grateful to you..."

"Key... Keyzam."

Keyla had barely been able to stop herself before she told the merchant her real name and would have revealed herself. But she was able to clear the situation and without the merchant realizing it. He was smiling at her and would he have known that she was a woman she would have believed he was flirting with her. This way however he was just being friendly and hospitable.

"Well master Keyzam, it is good you came here. I have a guest room upstairs I will have prepared for you. If there is anything else I can do for you..."

"Actually I would love to take a bath. I have been on the road for almost a week now..."

"I understand. I will send you one of my servants to prepare a bath for you. She will care for you while you are here. If you need anything else, just tell her."

"Thank you."

It sounded like he was actually offering that female servant to her. Keyla felt disgusted hearing the merchant's offer but she forced herself to smile. This was a beautiful house and she wanted to stay here. She was too tired to roam through the city and look for a place to stay. She nooded in agreement but made her thank you sound a little harsher than would have been appropriate. She watched the merchant frown at her but the expression only stayed on his face for a second and then he was smiling again.

He turned to leave but Keyla stayed where she was. Actually there was something else she wanted to ask this man - a local to this city. He had taken a few steps when he realized she was still standing there and he turned around again. Keyla took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to voice her question and approach the matter carefully. She didn't want the merchant to get suspicious in any way.

"Is there... something else?"

"Actually... I was wondering if you could tell me how to get to the palace..."

"Why would you want to go there?"

"It's a private matter."

"I understand. Well you just take the main road to the palace gate but you need permission to pass the guard towers and with the Persian army and the whole Persian royal family to be residing in Alamut for the next couple of days it will be especially difficult."

"Don't worry. Permission will not be a problem."

Is that so? Well, I wish you good luck with your endavor, master Keyzam. But you should rest for a little while."

"Believe me, I intend to do just that. Thanks again for your hospitality."

"It is my pleasure."

Keyla watched the merchant leave now and she almost winced when the servant the merchant had talked about had appeared out of nowhere. Keyla looked at her with surprise when she received a smile. She bowed a little and pointed to the staircase to their left that lead to the upper story of the house.

"One of the other servants will take care of your horse. Follow me. I'll take you to your room."

Keyla let the young woman lead the way and followed her upstairs. The room she took her to was big and pompous. The floor was made from marble, the walls had ornaments painted on them and everything looked like it had been freshly cleaned. There was a soft smell of something Keyla couldn't quite determine but she quickly realized what it was when she had a look past the bed that stood in the center of the room and looked like it had just been made and saw a tub full of milky water. Her scented bath... They had already taken care of it... Keyla couldn't believe it. She stared at the servant who was smiling at her again, acting like this was completely normal and the way they treated any of the merchant's guests in this house.

"Is there anything else we can do for you?"

"A plate of food would be nice. Please just leave it outside. I'll get it when I'm done with my bath. I want to be alone for now."

"Of course."

Keyla felt a little ashamed of herself ordering the woman around like this but she was still smiling. Keyla didn't want to believe it because she felt so disgusted by the idea herself but maybe this woman actually enjoyed her work... Keyla watched them leave and close the door behind her after the servant bowed to her a little, smiled and then left. Keyla let a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding out and went to the door, turning the key that was in the lock. She did not want to be disturbed.

It was the first time in days she actually allowed herself to stop the masquerade and be a woman again. But she didn't want anyone to find out about it - especially not in this foreign place... She needed to hide who she truly was - at least for the time being. She took of the bandana she had been wearing all these days and pulled the ribbons from her hair, letting it float freely down her back. She slipped out of the cape, the linen shirt and the leather pants she was wearing and dropped her dusty shoes next to her dirty clothes. She should have asked one of the servants to clean those for her... But she could do that later...

Keyla groaned. It was awful to realize how easily she fell into the role of the uprising merchant, messenger and traveler who had just arrived at a befriended salesman's house. None of that was true though and she actually hated those kind of people who had servants and treated those people like they were beneath them... She couldn't believe she had so easily excepted all the luxury that had been given to her just like this...

"Damn it!"

She shook her head forcefully and dropped the thought. It had been a long journey, a tiring one and she was aching and her thighs were hurting and she was filthy and dusty and tired. She needed all this - she needed a bath and food that did not taste like it had lain in the sun for days and a clean, soft, bed. She just needed to relax and unwind. She cursed again and stretched her arms over her head, relaxing her muscles before she carefully stepped into the tub. The water was warm, but not hot and it smelled of mint and something that smelled a lot like cinnamon. There was actually something... girl to the scent but Keyla liked that. After all she was a girl.

She let herself sink beneath the water and enjoyed the feeling of the warmth that felt a lot like a blanket. It made her feel drowsy and she hurried to get her face above the water again. As much as she enjoyed the bath, she needed to hurry. Otherwise she would simply be falling asleep in here... Keyla took the washcloth that had been draped over the edge of the tub and cleaned herself up thoroughly before getting out of the water and wrapping herself up in one of the linen towels.

She picked up her dirty clothes from the floor and carefully opened the door to her room just a little, looking outside. There was nobody to be seen but the plate of food she had wanted was standing in front of her door. She quickly bowed down, picking it up and dropped her dirty clothes in front of the door. Hopefully the merchant's servants would understand the gesture... she would thank them later.

Keyla took the plate with her to the bed and yawned. She was almost too tired to even pick up a single scrape of the food on the plate that smelled so unbelievably delicious. She ate a little of it - some fruit and vegetables, bread and chicken . But she couldn't keep herself awake - and eating - for much longer. Keyla yawned again, pushed the plate aside and lay down on the bed, closing her eyes. She would rest for just a little while, only an hour or two... and when she would be feeling less tired and more refreshed, she would find a way into the palace of Alamut...

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