Disclaimer: I do not own The Wrath and the Dawn. It belongs to Reneé Ahdieh. The majority of quotes used in this chapter are from the book.
A/N: Thanks so much for the follows everyone! :) This chapter is where Shahrzad begins telling her tale of Agib, and I decided to not type it all out in the story. It didn't seem terribly important to the story, since Khalid just makes a few comments about it (plus, that would've required A LOT of typing, haha). So hopefully I handled it okay! *fingers crossed*
Chapter 3: A Story Begins
(Corresponds with Chapter: The Mountain of Adamant, pages 29-39 of The Wrath and the Dawn)
He came to her room looking for answers and instead ended up laying with her.
How could he lose control like that and let her take charge? He shouldn't have allowed her to seduce him...it wasn't fair to her.
He treated it like it was just routine for him. How would she know he never laid with any of his other brides since Ava? He sighed. Since the ceremony, she'd continuously proven she was an exception compared to the others.
He hoped he didn't hurt her too much. He tried to be gentle with her, and he didn't dare try to kiss her. That would have been too much. Such affection is only meant for those you care greatly for. He didn't care for her. She merely intrigued him. Kissing her would have been deceitful. And he had personally vowed to never say or do anything that showed such affection if he didn't sincerely mean it.
He got up off of her bed and gathered his clothing to dress. He momentarily debated if he should head straight back to his chamber. However, it was already almost morning. His advisors would probably find out he had come to her room anyway, and his uncle would likely scold him for it. There was no point in trying to sneak back. Plus, he still wanted answers from her and was determined to get them now that his head was clear again. He was slightly agitated with her for causing him to temporarily lose control, but it was over now. Now he wanted what he came here for.
Once he was dressed, he went over to the table in her room and poured himself a drink. He heard Shahrzad follow him and sit down on one of the cushions.
As she began eating some of the grapes and bread that were on the table, he stared at her, trying to figure her out. How could she go about her life as if everything was normal? She knew that come daybreak, she will die. Or was she in denial of that fact?
He sat down on one of the cushions across from her. He wasn't sure what to say to her.
"Aren't you going to eat, sayyidi?" she asked him.
He didn't feel like bothering with her petty questions. He wanted her to answer his.
"The chutney is delicious," she added.
"Aren't you scared, Shahrzad?" he asked her quietly.
"Do you want me to be scared, sayyidi?"
"No. I want you to be honest." He couldn't stand liars, especially since being a liar himself in the past destroyed his life.
She smiled at him. "But how would you know if I were lying, sayyidi?"
"Because you are not a gifted liar. You only think yourself to be." He grabbed some almonds from the table and began munching on them.
His response only caused her to smile widely. "And you are not that good at reading people. You only think yourself to be."
She definitely was an overly bold girl.
"What do you want?" he asked softly.
"I'm to die at sunrise, correct?"
After he nodded, she continued. "And you wish to know why I volunteered for this? Well, I'd be willing to -"
"No. I won't play games with you. I despise manipulation."
This was torturous. Why couldn't she simply answer any of his questions?
Her face showed his response had irked her. "Perhaps you should spend less time despising the game and more time building the patience necessary to win."
He froze. No one ever talked to him like this. No one constantly refuted his demands like her. She didn't even know what her words meant in his case. Ever since the curse was placed upon him, he had been stuck playing this wicked game of killing bride after bride. He couldn't handle any more games because his life already was one.
"Brave words for a girl with hours left to live," he said coldly.
"Are you interested in the rules of the game or not, sayyidi?"
He chose not to respond. He had no idea what to do with this girl who unsettled him so.
She went on anyway. "I'm willing to answer your question, sayyidi. But before I do so, I wonder if you would be willing to grant me a small request…"
Apparently, she gets to make all the requests, while all of his requests are ignored. He was humored, however, that she seemed to be trying to weasel her way out of her situation.
"Are you trying to barter for your life with trivia?"
She laughed. "My life is forfeit. You've made that clear. Perhaps we should move past that issue and get to the matter at hand."
"By all means."
"I want to tell you a story."
He was not expecting her to say that. After all that, she wants to tell him some story? This girl completely perplexed him.
"Excuse me?"
"I tell you a story. You sit and listen. When I'm finished with the tale, I'll answer your question."
Even more tortuous waiting for these answers.
"A story?"
"Yes. Do you agree to the terms, sayyidi?"
He leaned back on one of his elbows, thinking about if he had anything to lose with this. If he agreed, he'd at least have a chance of getting the answers he wanted. If he didn't, he would never know.
"Fine. I agree. You may begin."
"This is the tale of Agib, a poor sailor who lost everything he possessed only to gain the knowledge of self-discovery."
What kind of story is this to tell?
"A tale of morality? So you are trying to teach me a lesson."
"No, sayyidi. I am trying to entice you. I've been told a good storyteller can trap an audience with a single sentence."
"Then you have failed."
He was more intrigued why she would be telling this story, than the story itself.
Shahrzad proceeded to continue telling the story of Agib, a great thief who once was caught stealing from an emir, leading him to join a small ship's crew to escape.
Now this sounded a little more interesting. "Better," he told her.
Shahrzad continued to tell the tale. At first, he wasn't exactly sure where the story was heading, thinking it would be a waste of time. But he still listened intently and he occasionally made a few dry remarks about the story.
At one point during her tale, he saw Shahrzad reach to pour herself some wine. He was quick to do it for her first. It was the least he could do for her...since he would soon be taking everything away from her...
The more she talked, the more enthralled he became. He found himself growing more and more curious as to how this story would end. It reminded him of how excited he felt as a young boy when his mother would be describing the climax of a story...
Staring at Shahrzad intently, he listened with eager anticipation and leaned forward to hear what would happen to Agib after the chalice he found released a mysterious smoke...
"The shadow solidified...and began to laugh," Shahrzad said and didn't say anymore.
Khalid was confused. "Why did you stop?"
She didn't reply. He noticed her gaze was focused on something behind him, so he turned to see for himself.
Dawn had arrived. His heart froze, but he knew the execution would have to go on. However, he would allow her to finish the tale first.
He turned back to face her. "You may finish the story."
"I'm afraid that's not possible, sayyidi."
She was going to play more games with him and test his temper?
"Excuse me?"
"I have only just begun the tale."
Anger began to swell within him.
"Finish the story, Shahrzad."
"No."
The anger flowed through him, causing him to stand up. "So was this your plan all along?"
"What plan would that be, sayyidi?"
She needed to stop acting so innocent and evading his questions by asking other questions. It was maddening.
"A trick. A tactic to stay your execution...to begin a tale you had no intention of finishing."
"I have every intention of finishing it - tomorrow night. Whether or not that happens is entirely up to you," she told him as she stared up at him. She looked furious too. Why would she be furious? She was the one messing with him!
"You said you understood; your life is forfeit. That was clear from the beginning."
She stood up before him. "All lives are forfeit, sayyidi. It is just a question of when. And I would like one more day."
He could not stop himself from glaring at her. She had tricked him.
Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. He knew it was the guards coming to collect her for the execution.
"Just one," she whispered.
He could only stare at her. Who was this girl? And why was he actually considering her request after she had riled him so much?
He had to get away from her immediately. He went to the doors and stopped when he grabbed the handle.
This girl may have angered and disobeyed him, but he was a man of his word. He used to be dishonest, but he was determined to live the rest of his life as a man of integrity since the death of his first wife. He had agreed to Shahrzad's terms, and he had to let her finish her tale. He could go another night without sleep. Plus, there was that memory of his mother that surfaced in his mind...
"One," he told her before passing through the doors. He shut them behind him.
He saw the guards waiting outside for further instruction.
"There will be no execution today. It has been postponed to tomorrow."
The guards were puzzled by this, but didn't dare to question the caliph.
As he walked back to his room, he couldn't help but realize what hearing Shahrzad's tale had done to him.
He had felt like a young boy again...He had almost forgotten what it felt like. He had loved listening to the stories his mother would tell. They allowed his imagination to run wild and escape the pressures of living as a royal prince in a palace with his strict father.
It had been so long since he was reminded of the precious moments he shared with his mother...those were her favorite memories of her. She was so joyful and enthusiastic when she described the adventures of her fictional characters, it was infectious. He couldn't help but feel jubilant when he was with her. He missed her so much…
For his mother, he let the girl live another day.
He prayed it wasn't a mistake.
A/N: Thanks so much for reading! Please leave a review and let me know what you think so far! Or you could tell me the things you hope to see in this fic :)