Post by Sabriyah bint Qasim al-Khalid on Jun 29, 2015 20:51:37 GMT -5
The blessed peace that pervaded Zahran with the departure of her father, brother and numerous others was ripped to shreds with the arrival of Bashir's letter. Reading it, Sabriyah let out a sound strangely akin to a strangled scream, shocked to her very core by a single line. The inherent disaster waiting to occur in Bashir's words sent her into a near-panic, calling for Inayla, her maid and her uncle. There was not a moment to lose.
She could barely speak coherently, instead thrusting the letter at them both to read for themselves as she paced the room, mind frantically racing. The silks flew about her ankles in a rare display of distress seldom seen in the impeccably composed and serene young woman. There could be no question of their immediate departure for the city of Bordelaix.
Facing them with her cheeks flushed and her eyes slightly wild, she managed to finally speak. "Uncle," her eyes fell on him. "Please secure passage for us to Bordelaix as soon as possible. Inayla and two guards will go with me, but I must go and stop Bashir before he does something rash." If he succeeded in taking the woman, there would be such hell to pay and their father would never forgive him. Sabriyah refused to let that happen. "We leave in the morning."
There would be no dissuading her.
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Within a week's time, the two women arrived in the grand western city of Bordelaix. Overwhelmed by the sheer foreignness of it, Sabriyah felt lost and insignificant. Neither were a feeling she liked, her pride struck sufficiently to stiffen as she glanced to Inayla. They created a stir, the two robed and veiled women, as they followed the directions to where the Caliph and his entourage made their home within the city. Looking around, she sighed quietly, then glanced to Inayla, asking quietly, "Does anything about this place seem... right to you?"
What had happened here to make Bashir consider a western woman for his bride? That was the question she wanted the answer to, along with why he would opt to choose one with an obvious and perhaps irredeemable flaw. "It is not much further, thank the Sun and the Moon. I grow weary of travel." Sea travel, land travel, both done and a near-dizzying pace that left her exhausted and somewhat grim. "Thank you, Inayla, for your patience with me during this," Sabriyah added, aware she had not been the most congenial of traveling companions.
Finally, they reached the building that housed the Rohari contingent and Sabriyah gratefully dismounted, ignoring the myriad aches that spoke of a long journey. She went directly to the door and rang firmly. The servant who answered blinked at both women, clearly astonished to see them. Sabriyah eyed the man, her tone crisp. "Inform Lord Bashir and the Caliph that I have arrived and wish to speak with them, and see that rooms are prepared for Lady Inayla and myself. And be quick about it!"
Inayla bint Siraj al-Faris, @qasim, Bashir ibn Qasim al-Khalid