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Arie
THE DARK WATER RIPPLED in the moonlight. Tightening my grip on the bedsheets, I awkwardly climbed over the stone railing until I was hanging from the edge along the outside. My muscles seized up. It took enormous effort to slide down the sheet at the pace I intended, without slipping.
My arms burned with the effort of holding my weight plus the bag full of food, which threw me off balance whenever the wind blew. When I reached the first knot, I sucked in a breath. What if I hadn’t tied it tight enough? I braced myself for a fall, but the knot held.
Hand over hand, gripping so tightly my fingers grew numb, I reached the end of my makeshift rope with much too far left to fall. The cliff diving took place much lower than this, and even then, only the most skilled swimmers attempted it. What if I sunk so deep I couldn’t find my way to the surface?
And what about the Mere? Would they interpret a princess entering their kingdom as a threat?
Stark terror gripped me. But there was no going back now. My trembling muscles would never carry me back up. Cramps took over my arms, making it hard to keep my grip. I swayed there, suspended at the end of my rope, gathering the nerve to jump.
Before I had a chance, I felt a knot begin to slip, dropping me lower, and lower, and then I was falling. I held in a scream, air stealing my breath, before I hit the water. The frozen sea hit my body like a punch to the gut and I sank so deep that the moonlight didn’t reach me.
Flailing wildly in the dark, I kicked toward what I hoped was the surface. There was nothing to guide me. My lungs burned. Had I swum toward the ocean floor instead of the surface? Just as I began to lose hope, my hand broke free of the water and reached open air.
I gulped deep mouthfuls, panting as I tread water. It was freezing.
My skirts tangled around my legs and my bag on my back weighed me down. Remembering all the food inside, I hurried to untie it and hold it up, but it was a losing battle. I started swimming, struggling to hold it up with aching arms and kick through the lurching waves at the same time.
The cliffs were close, but I couldn’t waste time resting there. I needed to swim across the bay. If I could reach the shore of the neighboring kingdom of Keshdi, that would put some distance between myself and Hodafez. But could I make it that far? The frozen depths and the murky black water made me shiver as I kicked.
Flipping onto my back, I floated to catch my breath, dragging in deep lungfuls of air. This could work. Holding my bag over my stomach to preserve at least some of the food, I kicked. The thought of sharks or angry Mere below made me push harder.
The silhouette of the castle grew smaller and smaller. It made me expect to see Keshdi over my shoulder each time I looked, but even though I swam on and on, until the burning in my chest grew even hotter than the muscles in my arms and legs, it didn’t appear.
Eventually, I stopped looking back and focused on kicking. If I let myself stop too long, I’d sink.
My strength was giving out when I saw the twinkle of lights on the water and glanced over my shoulder to see the coastal city of Keshdi rising above me. The white sand of the shore glinted in the moonlight.
The last stretch was the hardest. Something brushed against my leg and gave my muscles new life. Heart pumping so fast it burned, I finally felt the sand beneath my feet and waded out of the water.
My legs shook. My bag was soaked through. My shoes and leggings chafed, squelching loudly with every step. I was too tired to peer inside at the damage the water had done to my supplies.
I took two more steps and sprawled out on the shore to rest. But the first hints of the rising sun touched my skin, and panic made me drag myself to my feet and set off through the trees. I could see the town through the branches on my right, but I stayed hidden, pushing through foliage and searching for the nearest path as I dusted off sand. A small dirt road curved up ahead.
It was past dawn now; the sun warmed my skin but I shivered at the thought that in just a few short minutes, my ladies-in-waiting might check on me and find Havah instead. Once they discovered I wasn’t in my room, they’d alert my father. Who would then tell Amir. In the daylight, the cliffs of Hodafez rose close behind me across the bay. Too close.
There was almost no one on the road, besides a woman and her two children heading toward Hodafez. I slipped through the underbrush, heading in the opposite direction and staying out of sight, just in case.
By the time my clothes were nearly dry, the steady plodding of horse hooves sounded on the dirt road. I stopped and hid behind a tree. My legs felt like soggy bread—I couldn’t walk much further. A farmer passed by with a wagon full of wheat held down by a blanket. I have to take the risk.
Slipping out of the woods, I crept up to the back of the wagon, lifted the edge of the blanket, and jumped inside. I nestled into the hay, pulling the blanket over me, and held my breath. The cart didn’t stop.
With a sigh of relief, I let myself relax, just for a moment. It was cramped, but soft. The wheat tickled my arms and neck, but I ignored it. I’d stay here just until we reached the town of Piruz. I knew enough of the high-born families there to feel safe and it would bring me far enough from Amir’s clutches. The sun beat down on the blanket over me, lulling me to sleep. My whole body ached. A nap sounded divine.
It felt like only a minute had passed since I dozed off when the wagon jerked to a stop. Blinking, I frowned at the blanket above me. The air had grown overly warm and the prickly wheat made my sweaty skin itch. How long had I been asleep? I hadn’t meant to still be in the wagon when it stopped.
“Only one more mile to town,” the farmer said. Was there someone with him? Or was he talking to himself? I tried not to rustle as I shifted. The sound of him patting his horse reached me, softened by the blanket. The horse stomped its hoof. “Calm down,” I heard him mumble, “We’ll be there soon.”
Muffled footsteps approached the wagon bed. I held my breath. His hand grasped the edge of the blanket. But he only tucked it into the sides more firmly where I must’ve loosened it, before his footsteps shuffled off. A moment later, I heard him relieving himself.
I held as still as possible when the farmer’s footsteps returned, but he only climbed up and slapped the reins. The wagon lurched back into motion.
How far had he said the next town was? A mile? I should walk the last stretch. I didn’t want to be anywhere nearby when he came to unload the wheat.
Crawling toward the back of the wagon, I peered out from underneath the blanket to find the sun at its peak in the sky. My eyes watered as they adjusted. I’d slept much longer and gone much further than I’d planned.
With care, I took my bag and slid out onto the ground, landing as softly as I could, crouching in case he heard my fall. After making sure he hadn’t noticed me, I ducked into the trees. A few stray pieces of wheat had spilled out onto the road and others still clung to me. I brushed them off.
Once within the trees, I opened my bag to view the damage the saltwater had done to my food. My nose wrinkled at the smell. Tossing the bread and cheese without looking too closely at the colors they’d taken on, I nibbled at the fruit and nuts that were left, wishing I’d packed more.
The jewels were still in the bottom, along with my crown if I grew desperate. I tried to smile. It shouldn’t take too long to walk the last mile to town. I would get a hot meal there.
This is for the best, I reminded myself again. This was the only way my father could be free of Amir. I just needed to find a place to stay for a while; wait him out.
Though I climbed over fallen logs and circled the underbrush, the horse and wagon were so slow they barely gained any distance from me at all, coming back into sight after every bend.
As I considered stepping out into the road and passing them, now that I was far enough from home, I heard galloping hoofbeats fast approaching.
Two men rode past wearing the colors of Amir’s guard.
I pulled back into the trees, breathing hard.
They overtook the farmer and ripped the blanket from the back of his wagon before he could even stop his horse. With a few words exchanged that I couldn’t make out, they took off down the road toward town.
After that, I walked even slower, unsure what to do now. If they were searching for me ahead, I didn’t want to deliver myself right to them. The trees began to thin and the city walls came into view.
The city was enormous. It started abruptly, with houses made of pale limestone and roofs that shone burnt-orange in the sun, stretching out before me as far as I could see. I’d come quite a bit further than I’d intended; at least a half dozen cities past Piruz. I’d never seen Aziz from on foot before, but I recognized it immediately from the way the city stretched out into the water like a claw. My stomach growled and my feet ached. Still, I didn’t enter.
Approaching the outskirts, I stopped at the solid wall that surrounded the city. There were only three entrances. Even now, in the heat of the day, there was a line to pass through the largest gate before me—too many people. Better to avoid being seen. To the left, the road led to a tall building with stables; the streets of Aziz weren’t wide enough for horses. Were the guards there, or had they entered the city on foot? I could only assume they were still looking for me, since they’d never returned down the road.
On a gamble, I circled the city until I came to the gate by the sea. Only then did I allow myself to enter Aziz.
This entrance was smaller, probably meant for the city’s inhabitants rather than trade. I followed the cobblestone streets inward, trying to ignore the trapped feeling from the narrow streets and the sensation of being pressed between the pale buildings which grew darker and more sinister in the shade.
On the far side, the castle of Aziz rose above the rooftops, well-protected by the intricate roads, the thick wall, and the sea. I’d stayed there before. On the outside, it was modest. Designed to hide the wealth of this city, though anyone who looked closely could see that the people were clearly taken care of.
Details I’d never noticed from my previous visits struck me now that I was on foot. Lanterns hung from doorways, open windows held clothing strung out to dry. Here and there, a person would pop into sight, before turning down another street. As I descended deeper into the city’s valley, the bustle of the marketplace came into sight. I walked faster.
The smells of fine food and spices made an easy trail to follow. At the edge of the market, the narrow streets opened into an enormous bazaar, filled with people and stalls selling all kinds of wares.
Carpets were laid out to claim spaces, lined with baskets full of different food and cloth. Even more carpets hung on display, along with jewelry, scarves, and a million other items for sale. Awnings were put up at random to provide shade from the heat of the sun, which was making its way back down toward the horizon.
I fished out the smallest jewel, though it was likely still too much, approaching a vendor selling sausages with a butter-cheese on flatbread that made my mouth water.
Setting my bag on the ground, I waited my turn to bargain. I’d never done this before. As I stood there, a blind woman sat begging only a few feet away, holding out her bowl to a passing stranger, but he only scoffed and continued on.
Moved, I stepped out of line without thinking. Placing my hand gently over hers, I set the tiny jewel in her bowl. She frowned at the sound, picking it up and testing the feel of it. As her eyes grew round and awed at the edges of the jewel, I slipped back into the crowd, smiling at the way her face lit up. Her hopeful thoughts of the ‘nice stranger’ reached me as she made her way out of the square.
Turning back to the vendor, I moved to pick up my bag.
It was gone.
For a moment, I could only stare at where it had been, trembling. “Where is my bag?” I demanded of the people in line. “Who took it?”
They only scowled at me.
“You!” I pointed to the man who stood where I had been, “Did you take it?” He shook his head, trying to ignore me, but I stepped closer to him, grabbing his arm, “Did you see who took it? Which direction did they go?”
He shook me off, angry now. “How dare you? Where is your husband or father to stop this inappropriate behavior!”
I backed away, glaring back at him. Only his thoughts of calling the city guards halted my retort.
Instead, I scanned the area, searching for someone leaving, possibly in a hurry, carrying my bag. There! I pushed through the crowds, running after the brown bag in the distance, but as I got closer, I knew it wasn’t mine. Swiveling, my eyes skimmed over the nearby people, but there were just too many. It was a lost cause.
How could I have lost everything in one moment?
I stood there at the edge of the bazaar, breathing hard, searching for the thief without success. The little food I had left, my spare clothes, my jewels, and my crown. All gone.
I sprinted back to where the blind woman had sat, shoving past people in my haste... but she was gone as well.
“Excuse me,” I called to a passerby. He ignored me, striding on. Blinking, it took me a moment to remember: to them I wasn’t a princess. “Excuse me, please,” I spoke more firmly to a passing older woman. She slowed, but just barely. “Have you seen anyone with a brown bag?” I hurried to keep up with her as she strode down the street, but she didn’t answer. “Please,” I gritted my teeth and begged, “Someone stole my bag—it has all my belongings in it—have you seen any sign of someone running, maybe, or—”
“No. Go bother someone else.”
The ill treatment was jarring. When I stopped, she moved on without a backward glance.
Standing in the dust of the marketplace, I stepped aside to let a group of people pass, then further back as the crowds jostled me, until I stood against a wall in the shade.
My stomach growled as the smell of the sausages wafted toward me, emphasizing the enormity of what I’d lost. How could I have been so stupid?
Stepping into the shadows of an alleyway, I tried to organize my thoughts, to plan, to think of something.
I listened for thoughts from those around me, but for once, all I heard was a soft buzz.
No one gave me a second glance. No one cared.
It felt strange.
Hugging my arms to myself, I pulled the cloak tighter around me, and despite the heat of the day, I shivered. For the first time, I was truly alone.
That girl’s been lurking for an hour now, a foreign man’s thought startled me. She looks like she’s going to steal something. I think I’ll wave down the next guard to pick her up...
I didn’t waste any time melting into the crowds, making my way to the opposite side of the bazaar. I eyed another vendor selling fresh, warm flatbread, beef, and yogurt. My stomach gurgled. I pressed a hand against it and tried to form a plan.
Clearing my throat, I stepped up to the woman ladling yogurt and beef into the flatbread. “Tomatoes?” she asked her customer, “Cucumber?” They paid for their meal and left, and her dark brown eyes landed on me. “One?” she asked, already preparing to make another.
“I’d like to,” I began and she picked up a second flatbread, opening the mouth of it to fill it up. “No, no,” I hurried to add, “I mean I’d like to, but I don’t have any coin, and was wondering if I could work for you in exchange for—”
“You can’t pay?” she interrupted.
I shook my head, lifting my chin higher. “I can work for it,” I repeated.
“I don’t need any help.” She waved me away.
My pride wouldn’t let me grovel. I passed her stall to one just a few carpets further, and tried again.
The man there was even less interested in speaking with me. “Paying customers only,” he snapped. “Move along.”
I forced myself to try once more at a fruit stand; anything that would fill my stomach.
“Please, do you have any work?” I tried a different approach. “All I ask for payment is a meal.”
All the wrinkles on her forehead deepened as she mulled it over. “What can you do?”
“I can... ah...” My mind raced to find an appropriate answer. Run a kingdom? No. Address courtiers? Definitely not. Plan a banquet? “I’m a fast learner—”
“I’m afraid I can’t help you, young lady.” She was kind enough to pat my hand. “Maybe come back tomorrow. If sales are good...” she trailed off with a shrug.
I nodded and moved on, wandering aimlessly. The sun was setting. Shopkeepers were beginning to tear down. There was no point in asking anyone else; their day was over. They were going home to a warm meal and soft bed. I, on the other hand, untrained, unqualified, and useless, would not be experiencing any of those things tonight.