Strangers

Mina hastens her pace, constantly glancing behind to the mysterious woman. She looses her footing, pushing the people in front. Her bag flew open, throwing its contents to the ground. The broken bottles splashing odorous liquids, to the surrounding people.

A short man, turns around the odor touching his nose. "Watch it! Filthy slave girl!" He regards her. "Are you even supposed to use the road?" Another man in the crowd that was now forming fumed. She quickly gets on her knees to gather her things. She reaches out to grab a cup when a pair of worn out dusty orange sandals; all muddy and soggy. They started to disappear into a large jubbeh; folding as the person got on the ground. "Sorry..." His stiff voice startling her a bit. Picking up some unbroken bottles and bandages.

She didn't dare look at him nor even talked back, ashamed for his kindness. "You are making a scene get up, leave her." the short man urges from the crowd. Before he could continue addressing her, a hand wrapped tightly on her arm. It pulled her up vigorously, dropping whatever she had collected.

Her eyes shift up and there she was, the same stranger she was running away from. "Sorry gentlemen, I see my careless slave has caused you trouble." The woman's raspy firm voice made the man to stand. "No worries Khala, the girl just tripped, no harm done." He defended. Offering Mina what he salvaged; his familiar dark charcoal eyes, reflecting the smile underneath his veil. Mina looked at him curiously wondering who he could be.

The woman lets her go, Mina accepts the things from him replacing them back into her bag. "Thank you." The woman jumps in again as the crowd separated. Mina starts to walk away but the woman holds her back she takes her hand and starts dragging her. Mina digs her toes in the packed sand unwilling to move. She jerks her hand but little did it move. Shouting was useless her throat became numb, after inhaling the odors. They entered a small shop; up front an array of skins hung by order of different animals. Those of poor quality were laid out on stalls.

The smell of leather oozed out irritating her throat even further.

Once inside she threw her to the ground; where more piles of skins were stacked. Landing directly on her fours she toppled over a few. "What do you want! Let me go!" Mina bellows loudly at her "Is that any way to greet your mama?" The woman's voice came up to match hers "my mama?" Mina shouts back the woman's hand lands on her bare cheek her roughed up scarf long abandoned her face. The rings on her feeble fingers giving the blow it's desired effect.

"Hush little girl, we are going home." She commanded." Home?" Mina was clearly upset and confused, the slap toning down her voice to almost a whisper. " You are a crazy lady. Please, I thank you for saving me, but I really need to get back to my master." Mina pleaded with her. The woman laughs out loudly that she almost choked. The laugh muffled by the heavy veil "Well look at how you've grown." "Excuse me." They both turned to look at the one interrupting them. It was the same charcoal eyed man I am sorry, but your careless slave forgot this.

" He extends his hand; in it a small pocket knife, that Mina carried around for protection. " I am not her slave, I don't even know this woman." He curiously looked to the woman then back to Mina. The old woman takes the knife from him Shukria, young man." she looked at him waiting for him to leave. Mina's eyes pleaded with him praying he would buy her words.

She now noticed his faded jubbeh, the multiple rips and tear, only one on his shoulder drew her attention, highlighted with a fresh blood stain. He picked up one of the skins and threw it to the old woman, he reached for one of the rope; used to hang the skins and tied it around her waist. " Run, hurry run!" Mina stared at him as he finished his task, then took off urging her to follow, she gathered her bag gets up and ran. She did not stop to look back even once, until she was safely inside the castle walls.

~~~

Munir comes out from his room, just when she was about to catch her breath. " What did I tell you about your morning walks..." Munir mocks, walking to the east wall; his eyes gliding through the shelves. "Am sorry kaka Munir, please don't be angry she blurted out. Years passed, and yet she still, was not used to him treating her as an equal. If it was the constant reminder of whom she truly was or out of mere respect. It challenged her, how the lashes struck her dear friend, like the first rain on the bare soils eroding its jubilance and sheen. Yet the same on her would yield to an exchange of opinion.

"Ya Mina, I fear for you. Do not go around getting into trouble." Mina sighs "But kaka I simply went for a walk with Manal." Munir stares at the row carefully searching for something "People can't be trusted Mina don't forget that." Mina hangs her bag on a rack behind the door; where Munir kept his leather belts of swords. "Oh before I forget I need you to wash some clothes, I have kept the basket in your room." Mina straightened out her dusty yellow jubbeh and goes to her room. She finds the basket right in front of her bed; the same one that seemed so luxurious to her the first time, now she viewed it as one of her many unnecessary comforts.

Groups of maids and helps flashed about the hallways one after the other. This one carrying a load of clothes that one a stock of armory, another a basket of dried fruit their feet heavily pounding on the poor tiles. Marching back and forth to the usual work rhythm. Every time her mind would drift off to the fine mysterious pair of charcoal eyes, then the old hag which would drag her back to the present. The crowd started shifting people squeezing themselves to the walls to make a path, everyone stood still all their heads bowed to the ground as the arrogant royal passed through. Mina in all her time in the castle never had the privilege of meeting the most ruthless person in all of Madiyan at least that is what Manal calls him. " Even the king himself is no match for his own son.

But no one actually knows for sure, as the Prince is always locked up or on a mission somewhere. The few who have met him tell terrible stories about him. They say when he was a child he killed his own cat. How heartless! Once his cobbler was asked about him, he said it is like dealing with Iblis himself. For this reason people fear their fates, they know the worst is yet to come. That is why we never speak of him you have been warned Mina." She would tell her whenever the topic came.

A group of soldiers passed by;assuming a ring position to shield their prince. A minute passed; before she loaded her basket back on her head, supporting it with her hand for balance. Her ears picking up the usual gossip from the others. She heard the same news being repeated constantly. One would say "They want to change tradition?" Another one answering her but in a different conversation "They want to change. This time, the princesses are to be invited here in mahdiya. They say it's too dangerous for the royals to go on a trip, when the kingdom is on the verge of a war outbreak."

Someone from the back interrupted "Oh that is going to bring bad luck to us." then a slave said "We are doomed anyway." A grumpy head maid jumps in "All of you tie up those loose mouths! You are here to work!" Mina turns up a sharp corner to another small hallway leading to the south wing. She entered the third door to her right.

Her feet stomping on puddles of soap, soaking the helm of her jubbeh. She spots an empty place; among a group of young women and squeezed her way to assume it. "Look at her, coming in here like she owns the place." A base voice announced "I really liked Khalid more." A small servant commented dreamily staring into the distance, adding more detergent to the already soapy bundle." the cheerful young man was very charming." A wide-eyed slave agrees "I bet he has become very handsome." the base voiced one added. "Stop it!" Another slave commands. Slapping her dirty clothes into the water as they laughed.

A creek silence them, along with all the other gossips. The high head maiden; a small tiered lady in a plain blue silk dress, loose against her well maintained aged figure. Her hair tied in the common braided bun, tucked away inside a matching scarf. She was the oldest servant in the castle, her service to the royal family going back to the large war.

She saw the late queen's birth, serving her until her apparent death, after which she took responsibility for the young prince. In truth everyone adored her; she was the role model of every slave girl and maid however small they may be. Behind her were two guards in their uniforms. She looks around choosing precisely three girls from each basin. From tall to small, dark and fair; like she knew exactly who she was looking for. At Mina's basin first she chose the wide-eyed slave, then the small servant lastly was Mina. "Those chosen are to meet, at the gather hall after lunch." Her old shaky voice commandeered the silence. Soon after her announcement she walks out.