CHAPTER 8

Quetsiya slipped and fell onto the muddy road. Panting, she looked up to see her sister already across the gate. Ayesha turned around and was alarmed. The guards had already caught up with their horses just a few feet from the caretaker. Ayesha began to run back to her sister but Quetsiya quickly screamed at her.

" DON'T! THERE'S NO TIME GO NOW!!!" Ayesha was revolted. She didn't want to abandon her sister but she knew the cost of going back to her. The king was after "Roohi" not Quetsiya. Ayi shook her head and scampered her way out of the palace gates. Tears streamed down her chin uncontrollably despite her restraint. She had to get out of here.

....

She had no idea how long she ran. There were about 30 guards on horses hunting down "Roohi". The villages and towns of the kingdom seemed to be on the opposite side of the palace and the forest was on the other. Ayesha was running through the grass lands. Extremely exhausted from the harsh sun, she didn't know how long she could go on. The forest was dense which extended till the mountain in the distant. Just then, there was a loud noise right behind her. The sound startled Ayesha and she tripped and fell on her face.

Slowly sitting upright, Ayi touched her forehead. There was blood on her hands. The headache kicked in strong this time. She rubbed the area above her ear and below her forehead but the throbbing sensation was very strong. She grunted in pain clenching her head tight. The world seemed loud. Too loud. She could feel her body twitching with pain and fear. Just then, everything went silent. All she could sense now was calmness. She opened her eyes to see the back of a man knocking out one of the guards. He, then mounted his horse and slowly rode towards the lady.

Ayesha was awestruck by his eyes. Black color smeared from left ear to the right, covering his eyes completely gave an ominous yet charming look. He wore a cloth on top of his nose and mouth blocking his features. Before she realized, Ayi found the man right next to her with one of his arms extended outwards. Out of natural reflex, she took his hand, got up on the horse and sat right behind him. The man gestured her to hold on to him. She obliged and caught him tightly. He smelled like lavender and the scent tingled her nostrils. Who is this and why did he help me? Also why does he smell like lavender... All the questions were interrupted by her throbbing head.

The man checked over his shoulder. After assurance, he immediately clicked his tongue and the horse took off in full speed right into the forest up ahead.