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¬ HILN 

There were guards stationed above and at the base of the walls, and we were approached by two of them, dressed in long black silken skirts that stopped at their calves and a sleeveless top that reached their waist, shying away from the waistline of their skirts to reveal an inch of skin from their belly. 

It was ridiculous and baffling to look at. They were dressed in women's clothing… but why did it suit them? 

Or was it because of the heat?

The others working outside the gates were dressed in slightly thick garbs that protected them from the sand or wind. 

Then again, it was considerably hot.

Faahire took a step forward and he suddenly spoke in a foreign tongue. I blinked, caught off guard as he conversed with the guards. Their eyes lit with sudden fear and weariness and from the commanding tone of his voice, I did not think it was anything good.