38

In the midst of their tense exchange, something shifted. Despite their differences, Dastan and Farris found themselves silently agreeing to set aside their quarrels and join forces in the search for Noori.

Inside the banquet hall, laughter and music filled the air, spilling out into the tranquil back garden. Mounted on their steeds, Dastan and Farris, accompanied by a handful of guards, rode out through the palace gates, determined to unravel the mystery of Noori's disappearance. The night sky stretched overhead, clear and star-studded, yet the cold gnawed at their bones, a persistent reminder of the urgency of their mission. With each hoofbeat, Dastan felt the icy tendrils of apprehension tighten around his heart, a chilling sensation that seemed to grow with every passing moment.