CHAPTER 27: AT DAWN

Twisting and turning to get a better sweet sleeping position was hassana on her iron bed that she loved so much. It was a gift from her uncle at the time she completed a mission in a village caught with plague.

The bed was painted yellow, her favorite color with stripes of black. Her father gave her a lot of chicken feathers to fill her pillow with and her mother gave her a new bedsheet which she decorated with hearts using yellow embroidery.

Hassana was busy having an interesting, incredible, fantasy dream about flying over a large sea sitting on top of a large silver tray. It was so mind blowing and entertaining that she even closed her eyes enjoying the breeze on her face.

"Wake up! Hassana! Wake up now!!!"

Opening her eyes, she began to wonder who will disturb her fantasy flight just like that! Why would that person ask her to wake up? Was she not awake already and even flying…..she opened her eyes wide and saw the mud ceiling then her mother was staring at her frowning.

"Didn't you said that the general asked you to be at the golden camp at dawn?"

Yes, but it's not dawn yet... She looked at the window and was shocked. It was broad daylight and the way the sun was shining, one would thought it was afternoon.

Hassana quickly sprang out of bed looking through the window. Oh no! She is late! She's in trouble. The general asked her not to be late but here she was busy dreaming about flying on a tray.

She began to rummage around the room in haste, picking up her clothes, hijab, picking and dropping things around the room. Then she suddenly stopped and looked at turai.

"Inna, is it past the cock crow now?"

"Is it past the cock crow?! Young lady, it's almost noon."

Noon!!! Innalillahi! Panic stroke. She quickly perform the salat, dressed up and went out without even having breakfast. She was supposed to meet zakari at night in his house to tell him to accompany her to the golden camp but she forgot. Now she knew he has gone to the physician's quarters in the city.

It looks like she have to go alone, unchaperoned which is really wrong and to add to her dismay, her father went out with his donkey so she have to trek which will make her to be more late. However the more she wasted time standing by the door to their house, the harsher the general will be upon her.

Even the sun wasn't easy on her. It was so hot even though it is still morning. She walked, jog even run just to be a little bit faster but the golden camp is too far from the city. Why does she have to oversleep like that? She never slept off on important things as that.

Haidar, the imperial physician had already gathered the army physicians at the golden camp and was giving them exams organized by the general to test their knowledge of medical abilities and how to give emergency administrations. He was told that a lady will join them at dawn but he haven't seen any girl nor lady came to the field the exams was taking place.

Shamsuddeen joined the imperial physician sweating from training with his soldiers and wiping his face with a towel handed to him by a servant. The servant shifted backwards to give them space to talk.

"No sign of the lady, right?" asked shamsuddeen looking around.

"No general. May be she's still sleeping."

Answered the imperial physician, smiling a little bit.

"Huh, typical of young ladies of now a days, they seemed serious but lazy in the end."

"Who said I was lazy?!"

They both turned around to see the heaving hassana. She was seriously panting and looking offended.

"Well, are you not the niece of the city physician, zakari?" said the imperial physician pointing at her.

"Yes...that's me." She said still panting and bending.

"You were supposed to report at dawn."

Shamsuddeen fixed her with a sharp gaze.

This general have no idea what she went through to reach there. She trekked until she couldn't even lift her leg then fortunately, she met a cart man carrying less load and pleaded with him to give her a ride. Although the ride was short, it helped a great deal.

The drylands was the worst and she had to trek again until she saw a lone horse rider who helped her to the mountains. From there she continue to climb until her thigh became so stiff she had to rest. No breakfast and she forgot to bring even water, she soon became so weak and dehydrated.

Luckily for her a shepherd was leading his cattle up the mountains saw her and helped her with dry cheese and water. She ate like no tomorrow and regained back a little strength that pulled her through to the golden camp.

"Yes general, there have been an incident."

"Do tell." He folded his arms listening.

Tell what? That she overslept and even forget to bring her chaperone along. Forget it.

"My mother woke up ill and I have to do most of the house chores and make sure she is steady before leaving."

Since there is no how to confirm her story, he have to believe it. If her mother is sick, she wouldn't just leave her and rush to the camp, right? Clever idea, she praised herself.

After focusing on her face and it revealed nothing that will make her story false, shamsuddeen relaxed. He wanted to get her disqualified but her genuine reason cannot be denied. He must still find a way to throw her out.

"Very well. Join in. Your colleagues were here since dawn performing an examination and no result have been yielded. Let's see how good people say you are."

Hm! Of course he will see. There were thirty apprentices from different site of the city participating. Everyone of them was indulged in their work. Hassana went to the table provided for her and stood in front of it facing the imperial physician and the general. On the table lies different herbs and to her left were other people acting as the patients. Immediately, she understood the situation.

A man has a large gush on his arm, the other has a huge cut on his chest. Another man is coughing while another was unconscious and many other cases. Every apprentice has chosen a patient to treat and no one went for the unconscious man.

Who knows what his ailment is? There are several ailment that could lead to loss of consciousness. If the wrong treatment is given to the patient, he might lose his life. Who will take that risk? Who will if not hassana?

The examination is quite challenging because she have to go for the only patient that was left which was the unconscious man. She began to regret coming late. Multiple of things could have made the man to faint but which one?