Now that she was alone, Sarina tried to process everything she had just been through. The room she had been given was spacious. The walls were a pale peach and there were plants on small end tables next to the large bed that was covered in a white blanket. There was a canopy above the bed that was made of a thin white sheer material. There was a vanity in the front of the room with a large mirror and a bowl of water.
Sarina walked up to the mirror and examined her face, shocked at poor condition of her skin. Her face was red and peeling, her lips almost purple and chapped. Dirt and sand sprinkled her face, making her skin feel irritated and gritty. Sarina sighed and shook her head. She had just met the most stunning man she had ever seen and she was looking her worst.
Sarina's mind drifted to to Caspar. She wondered what made him stop and save her in the desert. He seemed reserved but kind. He said that he was from her city originally. That seemed amazing that of all the people to rescue her, it would be one of her own country men. He looked to be about 5 years or so older than her, maybe they had seen each other when they were little. It must've been horrible for something to make him leave and seek refuge in the desert.
While she thought about what could've chased him out the desert, she tried to clean her face with the water, but when the liquid touched her skin she hissed at the painful burning sensation. She must be pretty badly burnt for this to happen. Even though Sarina had grown up on the edge of a desert, she had never been sun burnt before. Her parents hardly let her leave the house and her mother fussed like a mother hen whenever she did happen to get out. Sarina hoped the healer would get here soon. She settled for brushing the sand out of her loose curls and changing into a simple blue dress that she found in the room's closet.
While Sarina was adjusting her hair, she heard a small knock on the door to her room. She turned and called for whom ever it was to come in. An older looking maid with a kind face and soft voice opened the door,
'Hello madam. I am Darya, head maid of this house. Master wanted me to check on you and see if you were up to having lunch in the garden now.' The lady bowed as she spoke and then smiled at Sarina.
'Thank you yes, lunch sounds wonderful' Sarina answered and followed the maid through the home to the garden at the back of the house.
More paradise, Sarina thought. The garden was filled with exotic flowers, more palms, soft grass and she even heard water trickling somewhere farther back. She wondered again how all of this is possible.
Caspar greeted her with a nod and motioned with his hand for her to join him at the table that was filled with delicious looking food. She sat down and the man-servant whose name she had yet to learn began filling their plates with food.
'How are you feeling?' Caspar asked.
'Much better than when I was in the desert. You had mentioned a healer that would be coming?'
'Yes she should be here soon.' Caspar looked suddenly nervous and he spoke slowly. 'Now that we have arrived, there is something I should explain to make your stay here easier' he began.
'O-okay' Sarina responded, reacting to his anxious disposition.
'Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but this city is very different from where you are from, and probably from anything you've ever seen.' Sarina nodded her head for him to continue. 'You see, there is a reason for that. Magic.' He finished a little abruptly, just wanting to spit it out. Few people knew of real magic. Most assumed it was just fairytales or lore, but only those who practiced it or came in contact with a community like this one were privy to the very real details of sorcery.
Sarina's eyes widened, not sure to believe her ears. Did he just say magic? Her mind began swirling with questions and possibilities. What did this mean for her? What about the whole region? Why were they hiding in the desert? Why didn't they let themselves be known? Or rule the entire region? Were they evil? Good? What???
Caspar watched her carefully as he delivered the news. He watched her eyes grow as large as saucers and her face fill with questions. He knew this was overwhelming information but there was no way she wasn't going to notice while staying here. Everything in Azzaran was dependent on magic. Being from Bamm, Caspar knew Sarina had probably never considered that magic could be real because the people there had never been exposed to magic, at least not when he was there. Looking at her face, he guessed that hadn't changed.
'Are you okay?' Caspar asked.
'Are they evil?' She began. Of all of her questions that seemed to be the most relevant.
'No.' He said quickly. 'The people of Azzaran are peaceful, wishing only to be safe and practice in peace. The desert provides the magic and they just channel it. However, they are not the only ones who practice, and the others are not quite as benevolent.'
'I have too many questions' Sarina decided out loud, more to herself than to him.
Caspar relaxed as he saw that even though she was overwhelmed, she wasn't in shock. He smiled a little at her curiosity, reminding him a little of himself. When he found this city years ago, he had wanted to know everything.
Caspar was about to ask her what else she wanted to know when Amir, his head male servant, came out the garden and announced that the healer had arrived.
Caspar stood and Sarina followed his lead as they waited a moment before a woman in a flowing yellow dress stepped out into the garden. Sarina's jaw almost fell off as she stared at what had to be the most beautiful woman ever created enter the space with them.