The quiet and peaceful night, which was dimmed bright because of the candle lights coming from some houses, the night opened businesses and the bright silvery full moon hung in the sky above the earth. Everyone except those who decided to make their nights their moment of dark shades, were asleep. Even the palace was as quiet and peaceful as the rest of the streets in Egypt.
Asim, sneakily entered the palace dungeon, not waking up the sleeping soldiers who were supposed to be guarding the dungeon meant for the palace offenders and any royal family who sins or commit a crime. He walked further through the narrowed path, with his hair and half face covered with a green shawl, leaving just his eyes opened.
He got to a cell and came face to face with one of the strongest palace guard assigned to guard the cells in the dungeon. The huge, gigantic man grunted and glared at the prince menacingly. Prince Asim dipped his hand in his sleeve and brought out a small bag of precious stones and handed it to the soldier who collected it hastily.
"That costs a fortune. Do not let anyone in until I am done. Go to the front gate and stay there. The guards are sleeping and shouldn't suspect anything." he said to the man who grunted and left immediately.
Asim walked a few steps further and stopped in front of a cell. He looked at the man whose head was bowed with his long hairs falling across his head and reaching his kneels which were on the floor. The man's hand were spread opened and chained to each side of the cell. Asim opened the unlocked cell and walked in forcing the disheveled man to raise his head up.
"Asim?" he called in a low and almost inaudible voice.
Asim knelt before him and moved his hair away from his face. "How are you? Are the guards treating you well? Did they give you something to eat?" he asked concerned about the man before him.
Bardiya smirked, "I am in jail, the royal dungeon for the palace offenders. There is no way I will be treated like a prince in this dungeon." he said with sarcasm.
Asim sighed and sat on the floor. "Sorry I haven't been coming to see you. I was busy making sure our plan doesn't fail." he said softly with his voice filled with pain and sadness.
"How is the progress?"
"Koshari isn't as easy as I thought, he is hard to control and only want to do what he wants. I am afraid he might betray us and take on this fight alone. He is causing trouble now. But, his hatred for Karim is stronger now and I know my brother hates him more after stealing his bride away."
"I knew about this even before I told you to release Koshari from the forbidden hills and gave you the red seal wrecker ring and I have thought of a plan ahead to keep the brothers under our feet. Koshari will never go under our command because we released him from his cage, but we will force him to go under our command."
Asim looked at him with his eyebrow lifted. "What do you have in mind?"
Bardiya laughed silently and leaned his face closer to Asim's. "Not for you to know now my dear. When the time comes to execute the plan, I will let you in. For now, follow Koshari gently and learn his every move and every plan. He will surely betray us and that will be a benefit to us."
Asim scratched the back of his neck confused. Bardiya is a genius and his wise words are like that of an old man.
Bardiya seeing the confused look on Asim's face, brought his hand to his cheek and gently caressed it. "Don't be confused now my love, just do what you have to do and leave everything for me. Do not stress yourself anymore. We will rule together and have everything under our command and then, we can be together. Just trust me."
Asim looked up until he caught the gaze of Bardiya and the two remained still staring at each other and not blinking away. They stayed in a position for some minutes and was only broken when Bardiya smirked loudly.
Asim sighed and looked down. "I trust you a lot Bardiya and I will do everything you say. I will leave the planning and thinking to you, you know what is best and how well to make us rule together and be together with no law stopping us from loving each other."
Bardiya smiled lopsidedly and leaned more closer until their foreheads touched each other's.
.....
A groan escaped the lips of Satiah when she felt a gently tap on her hand. She faced the other side and breathed out. The tap came again causing her to hiss loudly and wish she could break the hand of who so ever it was trying to cut short her sleep. The tap came again and this time, she opened her eyes ready to lambast the unsuspecting person but stopped when she saw the nervous girl standing beside her, fumbling with the hem of her garment. She calmed down and laid back on the bed with a short grunt escaping her lips.
"Your highness, it's time to eat with the family. We need to get you dressed so you can eat with them." she said nervously, avoiding eyes contact with her head still bowed.
"Don't be nervous, I don't bite.... How old are you?" Satiah asked.
The young girl shifted a bit, uncomfortable, but adjusted herself with her head still bowed. "I am a decade and seven years your highness, please do not punish me."
"I don't punish because you tell me your age." she said and stretched loudly. Her mind went to Herneith and she smiled a bit. She did miss Herneith who was becoming more like a sister to her. She is always nervous too which got Satiah wondering if all maidens were like that in Egypt. She sighed deeply and got up from the bed.
After dressing her up, the two young maidens assigned to her, led her to the royal family dinner court where they eat together everyday.
Satiah walked into the court and marveled at the decor. The palace has places that always seems to amaze her. The attention of the royal family present were all on her immediately she walked in which made her force a smile and bowed to them.
"Join us." Queen Tati said pointing at an empty seat. Satiah caught the Queen's gaze and quickly look away. The queen gaze where so strong that she felt a strong force on her like a laser beam directed towards her.
She took a deep silent breath to make her unsteady heart stabled before she took a step but... she missed her step and slipped. She fell on someone behind her, her head resting on a broad chiseled chest. The scent of mint and lemon filled her nose.