Leila had prepared four ducks for dinner. Marinated in salt, pepper, and herbs, brushed with clarified butter, and cooked on a bed of coals, along with a simple dipping sauce made of vinegar and olive oil, served with some raw, seasonal vegetables. Additionally, she had made a dessert with goat milk and minced dates. A sweetened, minty cold drink accompanied this delicious repast.
She had prepared the food in ample amounts because she knew that both Ameer and Omru had big appetites.
The table was set with steaming dishes, and her adoptive parents were already seated at the table.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of their horses approaching. She opened the door before they could knock.
They were both dismounting. She smiled at them.
"Shoes, stay outside and wash your hands in the barrel," she called out to them cheerfully.
"Yes, ma'am, only Hamza isn't wearing any shoes," replied Omru with an evil smile, and he hurried towards the water barrel.
"What?" she said, confused.
"Nothing, mother. Be with you in a minute," replied Ameer hastily.
Leila was done setting the table when they both entered through the door. They greeted the grandparents and sat down to eat.
For a few minutes, there was nothing but the sounds of chewing and drinking.
Then Ameer started to tell his grandfather about the sales that day.
Omru chewed his food with relish without paying much attention to the conversation. However, when Ameer got to the part about the mysterious old man, Omru looked up, now paying attention to every syllable.
"One minute he was there, and the next he was gone, just like that." Ameer snapped his finger.
"What did you say he gave to you?" asked his grandfather Araastu.
Omru took out the piece of parchment and handed it to the old man.
"This. But it's empty. He said he couldn't find a use for it," Omru told him.
Araastu studied the parchment closely, deep in thought.
"It seems to be empty now, but it may have been written in some sort of invisible ink." He said.
"How can we find out if it is, grandfather?" asked Omru with great interest.
"Patience, child. Maybe fire or salt water can release its secrets," replied Araastu.
"Let's put it on the coals right now," said Omru, jumping up.
"If you put it on coals directly, it will be burned to ashes" Replied Ameer. "Won't it, grandfather?" He turned to the old man.
"Yes, it will." "Let's test it with salt water first," he replied.
Ameer got up and brought some water in a bowl. He then mixed the salt into it, making a solution.
Araastu put his hand in the bowl and sprinkled a little water on the parchment. Nothing happened.
Omru looked disappointed.
"Hmmm. Now go and put some green leaves on the fire to make it smoky," he said, gesturing to the coal pit outside where Leila had roasted the birds that day. Ameer and Omru both went outside and gathered up some green leaves. When the fire started emitting thick smoke, they called Araastu.
He came out with the help of his walking stick, walking with a slight limp. He held the parchment over the smoke for a few minutes. Nothing happened. He then turned the parchment around. Writing began to appear on the parchment at once. Omru exclaimed in excitement.
"Something is happening brother, look," he said.
Ameer nodded, smiling, his expression full of excitement.
Araastu finally took the parchment out of the smoke and laid it flat on the wooden table inside, which was now clear of dishes.
It seemed to be a map of some sort. All three of them pored over it.
"This is the map to a cave, I think," Ameer commented.
"Treasure cave?" said Omru excitedly.
"Not necessarily, Omru. It could just be for a regular cave; not every cave can be a ' treasure cave'." Said Ameer reasonably
"Why else would you draw a secret map to a cave if it doesn't have a treasure?" argued Omru.
"I am just saying don't get your hopes that high up. It could be someone's idea of a prank," he said.
Omru looked crestfallen.
"I suppose there is only one way to find out if it is a treasure cave or not," said Araastu with a smile. "You two shall go and explore it yourselves."
Omru exclaimed in excitement, and Ameer's face split up into a huge smile.
"This shows the path to it. But the entrance to the cave might be buried." Araastu continued. "See, there is no proper gate drawn here. Merely a rock," he concluded.
"Where do you think it is?" asked Ameer.
"About two days ride from here to the east Some sort of forest range, from what I can gather," he replied.
"Let's go tomorrow." "I cannot wait for the treasure hunt," began Omru.
"Now wait just a second. Where do you think you are going?" Leila had joined them unnoticed.
"With your permission, ma'am. Can we please go to look for the treasure?" Omru turned to her respectfully.
"Who says it's a treasure map?" she asked them.
"Why else would one draw a map, mother?" Ameer, too, joined his friend.
"You said so yourself that it could be a prank.". She said.
"Yes, mother, but what if it isn't?" he replied
"We don't need any treasure, Ameer." "We have enough, by the grace of God," she said, turning to her son.
"Mother, it's more about the adventure." The treasure isn't important.
Began Ameer.
"Wait! It isn't? My father just cut off my entire----" Ameer and showed him his eyes. So Omru changed tracks midsentence: "Uh, I mean, I could do with a few days of camping and hunting. We didn't get trained for no reason."
"And the change of scenery might do us good." Finished up, Ameer.
"I've got you trained so you can protect yourself." Do not go treasure hunting," Leila argued.
Omru looked disappointed.
Ameer turned to his grandfather helplessly.
"Leila, my child. Have faith in these two. Let them live some of their lives. Ameer is the best swordsman that I have ever seen in my life. And Omru's cleverness has no match. It won't be easy to cross these two." He told her gently.
"But you know what happened, father." "You know what happened to me—to Ameer's father," she argued back.
"He was too trusting. You said so yourself. And how will Ameer turn out to be any different than him if you shelter him from the real world? He needs to break free of his cocoon if you want him to have a different fate," he told her.
Leila sighed and put her head down.
" Fine. But promise me, you two will not do anything reckless and stupid. That you will return and you won't indulge yourself in unnecessary peril." She turned to them.
"We promise, mother," replied Ameer. His voice wavered with excitement. Omru's face had split into a wide smile.
"Won't you inform your father, Omru?" asked Leila.
"I would if he was actually home. Left on a trading trip. I haven't seen him for a fortnight. I will tell his second in command. He will pass it on," replied Omru, shrugging.
"So what do we need to travel?" began Ameer excitedly.
"We must start at once if we are to leave tomorrow." Omru started at the same time.
"Patience again, children. You cannot leave tomorrow, no matter how much you try. You may need a few things, and those you can get from the market tomorrow. You will leave at dawn the day after tomorrow. The journey might take some time, and I want you both to be well prepared." His grandfather interrupted.
He began to give them instructions and a list of things to buy. Rope, leather shoes, belts, daggers, dried food, sturdy water skins, and lots of dates
Leila then brought out a small package. She opened it and found a small package. She opened it. It contained a roughly cut, thick bronze ring. It bore a crest.
"What's this, ma'am?" asked Omru with great interest.
"It was Ameer's father's; it's the only thing I have of him. It's his family crest." She replied, looking at the ring with her eyes full of tears.
"It belongs to you now, Ameer. Keep it. But be safe. Your father may have had enemies, but he had many friends as well," she said with a tearful smile.
"I will always treasure it, mother," replied Ameer, hugging his mother.