The desert is a relentless field where one can never let their guard down. They ought not, for no matter how much you were prepared, danger sprouts out of nowhere in there. Whether it's weather, wild beasts, or outlaws, falling for one of those could be the end. In the desert, you're never safe. Crossing it takes a great deal of determination and resolve.
It was a challenge.
Only those with a burning passion to achieve something preferred it over the safety of their houses. And this man was no different.
He had crossed it hundreds of times, he memorized every mound and every palm tree in his path, yet he never could be at ease of mind while traveling, even when in a group. The only time he could ever breathe in relief and let go of the tension in his shoulder was once he entered a town or village.
Yet this time was different.
" Something is off…" the man said once his caravan crossed the Northern gate of Al-yamama. Beneath the soft clothes defending his body and face from the heat, the golden eyes squinted at the surroundings.
The streets were empty, houses had been long since deserted, and not a single shade of green was in sight.
" It seems Al-yamama has also succumbed to the drought." A dark-tanned man with short brown hair and golden earrings prodded his horse closer to their caravan's leader. " The situation is far more concerning than we thought."
" Excuse me," the leader called out to an old man walking down the street while leaning on a rough stick. The elder looked back at him as he climbed down his horse and dropped the white cloth covering his face. " Is Malik around?"
" You… Sindbad!" The old man's eyes went wide with shock.
" Sindbad…"
" He is here…"
Hearing that, a few people from the neighborhood gathered around them. " Sindbad! It's been a while!" The happiness was palpable on their faces as they greeted him.
" How has your journey been?"
" Are you staying here for the night?"
Sindbad flashed them his best smile as he tried to speak over all of their questions. " Probably. I was hoping to replenish our rations and have a word with the Sheikh."
At those words, everyone looked down. The glint of their eyes died almost immediately and their expressions became glum. Sindbad caught that and proceeded to change the subject. " Anyway, where is Zarqa? Usually, she spots me days before and is always waiting for me by the gate."
" I'm afraid that the girl didn't even see you coming this time, Sindbad…" The old man turned around, facing the furthest tower from them. " Lately, she has been facing West, her eyes seeing something unfathomable to the rest of us."
Sindbad's eyes trailed over to the Northwest tower. Murmurs broke all around him. " She should just stop."
" She had lost her mind already, what use is she now?"
" We can't trust a word of her."
" Sindbad," his comrade called out to him, leading both their horses towards them. " Are you sure about this?"
" Jaber, take care of the lodging for tonight." Sindbad took off in the direction of the watching tower." There is someone I ought to see first."
━━━━━━━༺ *** ༻━━━━━━━
Zarqa leaned over the parapet, squinting in the direction of the western lands. Her hands shook with ferocity at the memory of that morning.
She wanted to help. She only had the best of the town in her heart. Yet…
" What's she?"
" This girl is not a human!"
" You leave our village! You demon spawn!"
" No matter how far I go, I guess I will always be haunted by what my eyes could see…" she murmured to herself weakly.
" Ho, you got me interested there, I wonder what those beautiful eyes of yours are gazing upon, Zarqa."
The girl jolted and swiveled around only to see a muscular man with sun-kissed skin, shining golden eyes, and long purplish hair combed into a ponytail climbing out of the trap door leading to the top of the tower.
The man stood before her, smiling broadly. " Been a while, Zarqa."
" Sindbad!" Zarqa cried in delight as she threw herself on him. Sindbad gladly returned the hug before stepping back, carefully taking her appearance.
" You've already grown this much. It won't be long before I could actually ask for your hand from Malik."
" Enough playing around!" Zarqa puffed her cheeks in annoyance, her face flashing red as she turned from him and Sindbad laughed mirthfully.
" Hahaha, sorry sorry…" He gave a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his head. Zarqa for once could see how much he had grown as well.
" When did you come?"
" I've just arrived," he said leaning his back on the parapet and staring off into the desert. " And since you weren't there to greet me as per usual, I thought of surprising you."
Zarqa looked down and propped her elbows over the battlement, squinting in the distance, gazing upon something only she could see.
" What's it that got your interest, Zarqa?"
Her fists balled so tightly her knuckles went white.
" You can trust me, Zarqa."
Could she?
" I-"
"Zarqa!"
They both snapped towards the door once it was pushed open and a young man faced them. " Zarqa! Malik has…!"...
━━━━━━━༺ *** ༻━━━━━━━
When they reached the house, it was surrounded by the villagers, all of whom wearing worried expressions. Zarqa shouldered her way through both men and women and delved into the house's yard. There, she saw a neighbor of theirs, Halima, who had been looking after the sick Malik while Zarqa was guarding their perimeter.
" Aunt Halima! What happened?"
The woman looked down and shook her head, a pained look apparent in her eyes and her voice cracked. " He's fallen too ill Zarqa. This time, I thought he..." Taking a deep breath, she tried to face the girl. "Mostly he won't have long…" Halima turned around to wipe away her tears.
Zarqa did not dawdle around and rushed to her father's room. The man was in a miserable state, sweating buckets, his face chalk white, and his dry mouth held slightly open. His chest barely rose and fell with each breath which seemed to be a daunting task for him at that point. Coupled with how meager he was, one might have thought he had passed away long ago.
Zarqa walked over to him with shaky steps and leaned her head over his chest, listening to his weakened heartbeat. Her eyes went watery with tears as she took his ice-cold hand in hers. Once again, she recalled her mother's last moments.
That was it. She was going to lose her father.
" Someone head to the market and fetch me Jaber!" Sindbad shouted over the murmurs of the people, his voice bearing nothing but urge and seriousness. " Hurry up!"
Few boys broke out of the huddle and lunged down the path to the market.
Sindbad walked to Zarqa and placed a hand on her shoulder. " Jaber is our healer, he's the best I've seen out in the desert. He will be able to do something."
Zarqa nodded and turned around, holding into Sindbad's hand without raising her eyes from the ground. " Please… please save Baba, Sindbad…"...
━━━━━━━༺ *** ༻━━━━━━━
Not before long, the crowd around the Sheikh's house was dismissed. Jaber was quick to answer to Sindbad's call and even quicker to grasp Malik's situation.
" His pulse is too weak. Considering his age, it's a miracle he made it this far with so little nourishment and no remedies at all," Jaber told them while placing Malik's arm back under the covers.
" Can you save him?" Zarqa asked, worry and fear taking over her.
Jaber looked back at her and then at Sindbad. " Spare no effort, Jaber," his leader spoke out as he gazed down upon the sick man. " Malik is my savior. Food, medicine, anything you require, take it from me and help him."
Jaber gave a deep sigh and his eyes locked with Sindbad. " You know we still have a long journey. You were hoping to replenish in this village but the situation is as you see, Sindbad. There is no guarantee that we could do any trading in the coming towns as well. We have so little for ourselves, and yet…"
" Jaber."
It was one word, yet it was enough to make Jaber reconsider his position. " You're an unbelievable man. Don't come crying to me later."
Jaber stood up and left the house to fetch what he needed. Zarqa turned back to Sindbad, unable to look him in the eye. " Thank you. I'll always be in your debt."
" Don't say that," he smiled as he knelt before her so their eyes could meet. " You and Malik saved me once when I was lost in the desert. This is so little in return."
His big hands fell on her shoulders as he gave her the best encouraging smile he could offer. " Don't lose faith Zarqa. Malik will make it through."
With a tear tracing down her cheek, Zarqa nodded her head when it suddenly occurred again.
One moment, she was there in front of Sindbad, the second, she was thrown into a raging storm of fire and smoke, with people around her crying and asking for help.
She took a step back, holding her head. " Are you alright?" Sweat ran down her front, making the other man worry for her.
It was the same vision. There was no doubt about it. The village was going to be burnt to the ground soon. But what could she do even with knowing that? The villagers never believed her.
" Zarqa! Answer me!"
She held into Sindbad as if he was a ray of hope and her Sapphire eyes found his golden ones. It was then that she made up her mind. If no one in her town would believe her, she had no other choice but to ask the man before her for help.
" Sindbad…" Zarqa's grip tightened on the silky fabric of his clothes. " Please lend me your help."...