7 Chapter 5

His finger tapped the armrest. The court ignorantly wove through the throne room. They didn't care for the conflict on coming. They merely gossiped about it as if they were discussing a decline in glass beads. He ran his tongue against his teeth. Their aloofness frustrated him. They didn't care for the deaths and abandonment of their fellow people. All because of these damned castes his predecessors had kept in place. He had to find a way to make them aware of severity of the situation. Earlier they'd asked to host a grand ball. For what? He couldn't care to listen. Sick of the sight before him, he stood. The beads on his bisht jingling as he walked down the dais. His citizens bowing low as he walked past them. He made his way through the hall to the doorway on the other end. Guards bowed and moved to follow him. He lifted a hand to stop them and kept walking. More djinn floated or walked around the garden he longed to stroll through. Instead he'd made a turn at a rose bush to the stables.

The stable people had ran off as soon as he gave the order. The smell of manure, hay and horse would've made an ordinary person shy from the stables but not him. The smell reminded him of home. It reminded him of a much simpler time when he wasn't wrapped up in his family's politics. There he removed his excess clothing and accessories. Only to be left in his sherwal and a shirt. He'd taken off his ghurta and replaced it with a head cover. He wrapped the material around the lower half of his face until only his eyes could be seen. He walked through the stable towards his horse. A large fawn Arabian horse. The great creature stood taller than him but smaller than an average house. Walking into his pen, he made an apple appear in his hand. The horse didn't look at him. He swiped a hand over the apple and a green pear stood in its place. His horse whined and pushed his hand away with his snout. He hid a small smile. He swiped his hand over the pear and it was replaced with a few dates. The horse huffed and begrudgingly ate the fruit off his hand. He used his free hand to stroke his tawny mane. He went off to fetch a saddle.

"Darius, we're going on a ride today. Do you have a problem with that?" He picked up his leather saddle. Darius, his horse, whined gleefully. He smiled to himself. He placed the saddle on Darius and strapped it on him. He placed a muzzle on the horse and made sure it remained still. He pulled his horse out of the stables, closed the gate, hopped on the horse and went on his way.

Djimon sat up high on Darius. Wind blew dust against his visor as his steed galloped across the desert. The kingdom was separated into different realms. The noble realm, the commoner realm and the outlier realm. Mountain ranges separated the noble realm and the commoner realm while a vast red desert, Ochre desert, separated the commoner realm from the outlier realm. The outlier realm was spotted with multiple nations and tribes that refused to be anywhere near the modernised cities and towns. It was where the most dangerous, unwanted and rare of djinns lived. It was commonly nicknamed the elite realm. Due to the high number of hidden luxury mansions and palaces that the elite and government officials had within the realm. That was where Djimon was headed.

He rode an extra hour in the desert until he reached the oasis gate. A secret passage that only people of the kingdom knew as a way to enter the outlier realm. It was disguised as a regular oasis in the desert. A sort of island of tropical gardens and a small pond as it's source of water, right in the middle of a sea of red sand. He'd reached the oasis. There were four paths in the oasis but only one of them led to the gate. He'd taken the path with the least traction and damage. This path was infused with magic so that each time it was used it would return to its original state before the settlement of people. He'd gotten of Darius and trekked through the muddy pond bank. Giant mangrove trees surrounded the coast. Oysters grew from the roots of the trees. He touched them as he walked by. The mangrove trees converged at the end of the path. He stopped before the root covered wall. He snapped his fingers thrice and twirled his hand twice. The root wall split apart revealing rolling hills of lush spring grass. He grabbed Darius by the muzzle and took him through the gate.

**

Riding across the evergreen and rocky mountainous terrain, the prince and his horse had passed multiple well settled towns, received many disgusted and angry looks and outrun a mysterious white misshapen monster. They'd arrived at the valley of nobles. Rolling hills of lush green, where a palace or mansion sat on a hilltop and wound down. At the bottom of the hill was nothing but a vast land of black and spots of brown. The Prince and his horse rode through the valley. When they reached the bottom of the valley, that's when he saw that the black surrounding was smoke and smog, the brown was barren landscape. Barely habitable homes of sand and cement lined the sides of the bottom of the hills. Men and women dragged themselves through the little town buying food and essentials from each other. Children wearing rags or oversized clothing played on the gravel road with nothing but sticks and their imagination. At almost every metre was a bucket left outside a house or under anything that would leak. In one of the hills was a cave opening. A line of round bellied women walked in. Shrill and chilling screams erupted from the hills accompanied with the stench of burnt meat. A chill slid down his spine. He couldn't imagine what took place in there. He scrunched his nose at the thought. How could his own people be living like this? What could've taken place for them to be living in such harsh conditions? There was a young girl or boy, he couldn't really tell, carrying a basket of dates on their head. He went up to them.

"Hello there." he called out the person.

" I'm too young to work for you." they said to him and continued walking.

He furrowed his brows and shook his head. "Oh no. That's not what I'm here for." well of course they're too young to work. It's illegal for children to work under 16.

"Could you please tell me what is this place?"

"You must be new. This is the valley of the forsaken." the young person put the basket of dates on the ground.

"Forsaken how?"

"Not allowed in the common or noble realm but not allowed to leave either."

"So what really happens here?"

"You see those palaces up there," they pointed at one of the magnificent mansions, "the nobles live there. We work for them and live here so that we're not far from them. That cave there is where the women abort their babies after their masters are done with them."

Djimom gasped in disgust. "But - but there are laws against this." how? How could this happen under his watch? Why was he not made aware of this? Where were the royals guards? They were meant to be all over the kingdom, in all the realms. Protecting the poor and vulnerable.

"As long as the monarchy doesn't reach here and the guards aren't here, the laws don't matter."

"Oh god."

" There's one good thing here. There's a noble family two hills down. They come down once a month and take a family out of here. Before they'd taken all the orphans and sent them to a nice home in the noble realm. They pay for their schooling and everything. It made me wish I was an orphan but I'd miss my baba too much." At least there were still kind nobles and elites out there that didn't turn their back on the people.

"You have no mother?"

"Mama died working for one of the nobles. They won't tell us what happened to her but I'm sure they killed her in anger."

Once again he'd gasped in shock. The nobles had killed an innocent woman. What for? He was sure the reason was pettiness. "I'm so sorry for your loss." he clenched his fist. A painful anger threatened to choke him. His court had done this to them. He'd severely deal with each of them when he returned.

"It's fine. I'm not the only one without a mama." the young person shrugged like it was not important. How numb could this child be that their mother's death didn't affect them.

Djimon went to his bag tied on the saddle. He took out a bag of golden coins. He gave it to the young person. The young person opened the bag and immediately dropped to the ground. They bowed to Djimon. Djimon stopped the person from making a big deal before he forgot why he made his way here.

"Do you know where the Al Rashid family lives?"

"Two hills down." The young person replied. So they must be the kind nobles? He thought to himself. It made a lot of sense considering their family background. They were probably thankful for their sons having a safe court to remain in and decided to help others that would've been in their situation. He thanked the person and got on his horse.

**

The Al Rashid family home was smaller than he anticipated. It was more a large manor than it was a mansion. An unattended garden where nature took its course and fountains would be spotted in the tree sat on both sides of the pathway. Such a garden would be an eyesore in the noble realm yet here it held a certain air of beauty around it. Dysfunctional yet appealing nature. Nature in its truest form. There were no guards at the gate. Only a sign that said 'push it open, you'll find someone inside.' His eyes darted around the property. Peering through the gate bars after figuring out that this was not a trap and the family was actually being serious, he pushed the gate open. The flower patterned steel gate opened up with a groan. Darius walked through and Djimon closed it behind him. He'd walked along the coloured stone path under the overarching palm trees towards the house. A wide cylindrical house without a roof. The door was a traditional arched door with arched grooves etched on the side. He'd reached the wooden door and looked for a bell or some sort of device that would announce his presence. When none was found, he knocked on the door. The sound of his knocking echoed in the house. It seemed like it was empty. He called out for someone. Had the entire family gone out? Were there no servants or anything? He highly doubted it, seeing as he had to open the gate himself. He turned to Darius, who'd found a grapevine winding it's way around a column.

"Darius, help me find the owner of this home." He begged the horse.

Darius huffed and begrudgingly moved away from the vines. Djimon followed his steed into the garden jungle until they'd come upon a large silver gilded cage where tables and chairs were placed in. A man and a woman sat on opposite chairs drinking tea and eating biscuits. There they are. Hamad and Eva. They hadn't changed since he'd last seen them. Eva was still as silver as the parted spots of an oncoming storm cloud, her hair as white as the first rays of the sun, her pointed ears and chime like voice were given to her by her fae heritage. Hamad being as red as thick blood, his two spiked pointed tails swept the ground under him, yellow eyes glowing like a lit up furnace and matted black and maroon scales covered his entire being save for a few smalls spots on his face and tails. It was always a wonder as to how a soft and light fae from the air folk and a rough and sharp dragon jinn managed to fall for each other. Love must really triumph even physical odds. Djimon knew he'd be too afraid of accidentally breaking her. They were an odd looking couple though lovely nonetheless. They didn't care what others said about them. They didn't bother with formalities. All they truly needed was each other. Djimon cleared his throat. The couple looked up and turned their heads to him. Hamad's eyes went orange as he beheld the prince. Not a good sign. Dragon jinns were notorious for being emotional. They could never hide how they felt. Most of the time, their emotions were shown through their eyes. Red was danger, orange for warning and yellow for peace. He swept a hand to the table. Djimon felt a little offended that the couple didn't acknowledge his title. They really didn't care who was before them, did they? He walked towards the cage as Darius turned back to find more food. The couple watched him as he took a seat at an empty chair.

"Would you like some tea and biscuits?"

"Yes please."

Hamad waved a hand at the tray. A new teacup, saucer and more biscuits appeared. Eva poured tea in the teacup and gave it to him.

"What brings you to our home your highness?" Hamad spoke first. Djimon noticed how he said our home and not mine. A noble man who acknowledges his wife's contribution. Very rare indeed.

Djimon filled the couple in on the impending war and how it threatens the realms. Eva didn't seemed to be too worried about it. Hamad's stress levels had risen. The heat radiating off him turned the forest around them humid. Djimon could feel sweat sticking to his body. Eva gave a nonchalant sigh which sent a chilly breeze to Hamad.

"Aside from the inevitable warning, what else brings you so far for something that could be delivered by text?"

"I need to talk with your son, Remi."

"What did he do?" Eva looked up in haste.

Djimon raised his hands in a calming gesture to Eva. "He hasn't done anything. I just need to talk with him as a minister. And I need you to talk to him as parents."

"About what?" Hamad's orange eyes took on a dangerous glowing cinders hue.

"Convince him to make the court of Ashes join the war."

"If we don't?"

"I don't want it to come to that."

"The court of Ashes has never gotten involved in anything. They've been neutral for centuries now. Why would they change their minds?" Eva spoke with such conviction. Djimon had to stop himself from reprimanding the woman. She was not a part of his court or his kingdom for that matter.

"Their parents need help."

"Their parents tossed them out or tried to have them killed." Hamad continued on. A chilly breeze blew in their direction. Eva was trying to calm Hamad down.

"Not all of them."

"You'll worsen the war and create new enemies with your approach."

"Anything to keep my people safe."

"Your people are down there unsafe and suffering everyday but I guess you're referring to the ones you can see."

Djimon flinched as if he'd been slapped. Shame washed over the prince. Hamad was right. Djimon only knew what he could see. "I didn't know what was happening here."

"If you were a good prince, you would." Djimon flinched again.

"I could kill you for talking to me like that." he ground his teeth and pulled away from the table.

"But you won't." He was right. Djimon couldn't lay a finger on Hamad or Eva. They were the poster couple of love has no bounds. Their children were perfect in every way. They were all loved by the common people for taking care of them and helping out where they could. Even before Eva came into the picture Hamad was a saint to the commoners. He was a threat. Djimon remembered a time during his training when his family warned him of Hamad. They'd warned him that Hamad was a threat to the monarchy and the throne. He had all the love of the commoners and the power of a noble. It was best not to step on his toes or the monarchy would be destroyed by the commoners. Nobles and monarchs were outnumbered 60 to 1. A revolt would kill them all. A revolt would completely change the foundations of the kingdom. Hamad was the greatest threat of all. And he could never be disposed of.

Djimon looked away from the smirk on Hamad's face. He clenched his jaw to stop from doing anything stupid. Looking ahead into the dense jungle, he whistled for Darius. Once his horse had fought through the leaves and arrived at the cage, he got up and walked away.

"Not yet." He muttered to himself once he was out the gate.