Prologue

It was daybreak waves of heat glistening under the midday sun. The desert was calm even the creatures who normally crawled around, knew better than to wander around at that hour. But the fine sheets of steaming sand was being disrupted by something else; two pairs of hooves were staining them. Their pace indicating fatigue nevertheless the riders pushed onward. Not oblivious to their conditions but eager to flee and reach the destination intended. Soon it got the best of her, and she passed out dropping into the hot sand. The bundle she was clutching lay on her chest the cries it emitted filled the once calm air. Her companion was brought to a halt by the sudden noise.

The man alighted his own ride to assess the problem. He knelt beside the fallen woman taking the bundle in his arms trying to sooth it. "OK little one, stop crying we are almost there please stop it!" Beneath the layers of cream fabric was a child about two moons old. He parted the layers a bit to reveal a round little face, its olive nature long gone thanks to the heat and heavy crying. Try as he might the child didn't stop, after all what did he know about children? He was a mere soldier with a task at hand." Umaymah ! Umaymah! Can you hear me? We can't afford to waste time please wake up." He shook the girl before him, but she did not move. She could not die under his watch, besides she was barely eighteen years and a whole life ahead of her. With the child balanced on his left arm, his right hand reached for a water bag from his belt. He takes a part of the cream fabric wets it a bit and wiped the child's face. He then opened the woman's white veil, sprinkled her face with the water and shovels some more in her dried mouth.

Umaymah's eyes squinted upon opening it took a while before she was back to her senses. "Tariq what did you do to her?" She reached out and took the child from him as she stood slowly cradling the child in her arms. Umaymah's large black orbs focused on the little being as she made hushing sounds for the child. All the while Tariq busied himself with the horses checking the saddles. Finally, after a lot of hushing and singing the screams stopped; a relieved Tariq undid his veil and poured some water on his face then galloped down the rest of it. "We must get on with the journey if we are to reach the town by sun down" with that he tied his veil back on. He was a man of little words; the entire journey Umaymah spent talking to either herself or the child. She didn't mind it at all, as soldiers were meant to be harsh. At first, she was annoyed with his silence but with time she got used to it. "Here we go again Manal our leader has spoken" she mocked, while replacing her scarf, tying it all the way to her face leaving only her eyes for sight. With his help she mounted her black steed her skirts only allowing her to ride sideways. Tariq took his position a top his roan mare.

No sooner had they resumed their journey when a group of heavily armed men surrounded them. The cunning desert raiders; "well well well ...look who has crawled out from their hole today? Interesting." One of them said observing the two focusing on the man whose cloths were a dead give away. The pendant on his shoulder clearly stating his status as a guard of high ranking. Tariq shot him his deadly glare his hand at the hilt of his sword. "You are so foolish to travel in an enemies' territory alone with a vulnerable being for a companion TSK TSK!" he paces around eyes still focused on him now where you a mere traveler things would be easy but am afraid this is not your lucky day." The thugs drew out their swords and Tariq did the same as he swiftly swung off his horse. He knew about raiders who sabotage numerous caravans which they came across, but the mission was so urgent he forgot to think it through.

The raiders were in pure white well covered to only reveal their murderous eyes. A few of them restrained the woman's horse while the others went to battle the lone soldier. Umaymah could not watch the sight, a top her horse she turned her focus to the package she was entrusted. Two months have passed and everyday she grew close to it. As the two stared at each other the child yawns and started to coo, usually Umaymah liked to think that she was talking to her "Yes, Everything will be alright my Manal. I will never leave you; we will fight till the end I promise they won't hurt you." She held her small brown eyes in her huge black ones while she giggles showing off her toothless smiles, for the briefest moment the world around them seem to freeze. A dagger flew from the crowd bringing her back to the scene as it grazed her cheek tearing the scarf making it to loosen up. Loud metal clashes wrung as he fought; five men were already down. Tariq on the other hand was badly injured his blue attire now black, wounds standing out from where swords ripped his armor.

Tariq as the name suggests killed his opponents by a single strike to the head. Though he was very fast and well-trained he was still outnumbered; with severe wounds slowing him down he saw himself collapse to the ground as a sword penetrated his torso. He never saw it coming busy with the ones in front he forgot his back. "Taaaariiiiiiiq...." Umaymah screamed as she watched in horror the lifeless body of her protector falling to the ground. The men turned to her laughing and mocking at the sight; the furious girl reached to her skirts and took out her dagger which she kept for these types of events. Umaymah flashed her dagger to them "Let me go and I won't reveal this encounter to my master." Her eyes threatening but underneath the torn veil her lips were quivering in fear. She knew very well her dagger was no match for their swords, but she had to try. "Oh dear girl your empty threats will get you nowhere.You are in no place to negotiate we do as we wish. A word to the wise be careful not to cross us or else." The speaker walked up to the girl on the horse raising his bloody weapon to her.

The stubborn girl threw her dagger and it hit the back of a man who was busy stripping the dead of any valuables. The speaker now not so amused ordered his partners to get her on her knee. After a painful struggle she bites one of the men and nearly escapes. But the girl's legs soon gave in, the men caught up with her. She was forcefully knelt down the bundle thrown in the sand from the ordeal, one of the men picks it up its cries deafening. "A life for a life that is the rule" the speaker announced pointing his sword to the fallen man; the dagger protruding from his back. He looks at the girl who was pleading for them to give her child back, to spare their lives. Irritated by the cries he shifts his gaze to the child, eyes widened with curiosity and signals the man with the child. Immediately he holds a dagger against the child's chest. "So who will it be?" Placing his bloodied sword to her neck" please don't hurt her am the one you should kill. She won't do you any harm but think of what havoc I can bring." She continues to plea as the man in front of her seem to debate within himself though you are right, the decision is not mine." Turns to his men "it is a consensus!" he shouts his crew were excited, until one of them starts to speak. "This is wrong we don't kill the innocent it's against the code" whispers of agreement rose among them. The leader looked unimpressed I guess my men have chosen then, shame you would have fetched a lofty price in the slave market ".

Without hesitation the sword in his hand slid perfectly across her throat; throwing her head on the ground. Blood splattered from the severed neck tainting the men's white attires as well as the sands beneath. "Ali what did you do? He will definitely have our heads" the same man stated. "Is anyone questioning my leadership?" everyone was silent, no one dared to answer his question. "I thought so" a cruel smile spread on his face." Cover our tracks and hurry up, we need to catch the slave market I have a baby to sell." He steals a final look at the child before helping out his crew.