Make A Way

Li Hua and Hao Jin Ying noticed that Chang was missing a short while after they smacked on the delicious almond cakes. Li Hua was the one who noticed first after she turned to pass one to her daughter after having a few of the decadent treats but she wasn't there with them.

Looking around quickly they didnt see her in the crowded area near them either. Li Hua felt her heart start to palpitate with fear, as Hao Jin Ying and herself started searching the whole bazaar frantically, but were unable to find any trace of her.

After searching fruitlessly, the two of them hopped into a small horse drawn cart that had been provided for the two women and headed back to the palace.

Once back, Hao Jin Ying grabbed the first person they could find and had them bring them to Liang Jian Amal, who at the moment was with Hakim Al-hassan discussing the best way to go about the disappearances. Liang Jian Amal was in the middle of explaining why they couldn't just have soldiers patrolling the streets at all times when he saw Li Hua and Hao Jin Ying bust in with a maid.

Li Hua ran up to him and grabbed the front of his shirt aggrieved.

"We cant find Xiao Xie. She was with us in the market earlier, then she suddenly disappeared, we were looking for awhile, but we cant find her." Li Hua's voice started to crack and her eyes watered as she tried to explain.

Lian Jian Amal narrowed his eyes hearing this.

"When exactly, where at?" He questioned his voice rising in volume unintentionally.

Li Hua was unable to answer as she had started to break down. Hao Jin Ying came and put a comforting arm around the older woman's shoulders and answered for her.

"About an hour ago, we were in the area with a lot of food vendors. We checked around in case she had just gravitated to another food vendor further down the line, but it's as if she just vanished into thin air."

He clenched his fists hearing this "Post guards on all the main roadways and at the main gates out of here. Check any and all suspicious persons or things! Immediately!" He turned and called out to the guard captain who had been in the room with them. The man clapped a fist over his heart and hurried out.

Muzdahir was an old city and had once been walled on all sides that were not backed up to the plateau to defend against ancient invaders. The walls had been mostly destroyed as a side casualty after the first world war, three giant gateways still remained as a remnant of that time on the north, south, and west. Most traffic still flowed in and out as they were established paths to the nearest towns. The city still had a lot of open pathways someone could just disappear into the countryside from.

'One hour.'

A lot could happen in an hour. After sending the captain of the guards to inspect the exits, Liang Jian Amal shrugged of Li Hua's hands and hurried out of the room to grab a horse to join the search himself.

'I shouldn't have let them go by themselves. Why didnt I post a guard..' The man berated himself as he resolutely strode through the hallways. He thought of her laying in his arms this morning smiling in her sleep as he played with her hair.

'I will find you, just hold on.'