Chapter 2

A young girl was gathering mushrooms in the forest when she realized it was almost dark.

She decided to head home before it got too dark because it would be difficult to find her way there and her grandparents would be concerned for her.

She then stopped harvesting additional mushrooms, filled her baskets to the brim with them, and started walking back to her house.

However, she suddenly heard what sounded like someone walking on some dry leaves. She peered around, but no one was there.

So she continued to walk thinking it was her imagination but she out of nowhere someone grabbed her hands and before she could react and scream someone covered her mouth with a piece of cloth As the cloth covered her mouth, panic surged through her veins.

She struggled to break free from the stranger's grip, her heart pounding in her chest. Desperate to escape, she kicked and thrashed, hoping to break free and The guy then yelled aggressively at her, "Stop writhing bitch, or else I'll have to cut your legs!"

The girl was crying and terrified of what they were going to do with her when he picked her up and put her on one side of his shoulder.

She then saw two more men emerge from behind a nearby tree, clapping and praising the man who was carrying her, saying, "Great job buddy, did not expect that, you managed to capture and tie up the girl alone."

The girl shook with anxiety as she frantically sought to make sense of what was happening. She questioned the identities of these men as well as their motives.

As she became aware that she was entirely in their hands, her heart began to accelerate. "I told you two, I could do it alone" the man said with pride. " We must now transport her to the Eternal Empire slave market." Fear seized her every thought as they hauled her toward their cart.

She frantically looked for a way out, but the knowledge of her powerlessness weighed hard on her. Her thoughts were reverberated by the man's comments, which served as a reminder of her unjust destiny.

Her hands and mouth were covered, so she was unable to call for assistance. It was already dark when she began to consider what would happen to her elderly grandparents. In the event that she does not arrive home, they will panic. If she is sold out as a slave, she will never be able to return home.

Meanwhile in the Palace

Yakub was enjoying the nighttime view from his balcony when Bashir informed him that his older brother Shehzad Habil was waiting outside of his chamber to congratulate him on his succession. "Shall I invite him inside, my sultan?" "Yes", Yakub answered, "let him in."

Upon entering, Habil bowed to Yakub and greeted him with a wide smile. He was ordered to rise up and sit down by Yakub.

"My sultan, I'm happy, in fact very happy that you took the throne. Our father chose the right person, and I'm very sorry for being rude back in those days and fighting with you because I thought I deserved this throne but.." Habil said looking repented as he sat down.

Yakub interrupted him and grinned, saying " though we are half-brothers, Brother Habil, I'm thrilled to hear such things coming from your bitter mouth, and I'm more happier that you have put all your animosity and jealously towards me behind you. I had always thought of you as my own brother. But I guess you never thought like that."

When Habil was ready to speak back, Yakub added, "Now that it is very late, I would like to go to bed. Good night brother" Yakub sighed.

Habil went silent, but then wished the sultan good night, and then he departed the chamber. "How did he forget all the hatred and jealousy against me so soon," Yakub wondered to himself. "He is not such a person, or am I thinking too much?" Yakub emerged from his contemplation "My sultan, you must rest. It is very late at night," when Bashir called at him and Yakub agreed, saying, "Truly, I must sleep now Bashir, you too go to bed, see you in the morning."

Bashir bowed and left the chamber of sultan and went straight to Sultana Habiba, Sultana Habiba was seated in front of a mirror with her maid brushing her hair.

Bashir then walked directly to Sultana Habiba and greeted her. "Bashir?," Habiba questioned as she whirled around to face him. "Any pressing matters?" She asked "Yes, my sultana, and I think we need privacy," Bashir answered.

The maids then left the room and waited outside while Habiba made a signal with her hand.

Soon, Bashir began to talk " My sultana something strange happened. Shehzad Habil came to congratulate our sultan in his chamber." Habiba stayed silent in confusion, so she said " But both of the brothers went after their mother Leila, very stubborn and don't forget hatred so easily, this seems very fishy, I'm sure he is planning something Bashir."

"I thought the same, my sultana, what should we do?" Bashir exclaimed. After giving it some thought, Habiba stated, "For the time being, keep an eye on them; they must be planning harm for my son, Sultan Yakub. Since it is night, let us rest; we will talk about this tomorrow."

Bashir exited the chamber after bowing. Habiba was worried about her son when the women returned and bowed to her.

However, she chose to put those fears aside for the moment and asked one of the maids to finish braiding her hair while she closed her eyes and tried to block out the worries that were consuming her.

She couldn't help but think what danger may be hiding in the shadows as the maid expertly braided her hair.

The safety of her beloved son, Sultan Yakub, was her utmost priority.

When the braid was done, she went straight to the bed and the maids blew off the candles and left the room. Habiba could not sleep all night with the worries in her heart.