Mina woke up to the most magnificent room she had ever laid eyes on. She could not remember how she got there all she recalls was her jumping out of the basket. If she had been caught what was she doing here? surely the guards would have locked her up in a cell. For sure, she had to pay for her crime. She was scared of the reality she thought of; blue Egyptian cotton cloths, purple damask sheets that had a sweet smell of jasmine, could only mean one thing she was back to slavery only now to a high-status master. She looked at her left shoulder where underneath the sleeve lay a mark that always betrayed her. A crossed circle burnt in her skin forming the mark of her slavery, given by a stranger she'd never met. It was more of a birthmark than a scar, as she doesn't remember a time without it. Mina heard people arguing after a door had been shut.

Light footsteps approached the door across the room she was in. Quickly she shuts her eyes and pretends to be asleep. The door opens and the light in the room increases. The argument becomes louder Munir this is not a good idea you know it” the voice was strong and displeased. “But Khalid have a heart !” came a more soft and gentle response, “Have a heart you say! She is a slave with a master remember that” the strong voice boomed.

“The poor child can't even lift a finger and you want me to give her up?” Munir challenges. “You know how the king will react to this; you are breaking the laws for a worthless slave child?” Khalid angrily stated. “The king will only know what he needs to nothing more.” Munir assures, “Oh I trust you have a plan then? Because be sure those traders will come seeking compensation for their merchandise, and if her master still lives! they would come to collect their property.” Khalid reminds. “I do have a plan and I know what I am doing.” coldness filled the once soft voice as Munir bangs a fist on a table for emphasis. “Okay, maalim I just hope that you don't go too far with this.”

“Don't worry Khalid if we're caught I'll take all the blame I give you my word,” Munir assures calmness returning to his voice. Convinced Khalid gives in “So tell me of this plan then!”

The door closes and the steps grew near with a thunk the person positioned herself on a stool near the bed. Her eyes fought to stay shut at the aroma of food.” it's okay dear I won't bite.” the small voice reassuring her. She slowly opened her eyes to the woman staring at her. “So you finally woke up?” Though she was only a teenage girl she looked much older than her, a wide grin plastered on her face. “Where am I? How did I get here?” Mina rubbed her eyes pretending to adjust to the light of the gas lamp in the room. “It's not my place to tell you anything but I will say that you are in good hands, "The woman placed the bowl of porridge on her lap. She was about to touch her forehead when Mina jumped back and moved away from her hand. “ Don't be scared I won't hurt you I just want to check your temperature.”

She shifted her hand in greeting “My name is Leila what is yours?” Mina hesitated then took her hand only because beggars couldn't be choosers and in this case, her hunger overpowered her judgement “MMM… Mina” it was barely a whisper but Leila nodded in acknowledgement. “What a nice name. Mina, it's unique. I like it!” The woman was happy with the reply. “Well then Mina let's eat shall we?” She withdrew her hand and went on to spoon the porridge. They sat there silently as Leila fed her, she was beyond famished and so within a second, she finished two whole bowls. Leila tried to feel her forehead again and this time Mina let her. As soon as her bony hand felt Mina's sweaty head her eyes lit up, and she quickly lifted her hand. “Oh dear, it seems that you still have a fever” concerned expressions dominate her perfectly rounded face. “Just rest I will inform the physician of this, "She collected the bowl stood up and left the room. The last thing Mina saw was her thin silhouette leaving the room before she fell asleep again.

When she was up the once large room felt tiny; two men stood at the foot of the bed one in his mid-forties the other roughly the same age as Leila. Both wore lavish yellow jubbehs with the older one draped in an emerald caftan on top of his. On her side, Leila was sitting on the same stool still in her brown dress and white scarf that wrapped over her head poorly concealing her hair as some brown strays framed her tiered face. The sun flooded the room from two gigantic windows casting long shadows of her guests.

The two men stopped their whispers upon her wake the older one of the two started to address her. “How are you doing?” Mina seemed frightened then Leila took her hand “it's okay Mina they are my friends you can trust them.” Leila looked to the men for help in persuading the girl. “Oh yes we are Leila's friends we mean no harm; Mina, is it? Well I am Muir a physician and this is my student Khalid.” he jabbed Khalid in the chest making him lose his balance a little “Yes don't let our big structure miss lead you, we are just old date trees our spikes might be frightening but our hearts are like sweet dates.” Khalid playfully bragged giving her a mischievous wink which earns him another jab, a laugh from Leila and a smile from Mina. “Stupid boy! Sorry, Mina, this one lost his manners long ago!” Munir walked to her other side of the bed.

“How do you feel?” Mina hesitates for some time before speaking “better was all she could manage her once small voice deepened from sleep. “Well good,” Munir's worried expression faded “Your fever has subsided you should feel better soon.” He flashes her a reassuring smile “You freshen up and have some breakfast then we shall talk, Leila will help you.” He turned to open some drawers of a small wooden closet behind him which was right under one of the windows; “Here you will find something to wear, we shall leave you now.” making an exit, motioning for Khalid to follow.

Instead of leaving Khalid leaned in towards the bed; and in what he thought was a whisper he said “Don't worry little slave you are in good hands” his eyes motioning to Leila ignoring her scornful glares; He turned on his heel closing the door behind. Mina was very confused how can a person be a tree? It's impossible, she only smiled so as not to look rude to these strangers.

“Leila” she shifted to the woman who was now making her way to the closet.” yes, what is it?” upon hearing her name she froze in her tracks, “How can a person be a tree?” Leila laughed loudly at the question. Her tiered face lightening up, she faced the curious child. She arched her eyebrows in amusement, making her rather small eyes pop out of their sockets. “Silly girl that was a joke; a metaphor as the wise say.” Looking more confused she parted her mouth, wanting to speak again.“Don't worry only the learned know such things." Leila jumps in "Khalid was just bragging as always.” Rolling her eyes, she continues to walk towards the closet. “And are you not a learned?” Mina sat up on the bed fully alert.

She goes through the opened drawers throwing clothes on the floor while narrating “Well it's complicated; my abb was a scholar's servant at one time. The man's children were very kind especially his daughter Annissa; they used to teach me a lot.” She slugs her shoulders releasing yet another bundle of clothes to the floor. “My abb didn't like me around them, he tried to get me away from them but it didn't work, he ended up quitting the job; he used to say that girls were not to be anything but a beautiful burden of investment.” she lets go of a breath examining a brown chalvar.” we must hurry the physician will call on you at any time.”

“Please tell me more” Mina begs her but Leila only smiles “maybe later Munir is very impatient.” “You mean the tree?” Mina corrected playfully and the two laughed their hearts out. “I see you are a very clever child, I think we will get along very well.”

“But be careful it's a trait that can either be a curse or a blessing.” Mina being an illiterate child thought her to be the wisest person she has ever encountered; when Leila spoke of the clothes she was offered being inappropriate she wholeheartedly agreed. As they went through the clothes she remembered her yellowed dress, but her concern was mostly for the pendant which no longer occupied her neck. “My necklace...” she said absentmindedly her small fingers playing on where it had once existed as though it were still there. “What is it, Mina?” Leila looks up from the pile of tunics and chalvars. “My necklace where is it?” Mina looked tensed worry filled her stretched skin. “A necklace? You didn't have one when they brought you in” Leila confusingly replies. She turns around and heads to the door “Wait here I have a dress that could be useful.” Mina still sited on the bed raked her mind trying to remember where she had lost it. Nodding her head to acknowledge the command.