I have no other homeland but you.

—

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"I want the accusation of theft to be lifted from her."

"That can be done without a problem."

"But Noura still stays at the palace," he declares in a way that leaves no room for arguments.

His vizier looks at him helplessly, clearly tired of his reckless demands. "How can we do that without a reason to keep her here?"

"That's my wish, this is enough of a reason."

"But my lord--"

"She stays." He rises from his seat, going to stand by the window and watch the sun peek up from behind the horizon. "Noura stays here, in Baghdad, with me. If you've to cut heads for it, then do so. But she will not leave."

The old man sighs in exasperation. "She's a free woman, not a slave. Forcing her won't be appropriate."

"Then I'll marry her," he announces smoothly, almost joyously. "But if she doesn't want that," he turns back around, smiling sinfully, "then I'll find a way to make her agree to it."

"We found the culprit behind the theft."

Noura wearily looks at Ameer Zakariya before turning her gaze to Adam standing at one side, having already his eyes on her. When their pupils meet, they fixate each other, and she reads the lie in there. They've found no one. How can they when it's the caliph himself plotting? They just want to extinguish this fire now before it gets out of hand.

"Who is he?" Eskander besides her asks eagerly.

It's only them four in the room and she's sure if she was alone with Adam, she'd be running her tongue loose at him.

The Ameer shakes his head. "Whoever, Eskander, he's for the caliph to deal with. We've put him in prison until he's investigated. Then, Al Shafay will decide what to do with him."

"Allow me to interrogate him, my Ameer," Eskander requests, and Noura feels bad for him at his oblivion. "I want to know why he'd target my family like this."

"It probably isn't anything personal. It seems like he stole the seal and got away with it. Then to save himself of the consequences, he discarded it the first chance he got, which coincidentally happened to be at your house," Zakariya dismisses his concerns. "All we've to know is that why he stole the seal, and I've already assigned this task to Adam. So you don't have to worry about it anymore."

"Pardon me, but you're taking it too lightly, Ameer," Eskander protests. "You're disregarding the fact that my family suffered at the hands of this man."

"Noura isn't harmed in anyway here at the palace," Zakariya argues.

"But our dignity is bruised," Eskander retorts. "She was accused for a false theft and I for being a traitor. We were pointed fingers at. Not to mention the suffering inflicted upon our mother for her daughter being taken away from home, that too so disgracefully. The culprit must recompense for it."

"And how would you do it?"

"By taking his life with my own hands, for staining our honor and going against the crown with the theft."

The argument between Eskander and Ameer Zakariya flies over her head as she keeps her attention focused on Adam. Like a stubborn horse, he parallels her gaze with no shame and stares back at her, challenging her, mocking her, as if telling her all this useless drama can go on and she can do nothing about it-- as if the caliph can do as he pleases and the world will be blind to see the hypocrisy behind his tricks.

"No one is allowed to go to the dungeons," Zakariya declares. "Al Shafay has prohibited everyone from seeing the prisoner. As I said, the decision is up to him. Unless he comes up with something, we cannot do anything either."

"But--"

"That's it, Eskander," Zakariya cuts him sharply. "Would you go against your caliph's orders?"

Eskander clenches his jaw, biting back whatever disagreements he has. "As the Khalifa sees fit, my Ameer."

"Good." Zakariya smiles. "Now don't trouble yourself with this and make preparations to leave for the borders. The soldiers are waiting for you."

"I'd like to take Noura back with me," Eskander suggests. "Now when the matter is being dealt with and the actual culprit is behind the bars, I don't see the point of her staying here any longer."

"About that." Zakariya ties his hands behind his back and paces away from them. "Khalifa wants to keep her at the palace."

Noura feels her heart clenching agonizingly, her worst fears coming true. The theft was only an excuse to bring her here. The actual reason is something else-- something dire and dirty. The earth beneath her shakes at the thought.

"What does it mean?" Eskander growls, any discipline that was in his tone before now growing thin. "Keep her here, what for? She's not a conquest of a war. She's not his slave," he grits.

"Watch your tongue, Eskander," Zakariya warns, throwing a disapproving look at him. "You're a valuable servant of this kingdom. We respect you. But eventually everything goes as per the caliph's will, whether anyone likes it or not."

"My Ameer," Eskander speaks slowly now, carefully, "I request you, please reconsider this. Noura is innocent in all this. She has a home to go to. Mother is waiting for her. What do I tell her?"

If the tears are pushing through and making her vision blurry, she forces herself to turn cold to them and numb herself to the pain. It's no place, no time for crying. Neither are these people the ones for sentiments. She sucks in her cheeks.

Zakariya turns to them, eyes growing kinder, as if sympathizing with them. "I wish I could do something for you, but this is not in my hands, Eskander. I already tried to reason with the caliph, but he's not ready to listen." He then looks at her, almost sardonic and apologetic. "Noura stay at the palace, that's what Al Shafay demands. And we're bound to oblige."

She feels Eskander vibrating in rage beside her, fists clenched, as if ready to explode and burn the place.

"Escort the lady to her chambers," Zakariya directs to Adam, referring to Noura. "I've things to discuss with the general regarding war."

"Don't," Eskander snaps at Adam before he could step towards her, almost murdering him with his eyes. "Don't come close to her." He then shifts his attention back to Zakariya. "I'm not allowing anyone to get anywhere near her. I don't trust anyone with her."

"She's kept fine at the palace," Zakariya points out.

"As long as I'm here, I'm to make sure of it. But what when I leave?"

"Nothing will change, I assure you."

"Apologies, my Ameer, but you cannot promise me that. You're not the Khalifa," Eskander mocks bitterly, dangerously overstepping his limits. "And eventually all goes as the caliph please, so how can you make such a claim? I'm sorry but I cannot take your word for it."

"Eskander!" Zakariya thunders, and her gut twists in apprehension. She feels nauseated. "That's enough."

He gestures once more for Adam to take her away and Eskander again stops him with a glare, before calling for Hafez. He nods for Noura to leave and she gives his a long, worried look before finally walking out of the courtroom that has hell fire being lit in it, hoping the blaze of it won't touch or consume Eskander in any way.

Noura spends hours in her chamber thinking of the matter that has escalated. She restlessly paces around the room, then sits for a while, sometimes on the bed and other times on the divan, then starts pacing again. Who's at the dungeons? What games is Al Shafay playing with her? He has made a puppet out of everyone, holding their threads in his hands and pulling whichever thread he wishes to. She needs to get answers and find a solution, at any cost.

Then, a thought occurs to her and she quickly rushes towards the door. Hafez follows after her as she strides through the corridors, asking her where she's going to which she's too disheveled to respond. She arrives at princess Maysoon's chambers, requesting to see the her, and a guard goes in, coming out later and granting her permission. She hurriedly steps inside.

"Nour." Maysoon receives her with a warm smile before it falters in front of her fallen expression. "What's wrong?"

"I need a favor from you, amira."

"Come, sit." Maysoon gestures towards a chair and Noura takes a seat. She comes to sit on a chair beside her too. "Tell me now, what is it?"

"I know it might be me asking too of you but--"

"Just name it," she interrupts, smiling encouragingly. "Whatever it is, if I can help you, I definitely will. Now relax and tell me what's the matter."

Noura takes a deep breath and nods, fidgeting with her sleeve. "I learnt that the actual thief who stole the seal is caught. He's kept at the dungeon, but the caliph is not allowing anyone to see him."

Maysoon takes seconds to put two and two together. "And you want to meet him?"

She nods again wordlessly.

Maysoon purses her lips. "This can be dangerous, Nour, especially if the caliph has forbidden everyone from meeting the prisoner."

"Please," she begs desperately, "this is really important to me."

"If anything happens to you, I won't be able to face Eskander ever again," the princess voices out her worry.

"Nothing will happen," Noura insists. "I won't take long. I just need to see him." To make sure it's a lie, she thinks.

Maysoon is silent for a moment, considering her request, and Noura chews on her lip uneasily. She doesn't ask her any questions, doesn't pry, and Noura is grateful to her for respecting her privacy. After a while, Maysoon exhales heavily and reaches out to squeeze her hand as a comforting gesture.

"Alright, Nour, I'll help you."

Noura beams at her. "Thank you, amira."

"But," she adds, "you'll have only limited time before you return to me. Otherwise I'll be marching to the dungeon with my guards for you."

Noura chuckles and squeezes back her hand. "By all means."

Maysoon calls to one of her guards and a man appears before them.

"Saleh, I want you to find out where the prisoner who stole the caliph's seal is kept. Get all the information for me and then come back to me as soon as possible."

The man tips his head and disappears. And by the evening, he's back with all the details they need, telling them how the prisoner is kept in a secluded dungeon at the opposite wing of the palace.

"Strange," Maysoon comments. "I thought that prison was not in use anymore."

"Why?" Noura cannot help asking.

"Because the rebels from the treason were kept there after brother Yusuf was dethroned. Al Shafay executed them all awfully and afterwards no prisoner was sent to that dungeon, until now," Maysoon tells her. "They call it the dungeon of death. And it means this prisoner's death is inevitable."

Noura wants to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Al Shafay is guileful and evil and seems fond of making fools out of everyone, but not her.

"Manizheh," Maysoon directs to one of her maids. "Take care of the men who are guarding the dungeon."

"As you please, amira, it will be taken care of."

The maid leaves her chamber at her command and Noura turns to Maysoon.

"How's she going to do it?"

Maysoon smiles slyly. "She's my most reliable servant, witty and skillful, stronger than most of the men you'll meet at this palace. How she does it doesn't matter. What matters is that she'll do it; you can count on her."

Noura can only stare at her in disbelief. Maysoon stands up, and she does so too. She places a hand on her arm, her eyes boring into Noura's.

"Be ready, you leave as soon as she returns."

"About Hafez?" Noura points out worriedly. "I don't want Eskander to find out."

"I'll send my guard, Saleh, with you and make Hafez stay behind."

She nods, her breaths already getting heavier and her heartbeat going erratic. "Thank you," she says again and Maysoon smiles.

"Just do me a favor and take care of yourself."

"I will."

"And Nour," she takes her dagger and places it in her hand, "don't hesitate to use it if the situation demands."

Noura looks down at the sheathed blade, swollowing thickly at the suggestion, gingerly taking it from her. She straps it to her waist on the other side of her own dagger.

Soon, Manizheh returns informing them that all requirements are met. Noura gathers her nerves and prepares to leave.

"May my Lord be with you," Maysoon prays. "Be back soon."

She only nods and then exits the chamber. Saleh, Maysoon's guard, leads her through the corridors towards the dungeon at the other end of the palace. It becomes eerily dark and haunting the further they go, as if that part of the palace has been uninhabited for years.

When they reach their destination, Noura finds number of men lying unconscious on the floor from place to place, their half eaten food trays still lying beside them. So their meals have been meddled with, she gathers.

"This stairway leads to the dungeon, sayidati." Saleh gestures towards a narrow, unlit stairway. "You'll find what you're looking for down there."

"Alright, thank you." Noura rubs her sweaty palms over her dress. She climbs down the first stair.

"Sayidati?"

She looks back at him. "Yes?"

"I'll be down the other corridor waiting for you."

"No, don't endanger yourself. You can leave, Saleh."

"You won't be able to find your way back through these corridor. The Amira asked me to stay."

She hesitates, then finding it only rational, she agrees. "Stay out of sight in case you find anyone coming this way. Don't follow after them; don't come to help me. If anyone catches you here with me, it'll make it clear to them that princess Maysoon assisted me in going against the caliph's order. I don't want to make things difficult for her." Especially after the favor she has done her.

"But if someone tries to harm you--"

"No one will," she assures. "Now go hide and wait for me to return."

He nods, looking unsure, and walks down the corridor, disappearing around the corner.

Al Shafay wants her at the palace. What good is she dead to him? No one will try to kill her, she gives herself hope and descends the staircase.

The dungeon is sparsely lit by the lanterns, sending a cold shudder through her despite the fire warming the place somewhat. It's vast, but rotten, cells lining the place each of which is empty. Noura can barely keep herself together.

"Anyone here?" she calls out. The answer is only her echo coming back to her.

She goes towards a wall and takes out a lantern from its holder. One by one, she walks by each cell, as if still to confirm a truth which is too hard to swallow. There's no one here. There isn't anyone supposed to be here anyway. There has been no theft and no culprit to be punished for it, except the caliph himself.

She hears footsteps descending the stairway and her body stiffens in alarm. The blood rush through her like a wild flood, washing away any logical thoughts, momentarily paralyzing her as she stays rooted to her spot.

Someone is coming.

Snapping out of her trance, she tightens her grip on the lantern, the long wood with fire burning to come in handy. Noura pulls out her dagger with the other hand. There's no place to hide, and there's only one option: to fight. She hopes all the lessons she had with Eskander wouldn't make it any easy for anyone who tries to attack her. She isn't going down easily either.

From the sound of the footsteps, she collects it's only one person. It calms her fear a little as she prepares to face whoever it is.

He steps down the last stair, the flames seeming to burn and flicker over his skin in a way that makes him look like a devil having himself dragged out of hell, shadows forming over him before being soaked up into him, like a lord of pandemonium-- like a demon finding home in a person.

When their gazes collide, it's in a catastrophe. He grins, Satan himself coming to rest on his lips, wicked and amused, as if receiving pleasure in something sinful-- as if suddenly having his desires fulfilled.

"Why am I not surprised at finding you here?" he says.

"Adam," Noura hisses.

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Thoughts?

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