Fallen From Ashes: The Kingdom Saga, #2

Chapter One

Present Day - Bennua

Ashes. If the world is ashes, I am a fire, slowly consuming the earth until I run out of flame.

Al-Ahmar and I blaze a trail through the desert of Sahrahn, the sultanate of Haya-Maa looming in the distance. My stallion brays a battle cry and I push him faster, over the ocean of sand and toward the largest dune, which is our goal.

Zahid and Aalee are behind us, though not as far behind as I would like. He has chased me once before through these dunes, but now it is his pride at stake, and not my life.

I let out a proud laugh. Faster and faster I urge my stallion, and soon not even Zahid is in my mind’s eye, nor Haya-Maa. There is nothing but a vast spread of sand and sky.

I am a champion. I am the queen that has conquered the warlord Quasim, the prince it was said no man could defeat.

But I am no man. I am Queen Bennua, ruler of Haya-Maa, and now I soar above the desert as if I am ruler above all.

There is a small dip in the ground and Ahmar jumps, soaring through the air. Time seems suspended for us both and we hover there, breathless, before he comes crashing back down with hooves made of diamond and stone. I glance behind me. Aalee is far away, struggling to keep up. It seems impossible, but Ahmar has grown even faster in the past few months. Since I’ve turned eighteen, I’ve made it a habit to take him out and run him as much as possible.

I come to a halt at the top of the dune and Ahmar rears on his back legs, whinnying out a victory. I raise a hand and let out a wild cry, feeling like the pharaohs of old. No matter how many times Zahid races me, I always win.

My future husband comes trotting up the dune, looking winded. Although it was Aalee who did all the running, he’s gasping for air.

He shakes his long bangs out of his shimmering, mischievous eyes, throwing a side glance at me. One stare from him makes me lose my own bearings. Even though we’ve been engaged for quite some time now— nearly six months— Zahid never fails to take my breath away.

I don’t understand why I even try, he says, laughing as he brings Aalee to my side. Your stallion rides upon the wind.

Because you will never give up, I say playfully. A small gust of wind rises up. Zahid and I turn to oversee our kingdom, the beautiful sultanate we have built together. Things are coming together surprisingly quickly, for a realm being ruled by a woman. It practically glistens in the sunlight. Life is close to being back to normal… and even better than it was… since Quasim’s raid on the palace a few months ago.

The cry of a noble bird rings high above me. I look up. There is that same black falcon soaring through the clouds— the one I always see each time I venture outside the palace to ride. My mouth rises into the smallest of smirks.

Bennua, Zahid says, already knowing what I’m going to try. Don’t chase after impossible things.

I’m off before he has the chance to stop me. The falcon, almost on cue, takes off. I chase after it, longing to defeat the creature of wind and air.

I am Bennua, Queen of Haya-Maa, defender of the weak. I do not slow for those who stand in my path. I journey into lands both political and adventurous where no one has gone before. I am not afraid to be brave and reckless.

Ahmar and I nearly catch up to the falcon before the bird puts on a burst of speed and leaves us trailing behind. I slow Ahmar up, coming to a gentle walk as my stallion breathes heavily through his nostrils. He wants to catch the falcon as much as I, I’m sure.

It is only a matter of time until we do.

Zahid jogs Aalee to my side, shaking his head. There you are again, acting like you’ve lost your head in the warm desert sun. Not even the great Queen of Haya-Maa can defeat the sky, Bennua.

One day, Ahmar and I will race with the falcon, and we will win, I tell him. And I’ll make sure that you’ll be there to see it, to deflate your big head.

I take a cheerful swat at him and he ducks, giving me a sheepish grin.

Careful now, my queen. I taught you that, he says coyly. And as hard as it is to believe, I wonder if you are not growing just as big a head as I.

That would be impossible, I laugh, and urge Ahmar toward Haya-Maa at a casual walk. Why should I not be proud? Our sultanate is becoming the most powerful in the land. With the bond between Ashana and Haya-Maa, abundance flows. Our trade route is booming. All of the sultans in Sahrahn wish to barter with us.

"Due to the changes you’ve implemented, I might add," Zahid says.

That wasn’t all my doing. You had much to do with the economic decisions, I tell him. Your idea to turn the area around the small river into a farming community was ingenious. Haya-Maa is now known the world over now for our precious fruits, and now that Ashana is finally beginning to turn out silks, the industry there is booming as well. Royals are practically throwing coins at us to get a rare taste of our delicacies. I give a little laugh.

In only a little while, Zahid’s ideas to turn Haya-Maa and Ashana into trading countries has made both of our kingdoms into two of the richest cities Sahrahn has to offer. There is little to worry about lately, which is miraculous in itself.

I had been wary about making Zahid sultan due to his loathe for power and attention, but even though he hasn’t been declared sultan yet, he’s the best ruler Sahrahn has ever seen. He’s got good ideas, and Haya-Maa and Ashana are flourishing because of them. If being a ruler is this easy, I’m sure I can convince Zahid to stay sultan forever.

We might be rolling in money, but I believe that you have done the real work, Zahid says.

I wave a hand. I did what was needed. All of our children should be educated, and all women should choose for themselves the veil or not. I feed the hungry and have instructed that the Onaari is open for everyone to read. These are basic rights that all people should have. If all of us are well-fed and well-taught, we shall be the most powerful nation in the world.

I believe we already are, Zahid says, taking my hand lightly and giving it a kiss. He leans over to whisper in my ear. Though I believe it would be better if the queen were to remove her veil, and let all the world see for itself that she defies the ancient laws that have no place in our kingdom.

I blush, even though there is no one around to see. We might be engaged, but it would still be a scandal if anyone caught Zahid and I being affectionate, even out in the middle of this desert. Zahid is always nagging me to take my veil off, but I ignore him. I feel naked without it around my hair, so this is one command from the future sultan that must be left unnoticed.

Zahid catches my bashfulness and says, What’s wrong, my queen? Afraid that someone will see us holding hands in this barren landscape?

Hush now, and behave, I tell him sternly, though I can’t keep a small giggle out of my voice. Royals don’t act this way.

I think you’re forgetting that I am the Raider Prince, and you are the Queen of Haya-Maa. We make the rules now, my dear.

He leaps off his horse and tackles me to the ground, rolling so he takes most of the hit. I laugh as Zahid wrestles playfully in the sand with me, pinning me down.

What is this? he says, swishing his hair out of his eyes. A betrayal? It’s the dashing Raider Prince, here to steal our dear queen away from the city so he can have her all for himself!

You’ve already done that once, I remind him, chuckling.

Shh! he insists. I’m in half a mind to throw you on the back of Aalee, leave this city behind and hide you in a small shack on the corner of the ocean, simply so I won’t have to share.

He then leans in very closely, so his lips graze mine. His voice sinks down into a whisper. Or perhaps I will take you here in the sand, as I wish.

I try not to tremble. I don’t want him to let him know he has me.

What must I do to avoid such a terrible fate? I say, voice wobbling.

I will let you go, beauty of Sahrahn, if you promise me one thing, he says.

Oh, anything, great Raider Prince, I say, rolling my eyes and playing along.

His eyes lock onto mine. Tell me that you will love me until I have silver in my hair, until Sahrahn is a land devoured in fire. Tell me that we will be as one, together, always. That is my only wish.

I am so in love with him. I count myself lucky that I am able to marry a man I love. Only a year ago I was destined to marry the most vicious and cruel man alive, and now, I have found my soulmate. Zahid is such a blessing, the treasure of my life. I am determined to never to let him go.

I will be yours if you will be mine, I say, raising my fingers to caress his cheek. No other man will ever capture my heart as you have, for you stole me away the minute I set eyes on you.

He leans down to give me another kiss, stroking back my hair. That was certainly more than what I was hoping for.

Was it? I say as I mount Ahmar, heading back to the city. And why was that spectacle necessary for me to proclaim my love to you?

I wanted to hear you say it, he says, leaping onto Aalee. And I know it would be impossible to convince you otherwise.

I would cry your name from the tops of mountains, if only you would hear it, I tell him gently. You know I am not a woman who opens her heart to everyone. This is my promise.

We enter the gates of Haya-Maa, and no one bats an eye. Zahid and I wander out into the desert disguised as commoners more often than we should. It is a wonder no one has recognized Ahmar’s splendor, but we come and go at times when the city is quiet. We leave our horses at the stables and then continue up to our rooms. I’m personally looking forward to a bath after being covered in sand.

Where have you been? The screechy voice of my mother echoes throughout the hall, and I suppress a groan as I see her tight-lipped stare at Zahid and I. My mother doesn’t approve of us wandering about unsupervised and alone, but what can she do? I am the queen.

We were out riding the horses, I say. Ahmar is restless, being cooped up in the stables at all hours of the day while I am in council meetings.

Then let the servants ride him. Queens should not be frolicking about in the desert, their hair all tangled and looking poorer than a beggar! She gestures to me and my dirty clothes.

Yes, Mother, but I am no ordinary queen, I tell her with a sigh.

I am well aware.

She turns to Zahid. And you! Breaking tradition, by seeing your bride the day before your wedding! Shoo, shoo!

She waves at Zahid as if he is a pesky fly, and not the future sultan of our country.

Of course, he says, giving a little bow. My mother turns away to head into my room, grumbling all the way.

I let out a huffy sigh. She never fails to try my patience. I might be queen, but the title might as well be nonsense to my mother. She still tries to boss me around.

I love you most with your skin full of sand and the sun in your hair, Zahid says, kissing me lightly on the side of the cheek before anyone sees. Don’t let yourself forget that, in the presence of your mother.

I won’t, I say lightly. "And you don’t forget we have a council meeting tonight."

Zahid grimaces. I will remember.

He then wanders away. As much as I am with Zahid, all hours of the day, it is exhausting when I am without him. When he is gone you might as well remove my stomach, or my liver, or another one of my organs. I am not as fully formed as I should be without him. It will be wonderful when we are finally married.

I follow my mother into my room, where my sisters are sulking about and complaining, as usual.

Get off that! Mother cries, waving my cat Jalal away from my wedding dress. It is the same one I was meant to marry Quasim in, although this time, it has been altered so it fits me properly. The pink and the green colors are coming together instead of clashing horribly. It will make me look pretty tomorrow.

As I gaze at it, a strange thought pops into my head. The time has come. Tomorrow, I will marry Zahid.

Bennua, Jabirah snaps. Have you looked at any potential suitors for me yet? Many have come calling!

I hesitate to snap at her. My sisters haven’t stopped annoying me to find them new husbands ever since theirs died in the raid on Haya-Maa. It’s obvious none of their previous suitors have gone missed.

I will find you all new husbands when I am done marrying mine, I say, taking a brush and combing out my tangled mess of hair. Please, do not ask me again. I cannot make men fall from the sky.

Does Zahid have a brother? Istilah says dreamily from the window, looking at the clouds and playing with a scrap of fabric absentmindedly.

As far as I know, he’s an only child. Istilah has taken too much of a liking to Zahid. I’m not jealous, as I know Zahid would never stray, but I sometimes wish that my future husband was a little less handsome. I’ve found more than one lady eyeing him in the palace as he struts by in that arrogant way of his. I’ve been taken by it myself, more than once.

Bennua won’t find suitors for us until we’re old and withered away, Pottina says dramatically, fanning herself while she lies by the window. All my beauty will be wasted for nothing.

As un-queenlike as it is, I really want to throw something at her. Pottina has such a big head from being the prettiest sister. With her double chin, thick thighs and large, round stomach, she’s the center of attention every time a man comes to court. She’s the perfect picture of a woman of Sahrahn, voluptuous and divine. After all, men like large women. It shows they have wealth to spare.

When I was little I prayed I would turn out heavy like her so others would call me beautiful. I ate as much as I could to speed along the process, but I never gained any weight. It’s one of the reasons it took so long for my father to find a willing groom to marry me. Pottina had dozens of marriage offers the minute she turned thirteen. With my flat stomach and my thin figure, it’s a wonder that Zahid finds me attractive at all.

Ah, well. Alshams cannot make us all beautiful, I suppose.

Hurry up and change, Mother says. The council is waiting for you.

My maidservant Nuri bustles about, bringing out a new dress for me to wear, as well as a fancy veil. Not for the first time, I’m grateful to have her. She’s saved me more than once in the past few weeks from public humiliation, after I’ve nearly run out the door with my hair a mess or my dress rumpled.

As I watch Nuri skim around the room like a bird drifting over a small fire, I’m once again astonished at how much we look alike. We are the same age, and are so similar in facial features that when I’m looking directly at her, it appears that I’m gazing into a mirror. She has the same brown, almond eyes that I do, same tan skin and long, dark hair. It would be easy to mistake us for identical twins.

Nuri came to us a few months ago. A group of servants found her wandering the streets of Haya-Maa, out of her mind, with no recollection of who she was or how she got here. She looks so much like me they brought her back to the palace, thinking I was her.

Needless to say, it was a very confusing situation for everyone when two of me were running throughout the palace. But the situation soon righted itself when Nuri and I came face to face. Although she was lost and confused, she gave us no hardship. She was so grateful we had taken her in, she performed all her servant duties exceptionally well.

I gave her the name Nuri, meaning little fire, because she’s such a light to me, a small, shimmering fire that brightens up the palace whenever she’s in my presence. I quickly promoted Nuri within a few days of her arrival, giving her the job of being my personal maidservant.

Our identical features have proved useful more than once. I’ve disguised her many times in my own clothes when I want to go out amongst the people and need the council to believe that I’m in the palace. As well as a wonderful maid, she’s an excellent body double.

As of yet, she hasn’t recovered thoughts of her past. We’ve tried encouraging her to think about where she came from, but her mind is empty.

I hope she remembers someday. But for now, she seems happy to serve me, so I won’t pressure