Chapter 23: Tomb

I smiled not out of eagerness, but as my heartbeat paced. I was frightened too, but doing nothing couldn't save me. I grabbed my sword and then I walked out of the room. Corridor was quiet. Even death was calling me from behind.

I moved up the stairs and walked to the rooftop. I spent the whole summer in hot lands and now this cold weather was so annoying. I wasn't that fast, as the chill lashed my legs I bit my lips. The sound of chirping crickets had filled the city. But it was cutting in the middle seemed they were freezing too.

I saw the patrols puffing in the air and laughing at the steam blowing out of their mouth. I was always wondering how king Sheed trusted his second minister within only five years and had given him such an important position. My mind was about to explode. It wasn't sensible at all. We all knew that he has gotten a unique level of intelligence, but till he can't hold loyalty Parthia is in big trouble. Well, he was just like the cursed ones who can never ignore the witches.

I was carrying a heavy oath with me. It made my shoulders slouchy. If I had found his son, everything could have been different now, or maybe not. I couldn't think properly. I passed the roofs rapidly as my body got warmer.

Persis had surrounded by mountains. Even on the skirts, you can see houses. But when the path to reach the tombs began. You can discover no house. People don't like to make dead kings furious to get cursed by them. If they interrupt their peace, it is almost impossible that alive ones can triumph in a battle with dead ones.

So my destination wasn't so far, somewhere on the body of the mountain. I could see the torches on the way down. Guiding the visitors up the stairs and tombs. Doors are open to the west side. The place that faced sunset where the sun falls. And certainly, I couldn't use the stairs.

I saw Dana with three guards standing beside him. I concealed behind rock layers, watching them carefully. It raised my curiosity. Telling myself that there must be someone important inside. Dana, the king's valet and was a close friend of my father, had a good manner towards me. I decided to take the path behind them, anyway I couldn't trust anyone yet. Minister Pouyeh was nice to me once. A stone slipped under my feet. Dana's stark vision caught me but pretended like it was nothing just pointed to inside. I moved my head and entered.

It was as bright as day because of torches light. You could assume that the sun had found its way there. But still cold and mournful. I tiptoed in. I wasn't sure who the shadow I see is. I noticed someone in a dark gray cloak, standing there. I realized that was Anahid because of her voice, small size, and her prayer.

"The ones who had gone will be safe by the protection of heaven court. But alive ones need help father. Please protect Asaya and bring this sister back to me. I need to exonerate her name from this accusation. Please use your sword of eternity to protect my brother Shaya. Oh, the great kingdom of skies please bless us within a good fate". I remained still life to let her finish.

So after all I said, "Fate is on my side lately."

"Oh my heavens, did I heard right? Asaya?"

She turned around slightly, tears were dripping down her eyes, and came closer, hugged me then added, "I wish it was the same for me, I'm so happy to see you, just a while ago I was asking my father and my ancestors to show me a way out of this misery it was at that moment when your voice touched my frozen heart like the sun shines rays warming cloudy cold days."

"I'm also glad to see you, did you receive my message?"

"I'm so sorry you had to pass through lots of difficulties in this path I also appreciate your concern about me, I must tell you that later after the funeral, on a cold rainy night when the sea was rough my brother Shaya came to me secretly, he wasn't like always he was sorrowful, down and not a person I knew before. I was aware that he had a hard trip and risked his life just to meet me. I told him about you. I don't know how but he knew you were heading this way. He said to alert you meet him in an inn called the red dragon located in Nanshua, a city in Jianhu state."

"I have never seen him before. How can I recognize him? Especially considering what I heard about his appearance if he looks like her mother and people from the east but with the king's shape. Do you have any drawing?"

Then she frowned and grabbed my hands tightly and told me, "I surely know how my brother looks like."

I understood what she meant, but I asked, "What are you trying to say? Make it more-clear please."

She nodded and said, "You heard right about my brother and I know you understood what I just said but you are not alone on this journey I'm coming with you."

I shook my head fast and replied, "no way, It is dangerous I'm not even sure if I'm going to make it out alive, I can't put you in danger and make your life at risk, throw this idea out of your mind, I will send you to a safe place".

Her blue eyes were filled with tears. She let go of my hands, turned red out of rage. I thought with myself that if I leave her alone with the minister she will do something stupid, or if I hide her. That monster soon will find her, which may lead her to death.

While breathing deeply she said, "it's an order, not a, please! You must take me with you I'm in danger here, minster's daughter is trying to kill me while her father wants me, this noon a glass of milk was brought to me but suddenly my maid hit it and it spilled out on a silver-plated tray, it changed color to black quickly, after investigating I found out… that poison was the same poison which killed my father, I kept the evidence, she doesn't want me to marry her father so she is going to do something before it, I'm not safe anyways, I'd rather die with bravery while fighting for my life instead of living like a caged coward rat. These snakes soon will swallow me. Minster is at the age of my dead father. It is disgusting to me."