d, stayed buried. That if one lived quietly, worked

was not something the Al-H

as if the estate itself held its breath. Ahmed sat at his writing desk, responding to o

d wri

ad baking, and my father hummin

of himself. How her quiet, watchful presence had begun to car

the same young attendant who had guided

ate," she said. "He says you kn

po

He had few friends left there, and

ed - tall, broad-shouldered, with a faded navy tunic

hm

nked.

added more seriously, "though perhaps n

m inside. "What a

s eyes darting around the carved stone

fire through the quarte

said n

e because... well, because I remember the boy who used to give a

ind of

estate. Her past husbands - both of them. T

lenched. "Tho

ersistent ones. And they always sta

ly aware of every shadow, every curta

re watching you, Ahmed. They always watch t

of si

t her?" Y

before. He thought of the way she had trembled, just slightly, when he tou

hmed said honestl

ul. Because here, the past i

-

lked through the garden corridors, hoping to glimpse Kh

another note slipp

. I'm sorry. I should

, come to the west terrace tonig

The words carried weight.

ime she had offere

-

rns that swayed in the breeze. Ahmed found her already there, seated

approached. She only looked up -

time he had see

t strong. Not soft in the way stories spoke

man my father chose. He died two years later. I was blamed - not

stened i

d yes because I was tired of saying no. He... disap

him?" Ahmed

ion. "I didn't even know him.

him now, eye

money. Or one who fears my silence. I wa

chest ti

ally am," she said. "Well... I don't

his fingers against hers. "T

d them. Somewhere below, the city whispe

night, truth sat between t

-