In the guise of a military mission, Darina chooses to not take her rest at the palace. With Rowen, she went outside the amusement place to find a place to stay. They decided to go to an inn which is situated half a farsang away. While they are standing at the wide-open double doors of the inn, they noticed how the workers are busy preparing the grand hall. There are dancers in their fine dresses assisting each other to keep their fashion intact. Darina walks in while observing the people around her. A dancer whose gaze met hers stood in awe. “Dilruba?” Darina called her as she steps closer. “How can a court dancer be in this place?” “We will perform for a court official, Your Highness,” Dilruba replied while keeping her hands upon the embroidered kerchief that covers the lower half of her face. Darina felt her eyes quiver involuntarily at such aggravating thought that the court dancers who are meant exclusively for the internal court are performing at

The very first thing Darina and her company noticed about Shahin was his character, timid and reserved. While they observe him from afar, Darina’s company cannot help themselves but talk about him. “I did not expect that he was Prince Ozroes’ half-brother. I can barely see any resemblance of Chief Marcus in him,” Marsden commented. He noticed that the chief Amyrgians there have aspen-red hair. But Shahin has a brown one. “It is because he is a stepson to Chief Marcus. Chief Marcus took Shahin’s mother after the former chief wife died. Shahin is older than Ozroes but Ozroes is the chief prince,” Ardeshir explained. Hearing their conversation in this manner, Darina was enraged. “Both of you must cut your comments. What is it anyway if he bears no resemblance to Chief Marcus or has no blood relation with the chief Amyrgian line? Isn’t it enough that Shahin must be known as a brother of Ozroes? You are indirectly rejecting him. You seem to not care of your master

No man yet was able to compare how fast could be the time is for one person and slow to another. One thing to Clapestris is for sure, that the fastest of all was all the vicissitudes that happened, in her capital and outside her palaces.While Darina and Prince Thariem are away, the warfare game prevailed. There are many red dyes slashed through from both sides that almost every one of them seemed defeated on their own. Many were serious about taking the combat and a few made it for entertainment. The same few soldiers were the first to notice the lone traveler heading towards them, and a trail of thick dust is following him. These soldiers called the deputy leaders to look at the coming person.Rowen received the letter from him. As he reads it, his hands clutched the paper. King Rashal requires reinforcement from those who are participating in the practice war for his campaign against the Egeans.“We need to help His Majesty,” the deputy leader for

Fear succumbs the kingdom and the plea for escape remains undeniable even for the heroic Marsden. He could play retreat to save himself. But how can he resist the heroic call when both women before him are vulnerable? Marsden cannot help but enfold his hand on Dilruba’s arm. He let Dilruba assist the Queen Dowager to run against the futility of their exit. The Queen Dowager can only recall a few of the secret passages of the palace. As she enters with her heroes to the path behind the chamber walls, she cannot guarantee any safety either. They only have a torch to light the path, and they can follow the available path towards the most of freedom they can attain. Struggling on their way, and their steps against cobwebs and rodents, that they found the best clue for the exit, that is the passage that can deliver them straight out the gates. There is a few drops of water from the ceiling of the passage, hinting to them that they are beneath the moats of the city. So the

The three fugitives joined Prince Thariem and Darina’s company en route to Gandaria. Their company has encamped first in a mountainous place to wait for the dawn. They were discussing among themselves how to find a place for Queen Dowager and Dilruba to stay. Dilruba felt uneasy about their discussion. She does not want to be a burden among the soldiers. Seeing that a mighty woman like Darina can easily join the troop, she thought of volunteering herself. “No, Dilruba. You must stay with Queen Dowager,” Prince Thariem replied to her secret appeal. “She needs someone with her, too.” Darina heard their conversation and added herself to it. “We do not think of burdens on accompanying you with us. However, some things must be executed wise,” Darina tried explaining gently. “In that case, Your Highness can join us with the Queen Dowager at our stay in Gandaria. We can assure each other’s safety while our soldiers retake the capital,” Dilruba sugges