Aisha crossed her arms, eyeing her father suspiciously.
"You want me to go to town… now?"
Ghadib, sitting in his office, adjusted his rings with a leisurely gesture.
— I think you spend too much time locked up in the palace. An outing will do you good.
She arched an eyebrow.
—Since when have you been worried about that?
He gave a slight smile.
—I always had your well-being in mind.
— That's not true.
His father did not respond. He just stared at her patiently, as if waiting for her to abandon her suspicion.
Aïsha glanced at Raïkuto, sitting back on a cushion, his back straight, observing the scene in silence. He hadn't spoken a word since their arrival.
She turned her attention to Ghadib.
—And I suppose I can't go alone?
— Of course. Idriss will accompany you.
Aisha rolled her eyes.
- Awesome. An outing under surveillance.
— Would you prefer to stay here?
She pursed her lips, hesitant. Then she took another look at Raikuto. He shrugged his shoulders.
—If it bothers you, I can stay.
Aisha sighed, thinking one last time before shaking her head.
- No. It will be more fun with you.
A slight smile appeared on Ghadib's lips.
- Have fun.
Aïsha stared at him for a few more seconds before turning on her heel.
Raïkuto and Idriss followed her without a word.
As they walked through the door, Ghadib spoke to Abraham without even looking up from the parchment he was looking over.
— Gather them. We have preparations to finalize.
The steward bowed slightly before leaving the room as well.
Aisha walked briskly through the halls, annoyance visible on her face.
—Since when does he care about my well-being?
Raikuto walked beside her, hands in his pockets.
—Maybe he's just trying to be nice.
She gave him a skeptical look.
— My father doesn't do anything without reason. If he wants to keep me away from the palace, it's because he's planning something.
Raikuto remained silent. He knew she wasn't wrong.
Idriss, who was walking just behind them, spoke in a calm voice.
—Maybe he just wants to take your mind off things.
Aisha raised an eyebrow.
— Do you really believe it?
The head guard did not respond immediately.
— Whatever the reason, the city will do you good.
Aisha sighed.
- Maybe.
She slowed down slightly, before turning her head towards Raikuto.
- And you ? Do you really want to come?
He shrugged his shoulders.
— Not really, but I'm curious.
She smirks.
— That suits me.
They passed through the great gates of the palace, and the Samakhrystal sun immediately struck their skin.
Aisha narrowed her eyes, feeling the heat on her face.
— So let's see what this city has to offer us.
Raikuto was already observing his surroundings with a cautious look.
Far behind them, Ghadib watched the palace doors close, thoughtfully.
He hadn't lied. This outing was necessary.
But it wasn't for Aïsha.
This was to give him time to act.
He turned back to Abraham.
— Let everything be ready when they return.
The steward inclined his head slightly.
— Everything is already in place.
Ghadib took a deep breath.
— Then let's get started.
****
The streets of Samakhrystal were a whirlwind of sounds and colors. The central market was bustling with activity, every lane teeming with stalls covered in vibrant spices, sumptuous fabrics and finely crafted jewelry. The air was heavy with intertwined smells: hot bread, tanned leather, burning incense.
Aïsha took a deep breath, a satisfied smile stretching her lips.
—That's a real place. Not like the palace.
Raïkuto did not share his enthusiasm. His gaze scanned the surroundings warily.
— Too many people.
She rolled her eyes.
—That's a good thing.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
— That means you can easily disappear, but also that you can easily be followed.
Idriss, walking behind them, nodded slowly.
— Stay close to me.
Aïsha ignored the warning and approached a stall overflowing with bracelets and small carved objects. His fingers touched a finely crafted bracelet, the metal glinting in the light.
—Look at that, Raï. This one would suit you well.
Raikuto raised an eyebrow.
— I don't need a bracelet.
Aisha pouted.
—You're really boring.
The merchant, an old man with a braided beard, observed them with a commercial smile.
— For the young lady, a special prize.
Raikuto crossed his arms, his gaze sliding over the object.
— He's lying.
Aïsha turned to him, intrigued.
- What ?
— The bracelet is copper, not gold.
The merchant's smile tightened slightly.
- Smart ass…
Aïsha burst out laughing and put the jewel down.
— You have the eye.
They walked away quietly, Aïsha continuing to observe the stalls with wonder. But Raïkuto felt a slight shiver running down his neck.
A whisper.
— It's her. Ghadib's daughter.
His body tensed instinctively.
With a discreet movement, he glanced over his shoulder.
Two men in dark cloaks stood a few meters away, motionless, their gaze fixed on Aisha.
His stomach tightened.
He discreetly grabbed the girl's sleeve and tugged on it.
— We have a problem.
Aïsha looked at him, taken aback.
— Hein ?
Idriss had already noticed. His gaze darkened.
— Move. NOW.
Aisha frowned.
—Who are they?
— No time to ask questions, said Raikuto, pulling her lightly towards a narrower alley.
Idriss instinctively placed himself behind them, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
The two men moved.
Slowly. Precisely.
They were not just curious passers-by.
Raikuto felt his heart speed up.
—They are following us.
Idriss gritted his teeth and quickened his pace slightly.
—Keep moving forward. If I tell you to run, you run.
Aïsha glanced behind her, intrigued.
—Maybe they just want—
"They're following us," Raikuto repeated, more quietly. Since you left the stand.
Aïsha lost her smile.
She knew this type of man only too well.
Idriss discreetly grabbed his dagger from his belt.
— We turn into the next alley.
Raikuto felt his body stiffen at the thought of a confrontation.
The men had accelerated.
The trap was closing.
****
The silence weighed heavily in the vast stone-walled room. Tall columns cast moving shadows under the trembling light of the oil lamps. The air was thick with an almost palpable tension.
Ghadib stood in the center, his hands resting on a table where a partially unrolled parchment lay. Around him, a handful of hand-picked men waited in silence, their faces hidden under the hoods of their cloaks or marked by years of combat and secrets.
He slowly ran a finger over the map spread out in front of him.
—We have almost everything we need.
His sharp gaze shifted to Abraham, who remained slightly behind, his expression impassive.
—The Crypt will soon be inaccessible if we don't hurry.
A massive man, his face marked with scars, leaned against the table, crossing his arms.
—And the Gem of Memories? he asked in a serious tone.
Ghadib stood up, dominating the room with his presence.
"We need to get it back before the God-King understands what we're really looking for.
He looked around the assembly.
"We always knew it would get his attention eventually. But until he has all the pieces of the puzzle, he won't be able to anticipate our next move.
Another man, thinner, with cunning features, thoughtfully stroked the hilt of a dagger hanging from his belt.
—If the Royal Guard tightens its control over the Crypt, how do you plan to recover what is hidden inside?
Ghadib gave an enigmatic smile.
— There is always a loophole. We have someone inside.
A murmur ran through the assembly.
The scarred mercenary raised a skeptical eyebrow.
—Is this someone reliable?
Abraham, who had remained silent until then, finally intervened, his calm and cold voice cutting the silence.
— He always was.
Ghadib nodded slowly.
— This expedition must be the last. We can no longer afford to fail.
He stared at each of his men intently, making sure his message was perfectly clear.
— Failure is not an option.
A shudder ran through the room.
The man with the dagger twirled his weapon between his fingers.
—What if we run into the God-King's men?
A slight smile appeared on Ghadib's lips.
"Then we'll make sure they don't come back."
A heavy silence settled in, interrupted only by the crackling of an oil lamp.
Then, Abraham slowly nodded his head.
— So we'll set off tomorrow.
Ghadib looked outward, through a narrow opening that overlooked the illuminated city.
He could almost hear the echo of the bustling crowds of Samakhrystal, where his daughter and the boy he had chosen were roaming the streets.
— Let everything be ready before their return.
The shadows closed around them, swallowing the faces and the whispers.
Destiny was in motion.
****
Raïkuto abruptly pulled Aïsha into an adjacent alley, the irregular cobblestones slipping under their hasty steps.
—What's their problem?! she whispered as she ran.
— I don't know, but I don't want to find out.
Behind them, Idriss brought up the rear, his eyes scanning every corner. He knew that home advantage still belonged to them. Samakhrystal was a maze of alleys, secret passages and steep staircases. But their pursuers were not amateurs.
— To the right! Idriss shouted.
They turned abruptly, entering a narrower alley.
— Are they following us? Aisha asked, glancing quickly behind her.
"Obviously," Raikuto grunted.
He risked a glance back. Three men in dark cloaks began pursuing them. No visible armor, no emblems... They were not part of any official faction.
They weren't soldiers.
They were hunters.
They came out onto a crowded street where merchants shouted their prices, customers jostled to haggle, and the air was saturated with spices and dust.
Idriss glanced at their pursuers who were trying to make their way through the crowd.
— Separate! he ordered. See you at the caravanserai!
Aïsha nodded and grabbed Raikuto by the sleeve.
- One!
They dove in another direction, mingling with passers-by. The noise and commotion masked their movements, but Raikuto knew they were not out of danger.
"We're going to lose them," assured Aïsha, a confident smile on her lips.
—I'm not sure...
Raikuto felt something strange.
A tension in the air.
A shiver ran through his fingers.
They dashed into an adjacent alley and took a stone staircase, climbing onto a raised terrace that overlooked the market. From there, they could see the crowd below...and their pursuers who had already split up to corner them.
"They are good," Raikuto admitted.
"No better than us," replied Aïsha, jumping onto an adjacent low wall.
Raikuto gritted his teeth and followed her. They went from one roof to another, jumping over small paths, hoping to widen the gap.
But on every street corner, their shadows remained present.
—They know the city as well as we do... Raikuto pestered.
Aisha bit her lip, looking for an escape.
- There ! she shouted, pointing to a wider alley.
They raced down a set of stairs and into the shadows of a narrower passage, but barely had they turned the corner...
...that they found themselves facing an impasse.
Aïsha swore under her breath.
- Seriously ?!
Raikuto turned around.
The men had stopped at the entrance to the alley, blocking them effortlessly.
One of them, a tall, thin man with piercing eyes, walked forward slowly.
— Ghadib's daughter... He wants to see you.
Aisha crossed her arms.
- Oh yes ? Well, tell him he can come see me himself.
The man smiled coldly.
— This is not an invitation.
Raikuto instinctively placed himself in front of her, his fists clenched.
— We're not going to follow them, are we?
— Obviously not.
He felt a strange tingling in his fingers.
As if something inside him was about to explode.
The man with the piercing gaze took a step forward.
—You don't really have a choice.
Raikuto narrowed his eyes.
Electric tension crackled around him.
His breathing quickened.
Something was going to happen.
****