Chapter 67: Hamstrung
The sun was blazing up in the sky. Its rays are drying out the water in the desert. The few cactus trees are the only surviving plants in this place.
The sand from the desert was hot and burned the feet; the eastern wind caressed the face and raised the dust on the ground in the air.
Three men were seen on camels, their heads wrapped and their faces covered with a hijab. Only their eyes could be seen as they rode on the camel's back with a cart connected behind them.
Inside the cart were multiple barrels of water that shook violently as the cart climbed over the piles of desert sand and rolled down in a wavy motion. Soon the men came upon a high cliff made of sand; from there they could behold the great kingdom, Hamstung.
They turned the camel and went down the slope of desert sand. Their wrinkled hand and wrist were embellished with golden rings and silver chains. Their neck bearing a tribal mark traces back to their people.
The footprints of the camels were imprinted on the desert but quickly faded when the eastern wind blew by, covering them up.
The great gates of the city of Hamstung were opened, foreigners and traders trooping in on their camels, some with their slaves walking on foot beside them.
At the gate of the city were giant men with whips, their muscles catching the sun. Their biceps and their skin reflecting under the rays of the sun.
"Salam alaikum." The foreigners greeted, bringing their hand to their foreheads.
'The gods be with you.' That was the meaning of Salam alaikum.
The buildings in Hamstung were made of strong, heavy bricks. There were some pyramid-like structures and circular buildings of different tastes and architecture.
Their streets were clean but still sandy and dusty. The wells were drying up, but the women in this city had good taste for jewelry. Their lips were soiled with oil to moisten them, their dark hair glistening under the sunlight.
Their ears had multiple piercings filled with golden earrings. Some had piercings on their noses. Hamstung was filled with beautiful women; it was one of the richest kingdoms continentally. The only issue was that they lacked water.
On some corners of the streets were some prostitutes…
"Come to me, mister; one night with me and you will leave your wife."
"My husband is on his way on a long journey; warm my bed with your body."
They would bat their lashes and wink their eyes.
The walls of the palace were deeply carved with historical events. Mysterious drawing and words written in the Hamstung language.
A golden statue of King Orain is encarved on the walls. The gates of the palace had two carved lion statues made of thick clay on both sides of the metal gates. The foundation of the palace was high, made of dome-shaped gravel stones, such that the pillars stood out. Palm trees flung to intercept and a beautiful green maze patterned on the fertile soil
The male servants in the palace walk around with a thin material wrapped around their waist and a linen hanging across one hand or their shoulder. The female servants wore a simple white gown.
Nafteni was laid sideways on a low mat in her chamber, her dark straight hair falling side by side on her face. Her plump pink lips and brown eyes hidden under thin long lashes.
Milky skin and perfect jawlines, slim and tall, with small curves. Her feminine features were laudable. They were maids seated on low wooden stools with different instruments in their hands. A maid was running her finger through the string instrument, another played on a flute, and the third on a shofar.
The melodious tone filled the chamber, which had thick pillars made of solid gold. The ceiling is high up, and the walls are engraved with historical drawings. Fire torches were placed at the four corners of the chamber but were not on because it was daytime.
"Princess, would you like more water?" A maid crouched down to Nefteni's level.
Nafteni also had a string instrument laid beside her, but she didn't play it. Two maids were standing beside her fanning her, her long fingers plucking from a bunch of blue grapes, her thick dark eyebrows outlining her face.
She simply waved her hand, signifying she didn't need any water, her plump lips savoring the juice of the grapes.
"The gods will watch us melt like burning candles before they finally open the clouds." Neftini cursed, her soft voice filled with irritation.
She was wearing a purple lace gown that had a long slit up to her hips. Her shoulders and neck were bare. The dress hung on her chest, flowing downward, her cleavage in full view, but her long hair draped sideways due to the position she lay in.
"The water bath is ready, Princess Nafteni." A maid walks in and then bows.
Nafteni slowly rose to her feet, her dark hair draping down and reaching above her below her waist.
The water bath wasn't far from her chamber, and it was within the female court in the palace. The water bath was like a big pool that separated the inner courts; it was carved in the shape of two full moons flipped sideways and joined together.
The curved parts of the half moon touching each other—that was how the water bath looked from above. Palm trees were flanked around the pool to shade it from the blazing sun.
Neftini was led to the water bath escorted by two maids. Walking through the corridors of the water bath, the floor was a little wet with water from splashing. By the time she got there, her sister Omelia was already in the water bath, her body soaked in it as she leaned on the walls of the water bath.
Neftini slowly undressed, her flawless body coming into view. The dress fell from her body, and she walked naked into the water bath and then soaked herself; she ran her hands on her bare shoulders, allowing the water to touch every part of her skin.
Her dark hair clung to her body, and her lashes became wet.
Omelia saw her sister, but she didn't acknowledge her. Her slightly tanned skin basked under the tiny shade between the palm trees' leaves, and her wavy hair curled up, clinging to her bare shoulders.
Nafteni was the one who took the initiative to talk to her sister.
The surface of the water bath was within reach; Nafteni could find a foothold on the gravel ground beneath the water. She simply walked up to Omelia, the heavy assets on her chest barely moving, the lower half of her body hidden beneath the water.
"How does the weather favor you, Omelia? Nafteni pulled up beside her reticent sister. Omelia was seated on a high gravel stone at the corner of the water bath, her abdomen and upper body in view, and her long legs soaked in the water.
"The weather doesn't favor anyone; we can only but endure." Omelia hardly opened her lips while she talked, but the words flowed out smoothly.
"We have survived for many seasons; this season won't be any different." Neftini's gaze fell; somehow she could never lock gazes with her sister.
"You are getting ripe with every passing day; suitors will soon begin to flood the palace gates." Omelia said, her gaze scrutinizing her sister's body.
"You are the eldest; I believe Father would settle scores with you before falling back to me." Nafteni batting her long lashes.
"Do you still see him?" Omelia asked, her blue gaze fixed on her sister.
Nafteni was silent for a while.
"He won't come to see me, nor does he return my letters."
"As it should be, he is not royalty." Omelia replied calmly.
"He is a human being; how different is he from any other men out there?" Nafteni's voice was laced with displeasure.
"Do I have to explain everything to you, Nafteni ni? You are the youngest, not a fool." Omelia shot back calmly, her voice slightly raised.
"You have multiple lovers, Omelia; you don't see me complaining." Nafteni was aroused with steaming anger.
Omelia scoffed and then clicked her tongue.
"That's different, Nafteni; they are only there to pleasure me. I do not plan to run away with them or stain myself with their cheap standards."
"Everyone starts from somewhere; they just need time, I believe Jayeb….
"You will grow old with every hair on your scalp as white as snow before that low-life servant will ever reach the peak of wealth, standard enough for him to take you as a wife." Omelia interrupted.
"If Father finds out…
"He won't." Nafteni chipped in.
"For now." Omelia added, slowly rising to her feet. Her glorious body was now in view as she flipped her wet hair backwards, and it slapped against her back.
"Where are you going?" Nafteni questioned.
"To prepare myself, the King of Decreash is coming."