6. Revelations.
The woman stepped through the doorway. Her shoulders like Taamir’s nearly touching the sides of the door frame. The large sword at her side bumped into the door frame. The biggest person she had ever seen before had been Paul, with whom she worked at the manor. His family had been of the Northern people and were known to be big. And he was. Over six and a half feet and broad shouldered. Maria had even heard from both him and her mother that there were women as big as he in the north lands but she had never met one and it was mostly said they were the largest of all the people. So Maria was a little surprised to see the woman. At first she thought it might be a mercenary from the north but then she saw that she had the features of these people.
Her brown skin and Brown eyes , with a nose smaller than you would expect on someone that size. Her hair was braided into two, and flowed down to her hips.
"Where is that nephew of mine?" she cried out. "I heard that he ended up out in the forest Taamir. What happened?"
"How come that news travels faster than an actual order?" mumbled Taamir.
The little boy ran to her.
"Aunt Ablaa!" he exclaimed.
She swept him up into her arms and he nearly disappeared into them. She covered him in kisses as he squirmed to get away from them. Taamir stood up and Maria thought that they must be related as they were nearly the same height and build. Ruwayda walked over and and plucked Kamal out of her arms.
"Enough, sister." Ruwayda told her, "He has had quite an experience and I don’t need you getting him all exited."
"Well I am wondering how my brother-in-law, allowed such a thing to happen." she said turning to face him.
"I didn’t even know he was there! He was supposed to be sheltering with everyone else and he says he became lo.... Maria? Is something wrong?"
They all turned to her. Ablaa noticing her for the first time.
"Your mouth is open." she heard Theodore say.
She closed her mouth, and then it opened again and all that came out of it was, "You’re... sisters?"
Ablaa was the first one to laugh. Quickly followed by the others.
"You’re blushing."
"Shut up."
Maria watched them as they tried to get their laughing under control. It wasn’t that bad a mistake she told herself. Ablaa towered at least two feet above Ruwayda, and was near twice as big. It was an honest mistake.
As if echoing her thoughts Ruwayda said, "We are sorry Maria. It is understandable, your surprise. Many newcomers to the city are just as surprised as you. But your reaction was priceless. Please allow me to properly introduce my sister, Ablaa. She takes after our father. Ablaa this is Maria. She found our Kamal in the forest and safely returned him to us."
Ablaa walked over to her and held out her hand. "Thank you for taking care of Kamal. I am as indebted to you as much as my sister and brother -in-law."
Maria shook her hand. "I need no thanks. I could never leave a helpless person in need."
"Good." replied Ablaa. She then turned around raised her hands in the air. "Drink, Taamir. Where in the name of Fadwa is my drink.."
she turned to Maria with a big smile on her face that made her look much more like her sister. "The service in this place is terrible." This statement was followed by a wooden spoon careening off the side of her head. This did not even phase the woman as she walked over to a chair and sat down. Taamir poured her a drink.
Ablaa took a swig of her drink, and then pointed to a space at Maria’s feet.
"That little one yours?"
Maria looked down and saw that she was pointing to Theodore who was still crouching under the chair where he had taken shelter upon her arrival.
"He is my companion." she answered, "But he does not belong to me."
Ablaa seemed to be carefully thinking about that, and then she bent forward and held out her hand to Theodore. He sidled out from under the chair and sniffed her hand. He seemed to be satisfied and climb on. Ablaa lifted him up closer to her face and examined him. She did not seem surprised by his colouring. In fact she looked like she was trying to make up her mind about something. After a little while she put her lips close to his ear and whispered something. Theodore’s eyes went wide in surprise. But before Maria could even ask him what was the matter, Ruwayda spoke up.
"What news do you have of the battle, sister dear? Did we loose many?"
Ablaa’s face changed to a more weary one. The worry about her nephew and needing to know what had happened had given her energy. But now, being reminded of what had happened earlier in the day, the tiredness was creeping in.
"We lost about a dozen today. And as many have been wounded. Not one of the worst battles we fought, but still it was hard."
"And what of Saleem?" asked Taamir. "Is he still well. I caught sight of him at the beginning but then could no longer find him after that. I tried to stay near him but was unable too."
"My husband is fine." she replied. "I met him afterward. He was none the worse for wear, thank Fadwa. I think he is a lucky man having come back from that wound and still able to go out so soon afterward."
"Here we go." thought Maria. "Now I have to look into all the possible people, one at a time."
Looking for someone cheating death in a middle of a war was no easy task.
"Your husband was wounded recently?" she asked trying to sound sympathetic and not inquisitive.
"Yes." answered Ablaa. "Quite badly I was told, though they would not let me see him until they were done. It looked awful. He had taken a slash across the chest with a scimitar. The healers said it was very deep and they told me to make my goodbyes. I did as they said. But the next day he had recovered and they said he would be all right. They claimed it a miracle. I did not really care so long as he was still here. I was giggling like a little girl." She smiled as she remembered that time.
"But," interjected Ruwayda, "He was never really the same after that. Was he?"
"No." answered her sister. The smile leaving her face. "He had changed. He was distant and seemed as if he was not really here."
"How long ago did this take place?" asked Maria.
"About two weeks." answered Ablaa.
She told herself, "Not the man I am looking for I don’t think. Though being back on your feet from a wound as she described would be really miraculous, the one I am looking for is more recent. Though I could be off by a bit."
That was when she notice that Theodore was strangely silent.
She was going to say something when Ablaa said "You will be meeting him in a while. He will be passing by so we three can go to the meeting together."
"What meeting?" both Taamir and Ruwayda asked at the same time.
"Ameera has called a meeting to try and figure out what to do next and also she wants to address the populace later, to assure them that everything will turn out our way." she said.
"Who is Ameera?" asked Maria.
"She is the leader of the city." said Ruwayda. "I suppose she would be the equivalent of a Lord in your country?"
"I understand."
"You may come along." said Taamir. "I would like to introduce you to her. She would like to know of this, it could lift her spirits hearing such a tale."
"I don’t know." she replied. "I shouldn’t bother you in matters of war. I will be fine here with your wife. Perhaps after this meeting is over."
Taamir looked like he was about to say something when there was a knock on the door.
Ablaa went to open it. "That is probably Saleem."
She opened the door and a tall lanky man stepped in wearing the same uniform as the others and a scimitar on his right hip.
"Saleem, you must meet Maria. She saved Kamal’s life today. Maria, my husband Saleem."
Maria rose and held out her hand to greet the man. She steadied herself just in case. He was probably not the one she was looking for but this time she was going to make sure that if he was, she would not give away anything to the others about what she found out.
She was glad she did.
She shook his hand and looked into his eyes.
He had no soul.
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