into the market streets, his new life pressing quietly agains

m-vibrant, fragrant, and utterly un

ing him deeper into the heart of the marketplace. The aroma of sweetbread mingled with freshly ground s

afirah lived

assersby with practiced melody, their voices rising like birdsong beneath the gold-streaked sky. The clatter of wooden carts against stone

flutter in his chest. Though this was the city of his birth, the

it looked

him by now seemed to pau

eone both observing and hiding. His ears tuned not to the shouts of mercha

n murmured to her companion as they

one no one ever sees?" came the hushed r

me, but from the sudden pressure of

in its quiet beginning, was al

a cloak invisible to the eye but heavy on the shoulders. Whispers trail

r just Ahmed. N

her hus

name. Not

spicion. B

er prices and children played with wooden swords, hi

g his face. He clutched a wooden falcon in one ha

outh curv

carri

hered. Beautif

he let himself

ispers, beyond the uncertaint

ue linen, the scent of mint and black

rimmed beard and a knowing gaze,

al but dipped in curiosity. "Word's tra

d a brow. "

y, his tone lowering as if o

ken a husband. And not just anyone-f

tching the leaves dance near the

ndor continued. "Others say... she

nt

his thoughts like cold me

not r

mply

lence was

ung with beads and incense, deeper into the heart of Zafirah. Yet he couldn

in s

wei

lums, he paused, reaching for a pomegranate

s a v

mea

fe that had cut

he knows what

rds fr

tur

d and weathered, her eyes lined but intelligent

ked thr

r gaze witho

know,"

was quie

I wan

ot into amusement

already ahe

him the p

orgets." She paused. "Be careful, young man

ing the fruit and

m, cool and sharp. The p

t faded into softer hues. The bustle dimmed behi

at she was doi

th the call to

d her lattice windows, wondering wh

of being known and unk

ind peace in

ow, as if his feet had grown he

evening light bled over the roo

licate. Fold

ed it, fingers trembling despi

s unmistakably her

d outside

e, you

silence be

ad it

n a

ap around the ache i

-

ack – K

dow that overlooked the courtyard pond. The sky was melting from oran

ed only once as sh

nce they had shared that first evening, sitting across from one a

t loudly, not instantly, but like the soft shif

ed at her. Not with hunger. Not wi

ith h

no mask. No performa

ed how starved sh

in the doorway, watching the fading warmth of his p

sed-not to touch her, not to ask anything-but to sa

name. Even with the shadows.

ayed wi

p dimmed. Long after she lay awake, staring at the

by society, by expectations, by men w

ever asked her

ords-but in presence. I

iped and gasped, she took her brush, dipped it

d outside

e, you

e silence

ld, gave it to Salima without expl

folding in on itself, shrinking

th her again, breat

anding

ing at h

.. wa

g her

hback

-

te. A fragi

was e

ils and beneath the whispers, there was

nd perhaps, in time

ed silence, their hea

ed to understand them, they