I came to rest
At the Altar of stars.

— Rabindranath Tagore

✵

Her

"Are you happy, Nour?"

"I'm happy, Eskander."

"I'm glad."

"Are you happy?"

"I am."

"I glad for you too."

Like the many nights before, they watch stars together. Like the many nights before, the nightingales sing. They sit in the company of each other.

"What are you going to talk to Adam about?" she asks him curiously.

"Nothing much. Just threaten him to keep you happy and not hurt you ever, or I'll declare war against him."

Noura chuckles at his playfulness. "You'll threaten a prince?"

"No title holds meaning to me when it comes to you."

She feels a warmth spread through her at his confession. He smiles at her and she smile back, holding his eyes that appear darker than their sun-kissed shade in daylight.

"You know what is one of the greatest gifts of God to me?"

"What?"

"You, Eskander."

He silently leans forward and kisses her forehead.

Him

The hour is a little after dawn when the shops have only begun to open. The morning is chilly, faintly lit and the sun hasn't yet ascended out of the horizon all the way. He walks into a small teashop down the corner of her street where he has agreed to meet Eskander. Daud follows closely behind him. They exchange greetings with an old man working behind the counter making tea.

"Would you like some, agha?" he asks them.

"Yes, thank you."

"Breakfast?"

"No."

"Any treats?"

"Just tea is fine."

He scans the area for Eskander but he hasn't arrived yet. There aren't much people around this early and he's grateful for that. The man behind the counter attempts to strike a conversation with him.

"Are you a traveler?" Adam looks at him at his question but doesn't answer him. The man adds for clarification, "You don't seem a local. Your accent tells me."

"I'm not a local," he replies.

"Where are you from?"

He carefully calculates his response in his head before telling him, "Baghdad."

The man's eyes light up at his response. "Ah, the golden city. What brings you to Isfahan?"

"Business, sayidi."

The man only chuckles and serves him and Daud their tea. He thank him.

"We've travelers all the time, most of them traders, from different regions," the man continues. "They boast about the city. Baghdad, I mean. I wonder what it is like."

"You haven't ever been to it?"

"Once, when I was a young man, maybe around your age." He smiles ruefully. "That was before the war though, during the time of Khalid ibn Al Malik. Baghdad was beautiful back then."

"It still is."

"I'm sure it is." The man is now wiping the counter with his back towards them. "God bless Yusuf bin Khalid. He brought it to its former glory after Marwan Al Kurdiya made the land suffer the war."

His muscles clench. Daud briefly meets his eyes and he gives his head a subtle shake. His servant goes back to casually sipping his tea.

"What do you do in Baghdad?" the man asks, now turning back to him.

"I'm a soldier."

The man beams once again. "Does it mean your here for the wedding?"

He arches an inquisitive eyebrow. "Depends on which wedding we're speaking of."

"Eskander Teymour's wedding," the man explains. "The general of Baghdad. You must be from his army." He doesn't say anything, and the man grins at him, taking their silence for affirmation. "Why didn't you tell me before? You're our guests! I've known that boy since the time of his father, Teymour. Old friend. When they moved to Baghdad, it was then that I visited them and saw Baghdad the first time. But then Teymour was martyred and Eskander was taken in by Al Makhzum's family. He was still a child when he returned to Isfahan-- his home." He laughs to himself. "But look, all grown up now, getting married."

Again, he remains quiet. His tea is finished now. So is Daud's. Eskander still hasn't arrived. Or maybe they're early. The man refills their cups despite their refusal.

"His sister is getting married too," he says, regaining his attention. "To the governor of Qahira-- the former caliph, Al Shafay. Have you heard?"

"Yes."

"Although they're already married, but I heard the prince wants to hold a proper nikkah this time. Good thing, he should do it properly like a man. The poor girl was abducted three years ago and then the prince returned her home about two years back. Rumors go that he forced her into marrying her. Do you know?"

"I don't indulge in rumors, sayidi," he replies, level-headed, yet a drop of venom seeps into his tone against his will. The man doesn't seem to notice and nods in approval.

"Her mother was badly afflicted by her absence. I didn't think they would agree to marrying her off to shahzada Adam. Since Al Hadi is the Khalifa now, Eskander holds power to annul the marriage." The man sighs, and though he doesn't like the topic of discussion, he cannot help agreeing with him. Eskander holds power but refused to use it against him. And the reason seems more than Noura's love for him and her desire to stay in the marriage. "But this is not our business," the man finally says. "As long as they remain happy. May they always be happy."

"Ameen."

"There are many rumors though," someone else pipes in-- a young attendant with the old man. "The more mouths there are, the more they talk. A lot of them lies, of course. But people here fear Eskander, so they behave when he's around."

"What do they say?" he cannot help asking, suddenly all furious. Daud shares another glance with him, as if secretly asking him to dismiss it. He cannot.

"Things. People talk when they're idle. You know how it is."

"How is it?"

But he does get his answer as the old man shoots his attendant a glare and sends him away, apologizing to him.

"What is the Khalifa like?" He changes the subject.

"Al Hadi?"

"Yes. You serve him, you must know."

Adam shrugs a shoulder, but unable to shrug off what the boy said moments ago. "He rules you. Does he rule you fair?"

The man laughs again, ironic this time. "One cannot have this conversation with the caliph's soldiers."

"Unless one is truly happy with his ruler. Otherwise he's a flatterer and a hypocrite."

"I'm ain't that, young man," the man defends himself without taking offense. "Everyone differs in their opinion. This throne belonged to the father of Sulaiman bin Khalid. He has inherited it. But Al Shafay tried to earn it for himself."

"You think it's fair what Al Shafay did?"

"You mean with the reputation of his father?" he asks and Adam takes a bitter gulp of his tea. "The kingdom belongs to Allah. Whoever he wishes, he gives dominion to. God remains the ultimate King. Whoever he wishes, he makes the Khalifa of His land. He wouldn't make the son pay for the sins of his father. God is just."

His words gives him peace. They give him hope. He looks away from him down at the teacup. They don't proceed that conversation anymore. Then he hears the man call out.

"Khosh amedid, farzand (welcome, son)."

He lifts his eyes to the entrance and sees Eskander walking in. He greets the old man with a smile before spotting him.

"Your guests are here," the man informs him. "They've been waiting for you for quite a while now."

He simply nods before making his way towards him. Daud excuses himself, leaving them both alone, and Eskander sits from across him. Unlike with the old man, there are no greetings exchanged between them.

"So," Adam begins, "rumors go that I've forced Noura into marrying me."

"They're not rumors," Eskander corrects, voice terse. "Fooling her into marriage is no better than forcing her into it."

If he has any regrets or shame over the deeds of his past, he doesn't let it show it to him.

"You're afraid it'll corrupt your reputation?" Eskander asks with disdain.

He scoffs. "I don't want the people to speak so brazenly about my wife."

"Who has given them a chance to do so?"

"I'm not here to cut tongues, Eskander. Although I can very well cut tongues."

"If it was a solution, no one here could speak. I would've done it before you." He removes his sword from his belt and places it beside him. "But thanks to you, my Ameer, I've learnt to endure a lot of what I never would have endured before you."

"And I never would have endured you, general, was it not so important to Noura that your head remains on your shoulders."

"Oh I wish Nour wasn't the common factor between us. It would've made things much less complicated. But now when it's not the case, unfortunately," he folds his arms on the table, his gaze never once wavering from his, "this is one more thing we've to endure-- each other."

His candidness and nerve he has seen in his court before, back when he was the caliph, and his gallantry and courage in the battlefields. Eskander has always been a bold man, though astute and sly, it's not new to him, but there are barriers he breaks when Noura is in question. There are no titles that matter to him, as in right now, and he doesn't care what boundaries he crosses and what dangerous territories he steps into. But Adam disregards his audacious attitude and focuses on the matter they're here for.

"Then be over with it," he says. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Your rule in Qahira comes to an end in four months, Ameer Adam," he reminds him. "You were supposed to be the governor for two years only. It's already been twenty months, only four months more. Then you'll be summoned to the court of Al Hadi in Baghdad. You'll have to serve him for a year. Then once you're done with this remaining one year, it'll mark the completion of your three years pact with Ameer Sulaiman."

"I remember. Why are you telling me this?"

"You saved the land from the war at the cost of the throne. You gave it up to Sulaiman bin Khalid. One would think of you to be so noble to sacrifice so much. But none of us is a fool." Eskander gives him a crooked smile. "A year and a half, you still have that. Plot all you want, sayidi. You and I both know you only bought yourself some time in the face of a losing war. Because if that war had broken lose, you could've lost the throne forever."

Adam chuckle, humming, twirling the remaining tea in his cup. "This has something to do with my nikkah tonight?"

"I'm getting there."

"With all due respect, please do."

"The Khalifa doesn't intend to kill you or harm you. Why you cut off Nour from your life is beyond me. Whether you were trying to protect her from something or someone, or you were merely purely selfish, I had to end it before she could suffer anymore at your hands. But I need you to tell me if sending her with you would jeopardize her life."

There are things buried in coffins deep underground. There are fears that haunt him at night. Not for himself. But yes, for her. He doesn't know if Eskander is feigning oblivion or he's actually in denial, but he doesn't point it out to him.

"I don't know why you would assume that, unless you know something since you're Sulaiman's righthand man."

Eskander frowns, appearing frustrated. "I won't send her to Qahira with you until I'm assured she's save there. Or you could wait for four more months until you move back to Baghdad so she remains under my watch."

He laughs humorlessly. "You think I trust you, general?"

"At least unlike you, I don't intend to hurt her."

"I wouldn't hurt her."

"You already did."

"My tomorrow is not promised. You think I should've dragged her with me in hopes of an uncertain future?"

"As I said, the caliph doesn't intend to take your life. Al Hadi is lenient and forgiving, as long as you stay true to him. But that is not the problem. He doesn't want your life. He wants something else from you."

Now Eskander runs his fingers through his hair, tugging lightly at the roots, a gesture showing his vexation. Adam feels his heart making a frenzied contraction. His pulse suddenly jumps, and the veins in his head throb, causing a pang to shoot through him. He thinks he knows what Eskander means, and if his assumption is right, he doesn't know what hell might break lose.

"What does he want?" he grits out, and Eskander meets his eyes lazily.

"What matters is what Nour wants."

"What does Sulaiman want from me?"

"You were gone for a long time and--"

"Just say it! I don't want an introduction to the matter."

"Noura," he utters with such composure, Adam isn't sure if he's serious or not. "He wants you to divorce Noura so he can marry her."

For a moment, he freezes. "He wants my wife from me?" he asks in sheer disbelief, the absurdity of the statement shocking him to his core. "You had the shame to take this order from him?"

"It wasn't an order. It was a desire he expressed long before we knew of your marriage to Nour. He expressed his will again recently, considering you two had been apart and there was no effort on your part for reunion. He assumed--"

"He assumed he could steal away my wife from me?!" It takes everything in him to keep his voice down, even though he burn to bits and pieces inside, grinding out each word. "Why are you here, Eskander? You're a bastard if you think you can convince me to divorce Noura. She remains my wife, even if I've to slit throats for it. Then whether that throat is yours or the caliph's himself."

Eskander rubs his eyes, as if tired with the situation. Then he looks away. "She chose you over me. Nour, she loved you better. She still does. You think she'd choose Al Hadi over you?" His gaze flicks back to him. "It took one moment to end things between us, sayidi. I asked her to let go of me, and she let go of me, no questions asked. Even though I loved her dearly, and I know she loved me back. But she was already drifting away to something greater with you. She's still holding onto that something with you, not letting go no matter how many times she's asked to, no matter if it hurts her. She holds onto you."

For some reason, this simmer down his anger. He wants to ask Eskander to repeat the last part to him. Over and over again. But he would think of him to be crazy. Although hearing him telling this to him is strangely comforting.

"Ameer Adam?"

He looks at him.

"She's my family, my friend. I still love her dearly, though it's different now. I, too, can slit throats for her. Then whether that throat is yours or the caliph's himself."

This makes his lips stretch into a grin. He runs his tongue over his upper lip in slow motion. Eskander watches him with cold eyes.

"Let me guess," Adam speaks in amusement now. "Sulaiman wanted you to convince Noura to leave me so he could marry her, but instead you wrote me a letter to take Noura with me because you know she wouldn't agree? Because she loves me."

"I wrote you a letter because our mother wanted Noura to end her marriage with you too, but she didn't want to. I didn't want to make things difficult for her by mentioning Hadi's proposal to her. You've tire her enough waiting for you-- fighting for you. I was afraid eventually she would crumble under the pressure. I wanted her to be free of this pain. If me bending my ego and writing to you could bring her happiness by bringing you here, I took the blow and did it for her. Not for you. Not for Al Hadi." Eskander straps his sword back to his belt. "Al Hadi is my friend, but our friendship isn't greater to me than her happiness. If it were up to me, I might have chosen him than you for her. But it's not up to me. And if Nour wishes it to be you, then I'll just accept it to be you. I've no heart to fight her. I've no desire to resist her happiness."

Eskander stands up, preparing to leave, and for the first time he feels a little less repulsion towards him. He places a pouch of coins on the table for the shopkeeper before addressing him back.

"This conversation between us never happened. I never wrote you a letter. You came here out of your own free will. No one has to know about it. If you think Nour will be safe with you in Qahira, come for the nikkah this evening." He walks around the chair. "If not, if you want to wait until you return to Baghdad, let me know."

"I can take care of my wife."

"My eyes have bled seeing you do it all this time."

He could've pulled out his tongue for the impudence but he knows he has earned the right to be angry with him, not knowing his reasons, so he let it pass.

"If you change your mind," Eskander adds, "then let me know that too so I can pass Al Hadi's proposal to Nour."

He scowls in displeasure and stares dagger at him. "Over my dead body."

"Pray it never comes to that, Ameer Adam."

With that, Eskander leaves the shop, and he's left thinking of the changes he must make to his plans.

✵

So, who's ready for the wedding?

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