He was earthly; she was aerial. He was made of clay and iron; she was made of fire and dreaming.

— Graham Joyce

✵

Her

When her eyes open in the middle of the night, she finds him lying in the bed beside her. The second time she awakens is before dawn and he's not there.

Noura pushes herself up and finds a candle lit in the corner. He's standing on a prayer mat, praying. She gets out of the bed and performs the ablution before joining him.

After offering her prayers and being done with the supplication, she keeps sitting and waits for him to finish too. Unlike her, he seems to be taking his time, his own hands raised to his face as he prays for she doesn't know what. The moment gets lengthy until the dawn breaks, and when she realizes he has no intention of finishing anytime soon, she returns to the bed.

The next time when she wakes up from her sleep, it's still early morning and heavy quiet surrounds her. The curtains are drawn and don't permit any light inside. She turns to his side, her hand reaching out for him, but instead lands on the empty and cold space. She drags down the blanket from her body and sits up.

There's a note lying on his pillow and she picks it up, assuming him to have left it for her. But when she reads it she knows the spear in her heart the note has buried cannot be done by him.

I will kill you.

Him

The dawn has only broken when he leaves the palace with his men. Zahir is on the horse behind him as the animals gallop and take them through the alleys of the city until they stop in front of a small building. He glances back at his vizier who nods his head, confirming they're at the place they need to be at. He adjust the cloth on his face before dismounting his horse.

Zahir comes forward to his side, five other men accompanying them who stay behind, four of them his soldiers and the last one a prisoner. He motions one of the guard over.

"Bring me the treasure chest."

The man does at he's told, placing the chest at his feet. He nods for him to come with them while the others stay behind.

Zahir reaches for the chest but he stops him. "I'll carry it, Zahir, and you'll play to be my master."

"As you wish it to be, my Ameer."

"Then let us be done with this."

They knock at the door. A man answers it and Zahir introduces himself as a minister of the governor, and Adam and the other guard as his servants. He requests to meet the judge of that area for an urgent matter. The man asks them to wait, disappearing inside, coming back a few minutes later and leading them into a sitting area. Zahir sits down on the cushions while Adam keeps standing beside him, putting down the chest and tying his hand in front of him respectfully. The other soldier with them stay by the door of the sitting area.

The judge they've come to meet appears a moment later. They exchange greetings and he eyes them a warily before sitting opposite to Zahir.

"Tell me, what brings you to my place, sayidi?"

"My name is Asim," Zahir begins, smoothly going through the lie they've fabricated to this man they've learnt to be corrupted. "I'm one of the ministers of Ameer Adam Al Kurdiya. He appointed me over this area some time back to build shelters, but the money I was provided proved to be insufficient. So the task couldn't be completed. Although the record from the treasury shows that I was provided more than enough sum. Now the Ameer has put his men to investigate the matter and my life is at stake."

The judge listens to him attentively, lifting a curious eyebrow as he inquires, "Why did the money prove insufficient, sayidi?"

"You see, I'm putting a lot of effort in my services to the governor and his people. Don't you think I should be rewarded at least a little?" Zahir chuckles, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "I might have bought myself a house or two in this area with that money. But if Ameer Adam finds out, he won't be pleased with me and you know how he can be severe in punishment."

"What do you want from me?"

"You're the judge appointed in this area. My case will come to you. I want you to give the verdict in my favor and if any prove against my property is found and brought to you, discard it."

He gestures to Adam to present the treasure they've brought with themselves to the judge and Adam puts it in front of him, opening the chest and letting the gold coins blind the man at their sight. The judge stares at them blatantly, greedily, before looking up at Zahir who smiles encouragingly.

"Take it. If you agree to help me, I'll give you more than this. You'll be pleased with me."

Adam puts his hand at the hilt of his sword, preparing himself, his eyes narrowing as the judge edges forward towards the treasure chest.

"Don't worry, sayidi, I'm sure your services to this region has been many," he says to Zahir. "A house or two are nothing as a reward."

And as he extends his hand towards the coins, Adam unsheaths his sword and brings it down, severing his hand before he could touch the gold.

The man howls and cries in pain. There's a commotion. His own guards run to his defense and Zahir jumps to his feet, unsheathing his sword as well and holding it out in a warning.

"Be aware, you're in the presence of Ameer Adam Al Kurdiya."

The men halt in their tracks. Adam removes the cloth from his face, revealing it, and sharpens his gaze on the judge who's now watching the scene unfold with a horrified expression, still clutching his wrist as blood gushes out of it.

Adam brings his sword to his neck. "A man who dares to severe justice in my land is either a fool or recklessly conceited to think he can fool me."

"Sayidi, please hear me out--"

He presses the sword up against his jaw to shut him up and gestures to his guard at the door. "Bring in the prisoner."

The guard does as he's told, the prisoner held by the the other soldiers brought in. Adam directs to the judge, "Do you know this man?"

The shock and fear in his eyes is enough of a confirmation for him. He turns to the prisoner.

"This is Qudamah, my treasurer. He killed a man named Asim and then bribed you to give a verdict in his favor and declare him free of charge. Do you remember?" He looks back at the judge. "All the gold he bribed you with was taken from the public treasury-- the one he was supposed to be guardian of and serve the people of this land with. He clearly failed his responsibility and was protected so long with your help."

"Sayidi, I... I..." The judge stammers, gaze helplessly flicking between him and Qudamah, who already being proven guilty and having confessed to his crime remains silent, knowing there's no way to escape the inevitable now. "I was threatened with my life. He forced me," the judge excuses.

Qudamah scoffs, and Adam sighs. "You could've come to me. But apparently you had other priorities, like worldly wealth and betraying your duty of bringing justice to the people for it."

"I tried--"

"Don't lie," Adam growls, glaring at him. "The wife of Asim could come to me to seek justice for her innocent husband murdered over his property that he wouldn't sell to this man, but you couldn't find a way? Do not lie to me."

"If you would let me explain--"

"I would have if you hadn't extended your hand towards this treasure chest." Adam kicks it close and out of his reach. "My official made a woman widow and her children orphans but you chose to let him get away with his crime. I cannot let him get away with it neither you with yours."

He motions to his men to capture him who rushes to do so at his commands, ignoring his pleas and begging, and give orders to his vizier.

"Tie them to the horses and let the horses drag them through the streets of Qahira. They'll be executed at midday in the public square. Let everyone know the ramifications of severing justice in my land."

"As you say, my Ameer."

"Qudamah." Adam stalks towards his treasurer. "I entrusted you with the wealth of my people. You betrayed my trust. All your wealth provided to you by royal treasury will be confiscated and transferred to public treasury to compensate for the loss, besides the wealth you've legally earned for yourself. You're stripped of your title. Your wife and children will be provided for and taken care of."

He turns away and begins to walk away from him to the door, but he calls out to him, finally speaking up.

"Adam bin Marwan?"

Adam stops, glances back at him.

"Your father was a tyrant, a brute. You're just like him," he accuses bitterly. "He brought hell on this land. Look how he paid for his sins. His wife died in a war he himself started. His only child grew up as a slave. You, ibn Marwan, will make your wife and children suffer the same, because you're your father's son. You've the same cold blood in your veins."

"How dare you!" Zahir lifts his fist at him but Adam stops him.

"Don't." He then extends his palm towards his guard. "Give me my axe."

He passes him the deadly weapon, and Adam spins it effortlessly in his hand as walk back towards Qudamah. This time, he sees the fear on his treasurer's expression and he smirks.

"Don't worry. As much as I want to bury it in your skull, I won't. Because the wife of Asim wants to see you getting punished with her own eyes." He puts the edge of the axe to his throat. "You're no God, Qudamah, and I'm not either. But the difference between you and I is that my Lord has given me power and authority over you. It is my blade at your throat, not yours at mine. It is you at my mercy, not me at yours. And if some day my Lord wants to bring me down, unfortunately you will not be living to see that day." He lowers his axe. "But my Lord is Forgiving, as He proclaims. And I've more faith in His Mercy than you have in His Wrath. So I seek His Mercy, for I've witnessed how His Wrath has found you."

With this, he leaves the building and mounts his horse, riding it back to the palace.

She's the only thing on his mind as he makes his way towards their chamber upon arriving back. It has been a long day and he left her without a message. But he doesn't find her at the chamber. After asking around and learning about her whereabouts, he turns in the direction and forbids his guards from wandering in the premises and disturbing them.

He strolls through the garden looking for her with his hands tied behind his back and the stalk of the rose twirling between his fingers. He finds her sitting at the edge of the gazebo in the center of the pond. She has her feet dipped in water as she keenly watches the fish swimming around and the lotuses afloat atop the crystal clear surface. She gently swings her legs back and forth. A ghost of a smile kisses his lips as he makes his way towards her.

He crosses the bridge connecting the shore of the pond to the gazebo. The day is split between light and dark, dwindling to blend into its end, the shades of twilight soon to come forth to overtake it. She looks up at the sound of his footsteps approaching and he quietly proceeds to join her at the edge. Taking off his shoes, he sits down and lowers his feet in the water too, placing the rose between them.

She doesn't greet him, doesn't say a word, and returns to observing the fish. He subtly kicks a lotus towards her. It grazes her leg and she lightly kicks it back towards him. The corners of his mouth once more twitch upwards to form into a smile.

"Do you like it here?" he tries to strike a conversation.

"Your palace is beautiful, sayidi."

"It wasn't before you. You've blessed it life with your light."

"Sweet talking."

He chuckles at her. "Am I?"

"Uh huh. You're the master of it."

"But I mean it, habibti." He leans closer to her. "My question isn't answered. Do you like it here?"

Her gaze seeks out towards the horizon where the sun is setting. The rays go bronze sliding past her face and making it glow, becoming dying embers in her fire lit orbs. Her foot bumps against his in water and she retracts hers sheepishly.

"What do you want to know?" she asks.

"Are you happy?"

"Are you?"

She turns to him and he's ruined by the distant look in her eyes. It cuts him like a dagger. Yet the thread of longing, though barely visible there but enough that he cannot miss it, is enough to stitch his wound. He reaches out to trace up her cheekbone with his knuckles, letting his fondness for her show in his actions.

"I couldn't be more happy with you beside me."

"Liar," she accuses weakly and he smiles.

"You know it's the truth."

He inclines forward to kiss her but she tilts away her head, like the many times before now how she has been denying him, pushing him away-- punishing him, torturing him. He burns in rejection, his heart aching, becoming more desperate with each refusal. His hands fall to her waist as he keeps her from getting away.

"Tell me you do not love me anymore," he demands, a begging in his tone telling her to prove him wrong. He feels her tremble at his request, as if an impossible one to be ever met.

"Your men are on guard," she tries to dismiss him and pull away. But he's stubborn and keeps her in place.

"No one is. I asked to be left alone with my wife."

She gives him a look of surprise. "What would they think we do out in the open under the sky?"

"If you mind the sky, we can return to our room. For unfortunately it's not in my power to cast it away."

She glares at him but cannot keep it harsh. "That's not what I meant."

"I don't care what anyone thinks." He lifts his hand back to her face and strokes her cheek. "Tell me that you still love me. Say that you crave my love like I crave yours. That your heart still chants my name, hayati."

Silence. He nuzzles his nose up her neck and she holds onto his forearm, grasping him as if clinging to a long lost hope. He feather kisses his way through her jaw until his lips level with hers.

"Shunning me will not shun your heart's desire, for I'm not blind to what these eyes portray."

She cups the side of his face, giving in, and he melts into her touch-- the tenderness of it sewing him to her. This time when he attempts to kiss her, she allows him, her fingers curling to pull him closer, as if any closure to her will ever be enough to quench this wanting. Yet the ruins in his soul are rebuilt in her love.

"Adam..."

"Noura says Adam, and Adam thaws in the warmth of his name from her mouth."

She smiles against his lips and he grins, kissing her again, kissing life, until she laughs and has to push him away to catch a breath, breathing life into him at the sound of her laughter.

"Noura..."

"Adam says Noura, and Noura melts at the smile of her name upon his lips."

✵

For those of you who wanted to see Adam as a ruler, or who he was as Al Shafay, here's a glimpse.

✵