Scheherazade and the King Ch. 02

"Two weeks at the least."

"You may have five days," Shariyar said sharply. "She is not to leave the medical quarters or have contact with anyone other than yourself and your nurses. If Jafar attempts to come near her, you will report him to me."

Hazim glowered but nodded.

The king instructed one of his guards to stay and carry the girl to the infirmary before turning on his heel, his cloak billowing out behind him as he stalked off through the palace.

++++++++

Scheherazade's eyes fluttered open and, for a moment, she wondered whether she was in heaven. The sunlight was so bright, the room she was in so white, and every part of her body seemed bathed in a healing warmth... And then her wandering eyes found Hazim's face.

The doctor smiled warmly down at her: "Good morning, Scheherazade."

The girl murmured in response.

"Here, have some water," Hazim said, gently lifting her head so that she could drink from the cup he pressed to her lips.

Scheherazade gulped down the water greedily, draining the glass in seconds.

"Thank you," she whispered hoarsely.

"Shhh, rest your voice," Hazim admonished gently.

Scheherazade sighed deeply and nodded, thanking Hazim with a wordless smile after he refilled the glass with more water and brought it for her.

"Scheherazade?" the doctor asked hesitantly after she finished drinking. "I have some questions for you."

"All right," the girl breathed. Even though her throat felt raw from screaming, Scheherazade was determined to answer all the doctor's questions.

"Don't speak, just nod or shake your head," he said with a sympathetic smile. "I just want to learn more about you."

Scheherazade nodded, thankful that she would not have to strain her voice any further.

"You told me that your tattoos were part of a Daarken ritual," Hazim said.

The girl nodded, her gaze sombre.

"I have only ever read about this ritual," the doctor said. "And, like most others in my profession, I only ever thought it to be a myth."

Scheherazade shook her head vigorously.

"I know, I know," Hazim said earnestly. "I believe you, my dear."

Reassured, the girl sighed.

"But I can't even imagine what you must have endured for you to require that level of healing."

Scheherazade looked away, her bright eyes overcome with a shadow that seemed to come from inside.

"Do you know who hurt you?" Hazim asked gently.

The girl nodded but did not turn her face back towards the old man.

"Do you know how you came to be in his power?"

Scheherazade shook her head.

"Do you know who you are?"

Another shake of her tousled, blonde head.

"Do you want to know?"

Scheherazade's azure eyes met his suddenly. The question in them was clear:Do you know?

"I do not know who you are," Hazim said apologetically, his heart heavy as Scheherazade hung her head in disappointment.

"But," he continued, "I might be able to help you find out."

The girl looked up at him again, her deep blue eyes filled with hope.

"I have friends and contacts across the globe," he said. "If you let me transcribe your tattoos and sketch your likeness, perhaps someone in my circle will know who you are."

Grateful tears filled Scheherazade's eyes and she nodded, reaching out a hand for Hazim to hold. She squeezed his hand and then lay back in bed, lifting her arms above the sheets so that the doctor could see her tattoos while she slept. Then the exhausted girl closed her azure eyes and drifted back into slumber.

++++++++

Hazim shot out of his seat at the booted footsteps he heard approaching his infirmary. The old man glowered at the door as it was opened wide for the King of kings.

"What are you doing here?" He growled at Shariyar. "You promised my five days to heal her. She has barely had a day's rest."

"And five days you shall have," the king snarled in response, his temper rising to meet Hazim's.

The doctor exhaled sharply as he sat back down at his desk: "What do you want then, Your Highness?"

Shariyar's nostrils flared at the blatant mockery in the Hazim's tone but he managed to keep his rage in check.

"I am here for a story," he said.

"Her voice is hoarse from screaming, yet you would have her entertain you with stories?" Hazim scowled.

"I can find another use for her if you'd prefer," Shariyar sneered.

"If you so much as lay a finger on her - "

"Hazim!" Shariyar interrupted. "If you wish to keep your life, then I suggest you not finish that sentence."

The doctor snapped his mouth shut angrily.

"Lead me to the girl," he commanded.

Hazim glared at the king as he motioned down the corridor: "She is in the last room on the left."

Shariyar gestured for his guards to remain with Hazim and then stalked down the white-washed hallway. He threw open the curtain to Scheherazade's room and found himself captured immediately in the girl's sapphire stare.

"Hello gypsy," he murmured.

"Shariyar," she muttered.

"I am here for the rest of Qadir's story," he said, sitting down at the edge of her cot.

"So I heard," she said.

Hazim had not been exaggerating when he said the girl's voice was strained from screaming. It almost hurt Shariyar to hear the way her words grated against the back of her throat... Almost.

Shariyar looked at the girl expectantly, waiting for her to pick up where she had left off.

"When you stopped, Mo was in the desert," he offered. "Qadir laughed because his camel, Noor, bit him."

"I know," she said simply.

Shariyar's brow furrowed when she said nothing.

"Well?" He asked agitatedly. "What happened next?"

"I can barely speak," the girl murmured. "I cannot tell you a story with my voice like this."

"I order you to," Shariyar said dangerously.

"Order me all you want," she whispered. "That will not change what I am physically capable of."

"I am being patient with you, gypsy," the king said. "I am giving you five days to recover."

"And I am grateful," she said quietly.

"Then you will finish the fucking story," he growled. "Now!"

"Come back tomorrow," Scheherazade said. "Tomorrow my voice will be rested."

"Tomorrow?" The King asked incredulously.

"Tomorrow," she nodded. "And I promise, you will get your story."