From the town that we had resided in for the night to the City took two hours on horseback.

I could not imagine that we were so close to the City. In my family, only one person had gone to the City ever in his life, he was my maternal grandfather and that is because his son was a low ranking soldier and had died to serve the Kingdom. My grandfather had gone to receive the medallion that the martyr family got from the Monarch.

I could feel butterflies in my stomach. I stared at the sleek back of the horse I was riding. Could he feel that I was nervous? If he did, he knew not to show it.

The inn that we had resided in the town was another uncomfortable experience. The inn-keeper had only one big room available for us and that meant I had shared the room with three men that were complete strangers to me. They were nice enough to sleep on the floor and to give me and my brother the bed. But because I had never done this before, I was awake all night, listening to them snore and mumble in their sleep. At some point, I had even heard someone sniffling.

I saw Aqib Suleiman crack his neck for the third time in an hour. It must have been difficult for him to sleep on the floor. It did not help that the inn-keeper had barely provided any extra pillow or sheet.

I was already sick of the journey. When I had imagined travelling, I had imagined travelling in a completely different terrain that what we were seeing. I had visioned mountains and trees and maybe a hint of different species of bird. However, what I saw around me after the town were barren lands stretching till the eyes could see.

I was also sick of the journey because my back and my thigh were sore. I could not tell anyone this because I did not want to slow us down any further. I wanted to reach the City. It was as if there was something pulling me to the City. I was becoming impatient and annoyed with the slow pace.

After one hour of travelling, we saw the tip of a high-rise building of the City. I could not help but sigh in relief. We were almost there. It was strange that between the town and the City there was so much barren land left.

It is for expansion, Aqib had explained, the Monarch had plans for expanding the City, have an industrial estate set up here. The barren lands belonged to the City and therefore, the town were not allowed to expand.

Only half an hour away from the City, we could see the walls that barricaded it and divided it from other towns and villages. They had fortified the walls around the City for the protection of the people. They were walls around our kingdom too but of course, the City needed the extra protection.

"The Monarch had plans with the wall, "Aqib looked to us and explained, "apparently the Monarch did not want it anymore but his advisors had stood against that decision." A flicker of hope had emerged in my heart at those words, maybe the Monarch was not as bad as I was expecting him to be."

"Are you supposed to know all this?" Asad asked curiously.

Aqib looked at him and winked, "I am not supposed to. But I was close to the Monarch. He told me things."

Asad glanced at me. How close were they?

I could not help but ponder over the fact that Aqib had used the word - was. Which brought me to the question that what had happened to the Monarch that he had changed so much?

I closed my eyes. I was this close to finding out. But how would I react when I found out the truth? Would I still be willing to help the Prince and in turn help the Monarch? What if I did not want to? Did he give me the option to go back?

I thought back to the words that the Moon had spoken to me after months of silence. She had convinced me to go, told me that he needed me. Who did that refer to? The Monarch or the Prince? Who was getting succumbed by the darkness?

"If you can see through the rising dust in the air," Aqib broke the silence and pointed to the sky, "you will be able to see the Burj of Alam. It is watchtower built in the middle of the City during the time of Monarch Shams. It was built in the later half of his reign."

We screwed our eyes and covered it with our hands to see the tower. I was not sure but maybe I could make out the tip of it. Or maybe it was something else.

"How much more do we travel?" Asad asked.

"Tired already?" Aqib responded.

"If someone sticks a knife on my backside, I won't feel it," Asad muttered.

"That is because you have an iron rod up your arse." Aqib glanced at Asad, who had turned red in embarrassment. The rookies behind us - who surprisingly kept so quiet that I usually forgot about their existence - disguised their laughter into dry coughs.

Aqib and Asad had developed a strange relationship with each other, initiated by the nobleman. The man was fond of Asad in ways that I did not particularly understand and my brother respected the man. However, I believed, Aqib sought a friendship with Asad that was informal -- casual. It was as if Aqib had taken it upon himself to make my brother more open.

Even half an hour seemed too long to us, maybe because we had slowed down. Our horses were tired and so were their riders. Even the rookies showed a sign of weariness, except for Aqib. He was fresh and vibrant.

Soon enough, we could make out the sand-colored walls of the City. I had to inhale at the sight of the intimidating barricade, the nervous butterfly fluttered vehemently in my stomach. I felt queasy and uneasy, too near that my instincts told me to go back. To the safety and comfort of my village, away from this strange place and its people.

As we neared the walls, I could see small queues of villagers in every gate. Most of them stood under the blazing sun with their belongings wrapped in sheets. As I passed by them and met their hollow gazes I realised that they had suffered and were trying to seek refuge in the City - in the protection the walls provided.

"What happened to them?" Asad asked.

"Poverty," Aqib responded as he looked at them while riding his horse amongst the crowd of people.

There were kids too, standing under the sun. A small girl caught my notice and I put my hand into the saddle bag of mine and handed her few dates that the old woman had packed for us for our journey. She took them greedily and put one in her mouth, while the other she kept in her pocket. Her mother smiled at me and thanked me.

"Why do they wait?" Asad asked. It was if my brother was reading my thoughts.

"I do not know," Aqib answered confused and made his way amongst the people towards the gate. It was closed.

"Why is the gate closed?" He commanded to the guard standing on either side of the gate.

"It is closed from the inside, sire." One of the guards spoke.

"I can see that! I am not blind. Why?" Aqib poured acid in his tone and the guards looked visibly shaken.

"The noblemen of the court have complained about the population of these people rising in the City. They said that it hampers the growth of the City." The other guard spoke up. He was louder and firmer with his words. It sounded to me as if he believed the words he spoke.

"I never realised this City was run by noblemen. What does the Prince have to say in this matter?"

"He refused. But then he has no say because he was banished."

Aqib moved in a flash. Within a matter of seconds, he had unmounted the horse and had a blade stuck in the Guard's neck. The onlookers gasped but did not help the Guardsmen. I could see the man gulp in fear as the blade pressed against his neck.

"You are under my command, remember?" He hissed, "You listen to no one else. Clear? Say a word against the Prince again and I will not hesitate to stick the knife in your throat. "

The Guard nodded.

"Tell them to open the gates," Aqib said as he moved away from the man and put the blade in his pocket. He glanced at Asad and me, reading our expressions, he wanted to know if we feared him. He had not intended to show this side of him to us. I did not fear him. He was no danger to us, right now, but he could prove to be if we decided to cross him. But it might be in our gain if we had someone like him to our side.

From the looks of things, he had my people's back too.

The Guard ordered the gates to be open and the heavy metal gates creaked and groaned as they were pulled.

Some women ran to Aqib and kissed his hand in a show of gratitude. God knows, from how long they must have been waiting. Probably days.

Aqib made sure that the almost all the people from each gate went inside. If that meant we would have to wait for a while longer, it did not matter to me.

"Omar is being soft," Aqib muttered to himself as he mounted the horse.

Asad and I exchanged looks. But this was not the responsibility of the Prince. Where was the Monarch? It was the duty of the Monarch, as our sovereign, to look after his people. The Prince was of lower rank. The duty did not fall in his lap. If the Monarch wanted, he could overrule the court. Even I, a village girl, knew that much.

We stepped inside the gates and the first things we were greeted by were vendors. Vendors with small shops selling almost anything. From clothes to cloaks, to swords, to food. They screamed at the top of the lungs, listing out the things they sold to attract the customers. They had things put in the display that caught many people's attention and almost all the shops were crowded by the customers.

"Missus," a child pulled my skirt, "Do you want to make your skin flawless? We have the best product in the market. It will make your skin glow!"

"Keep moving!" Aqib yelled over the hustle of the City, "Or they will crowd around us."

I shook my head and Ra'ad moved forward unperturbed by the crowd that surrounded him or brushed past him.

"He should have taken the East Gate. We could have avoided the ruckus." I heard one of the rookies tell to the other behind me.

"He wanted them to see this - the City in its real glory. No better way to start than the market centre." The other replied.

"No better place to get attacked either. Does he not know the thoughts of the City people towards the member of the court? He wears civilian clothes but her horse will give it away."

"It is why he took us with him," answered the other and I listened, "We are to keep an eye out. He is Aqib Suleiman. He is unorthodox with his methods but he knows what he does."

They talked in a hushed whisper, careful so that we would not hear.

The vendors yell grew louder the more we went into the marketplace. Aroma of food travelled to us and I felt my stomach growl. It was tempting to just stop and have a bite, but I knew that we could not.

"Burj Alam," Aqib said as we moved closer to the tower. I could see it now and it was the tallest structure that I had ever laid my eyes upon. It was right in the middle of the market place, "It is a show of power -- it tells the people that we are always watching."

I looked at it in awe. Aqib had explained that it had taken eight years to build this tower. The tower was personally designed by the Monarch and bore his symbol on the tip of his tower. The crescent moon.

I let go of the rein and reached out to my brother who rode beside me. He looked at me.

Why is Monarch Shams' symbol a crescent moon?, I signed to him.

He looked at the tip of the tower and then at me. The question dawned on him too and he asked it to Aqib.

"The Moon depicts hope. It is the source of light in the darkness. Many may assume that Monarch Shams was a ruthless murderer for killing his brother in law and taking the throne. However, many did not know that his wife - the sister of the man he had killed - had supported him in that decision. Not because she wanted to be Queen, but because she knew her brother would be a tyrant. Monarch Shams was the light in the kingdom's darkness." Aqib explained as we rode on. Now that we were moving away from the market centre, we could hear him clearer. I sat and observed my surrounding. We were heading towards greenery now and I could not help but smile. The sight of colour was for sore eyes and I wondered if the trees inhabited birds. But it also made me queasy to know that the City had enough water for the trees, but could not share with the villages that suffered through the drought.

"But why didn't Monarch Qamar change his insignia? Our mother told us that the insignia changed every time a new ruler took the throne." Asad inquired.

"Ah, you see," Aqib glanced at us, "The insignia perfectly fits both Monarch Shams and Qamar."

"I do not see how" Asad muttered darkly casting a look behind.

"Do not be quick to judge, Asad, I warn you." Aqib's tone changed. His body was rigid too - tensed.

"I pay heed to your warning but I cannot help judge. Now that I see the condition of our people in the City. They may get attracted to the City's glamour and feel that they will be protected. But that is not the case, is it? You City folks are hell bent in kicking us out. Letting us die in poverty as you enjoy your luxuries. In all this, I wonder what is the Monarch's opinion? He seems to simply not care - whether we die or live."

"Careful, boy." Aqib said quietly, "This type of speech may pass unpunished in your village, but in the City, everyone listens."

"I am not the only one to raise this opinion." I grabbed Asad's arm begging him to stop. I understood where he came from but I knew that Aqib was controlling himself. He too understood the reasoning behind Asad's statements but he was also loyal to the Monarch. And he also had a blade in his pocket which he could use effortlessly. He had shown us what happened to people who spoke against the Prince. I could not help but wonder what happened to people who spoke against the Monarch?

"Keep your mind open." Aqib said and heeled the horse so that we could keep moving, "You have no clue."

"You do not tell us anything. I am getting tired of the mystery that surrounds our Monarch." Asad said drily.

"I can assure you all your opinions will change once you learn his side of the story."

Asad kept quiet and I exhaled a sigh of relief. The tension between them was too much. What had happened to the camaraderie I had seen blooming a few minutes ago? They were alike in may ways - both of them were loyal beyond measure. I understood both their sides but a question lingered in the back of mind - whose side was I on?

I knew that it was difficult to keep an open mind when the horror that the poor people suffered was so tangible around us. I knew that Asad, being so caring, had always felt the burden of others too strongly.

Maybe hearing the Guard' word had made him bitter. It did affect me too, but deep inside, I had hope that things were not as it may seem. Aqib and Omar both told us that. I wanted to believe them. My thoughts were so muddled and confusing that it pained me to think. I let go of a breath and concentrated on things around me.

I took in my surrounding. It was evident that we were coming to a more polished part of the City, obviously belonging the noblemen and the rich folks. This part was cleaner and lavish. One did not see the street kids running about. It had small shops too but the owners were quiet. I stared at the clothes sold here and I could not help but admire them. This place did not flood with shops and people, though. Only occasional sighting of men in horses who did not pay heed to us. As I rode on, only once did I see an elite woman! She was walking inside a jewellery shop.

"As it was not obvious, this part of the City belongs to the elite." Aqib was back with explaining things to us with the same warmth and vibrancy that he had in him before. Asad glanced at me confused and I shook my head. We thought that his silence meant that we had offended him. After all, Asad had been too blunt.

Aqib started pointing out shops. He informed that most of his clothes were tailored from here. He had a personal favourite man who had been making clothes for his family for a long time. Aqib said that the man was an artist. He made clothes comfortable, elite and efficient. He explained to us that the clothes that were selected for Asad and I were made by him too. The Royal family had their own tailor within the walls of the palace. Omar, however, did wear clothes that were made by this man.

"I did not mean to offend you," Asad said. Aqib being kind to us made him feel even more guilty.

"You did not," Aqib smiled at Asad, "You saw your people's suffering and you lashed out. It shows that you care. Perfectly acceptable behaviour for me. However, do this in front of the Monarch and I am not sure." He laughed.

The high spirit of Aqib Suleiman confused me. How could he always remain so cheerful? Or was this a facade to hide the real pain within him? Was it like Master Omar?

"Just tell me this," Asad inhaled loudly, "Does the Monarch care?"

"He does," Aqib replied quickly. He did not even give his answer a second's thought. It showed that he believed in what he said.

For now, that should be enough.

More details coming your way. How much did your opinion change in relation to the current Monarch? Not much, I hope. How did you find the City? Not too grand, eh? But the way these people talked about it,  smh. It was never meant to be grand, but in the eyes of people who cannot afford a glass of water - the city is filled with dreams and opportunity. Oh yes, we are inching closer to the Omar ;) Missed him?