"The fact that you are homosexual doesn't excuse you from receiving the punishment your act calls for. It's clearly mentioned in the entry zone that men who dare to enter would be castrated and then thrown to dogs."

"In that order, really?" Philitis threw his most charming smile at the woman in blue.

"Yes. In that order." She deadpanned.

"Fuck." The hunter sighed, "Fine. Do what you want with me, but please, let this man leave. He is not my lover. In fact, he is not even a hunter. Look at him. Look at his delicate flower-like..."

"That's not helping, Philitis." Bhallar elbowed the hunter in his ribs; holding the blue-robed woman's gaze, he confessed, "I am a hunter now, but I haven't been one for long. You said that there is a sign warning trespassers at the main entrance about the consequences of entering your sect's land, but what if we didn't enter from there. Look at us," he pointed at their wet visage, "The truth is that we fell into Aari, and she spit us out on your shore. In fact, my friend here almost died twice because he doesn't know how to swim." The ex-physician fell silent and signaled his companion to speak, but the latter opted for silence over confession and pride over eventual pain, or so he thought.

"Whatever be the case, he seems to know who we are and where he has landed. If he was so innocent, he would have approached us instead of trying to hide." The woman countered confidently, narrowing her eyes at Philitis.

"He panicked. As I told you, he almost died. His heart had stopped beating. I was barely able to save him. The incident probably left him disoriented. I can vouch for it. I was the royal physician's firsthand until a day ago."

As soon as the words 'royal physician's first hand' fell from his lips, the advancing hoard of sturdy-looking women stopped.
"Prove it." Their leader, the oldest woman in the group, spoke with an air of authority and refinement.

"Is anyone here suffering from-"

"No. I don't want you to treat my women. Any medicine man can do that. I need you to tell me something only the royal physician's firsthand would know." The oldest woman said, crouching next to Bhallar and Philitis, who were tied to a foot-wide pole that stood proudly in the middle of the courtyard.

Bhallar pondered for a second or two before smiling politely, "I am afraid I will have to disappoint you. As the former firsthand, I am forbidden from divulging anything I might have heard about the royal household. If there is anything else-"

"Very good." The woman interrupted, "It seems you are a man of integrity. We respect the likes of you." She untied him and gestured for him to follow her.

The former firsthand hesitated, "Ma'am, what of my companion?"

"How did you end up with this fool?" The woman demanded, "Is he truly your-" she left her words hanging and shook her head, "Forget that I asked. Come with me. There is someone I need you to meet."

A few minutes later, Bhallar found himself in front of a bed that held a (hopefully sleeping) tall, young girl. The healer rushed to her side instantly, "What happened to her?" He asked, going on his knees, his hand reaching for his medical kit.

"Since you were Sharre's firsthand, I presume you are looking for the run-away concubine too," The older woman stated. Then pointing at the girl, she went on. "She was her companion."

"Companion?" Bhallar raised his brow questioningly.

The woman nodded, turned her gaze on the girl, and spoke softly. "It's safe."

As if she was waiting to hear the very words, the girl in question opened her eyes and sat up. Her pale gray pools saught the older woman's electric blue ones, seeking permission.
The unexpected movement made the light-eyed man stagger back. "She…she."

"I am sorry if you thought otherwise, young man, but she is in perfect health, thanks to your sister." The older of the two reassured Bhallar with a gentle pat on his shoulder.

"How do you know Philitis?" The girl with keen pale gray orbs asked, "Did he bring you here?"

Bhallar shook his head. "I don't know him, per se, but we are more than acquaintances. Nonetheless, we arrived here without meaning to."

"Are you really the royal physician's firsthand?"

Bhallar contemplated for a few. Then, "Why do you want to know?"

"We have our reasons." The older one replied instead, "I am Xinaya. The leader of Siyaries. We already know who you are, Bhallar. Now listen carefully to what Nuru, my niece, has to say." Then giving the girl a curt nod, she left the two alone.

A moment later, Nuru abandoned the bed and rose to her feet confidently. Then, bowing solemnly, she said, "I am sorry that I couldn't protect my mistress, but now that you are here, the least I can do is convey the message she left for you on an off chance that we crossed paths."

***

Bhallar felt like crying. He cursed himself for not letting Mayeen in on his plans. As he returned to the courtyard where Philitis was merrily dining with a group of women, his mind reeled at the things Nuru had told him about Mayeen's life in the harem.

'The moment she entered the inner palace, Tutuamen noticed her. Unfortunately, he was not the only one. The head of the guards, Amten, also sought her attention. He was relentless. Mistress was impressed with him initially…who wouldn't be?'

'Why?'

'Amten is the pharaoh's closest man. The way he looks helps too.'

'Oh.'

'No one except the royal physician, Msrah, the concubines, and Amten has seen our Master. The head of the guards is the pharaoh's mouthpiece.'

'What about the other concubines? Mayeen has a gentle soul. How was she able to-'

'Everyone loved mistress Mayeen. Even other mistresses couldn't bring themselves to hate her. She wasn't like the others. Master's women could probably sense that she wasn't there to compete with them. I was surprised when she was assigned a chamber reserved for the first rank ladies even before being called to the Master's chamber. I was scared of how she would be treated by others who were much more ambitious and domineering than her. It was a miracle that no one felt threatened by her. I still don't understand how she achieved that without...'

'You said that Mayeen was initially impressed with the head of the guards. Did he cause trouble?'

'Yes, he did.'

Bhallar filled his water sack and acquainted himself with Fermo, a healthy-looking camel Xinaya had left for him outside Nuru's chamber, before returning to the courtyard where Philitis was bidding farewell to the Siyari women.

"Aren't you staying?" Bhallar enquired of the broad-shouldered man, who, no sooner did he see the ex-physician, rushed to his side with a camel of his own.

"I can't." Philitis shrugged, "I am indebted to you. I can't leave without returning the favor. I may be shameless, but I am not an ungrateful bastard."

"Fine. Whatever." The light-eyed man left an exasperated sigh, mounted his camel, and started for Ra's temple again. This time, though, he took the path Nuru had told him about.

As the two left the all-woman warrior sect behind, Bhallar's mind returned to his conversation with Nuru.

'I served mistress Mayeen for five months. It was the best time of my life. She didn't treat me as someone whose sole purpose was to wait on her, but like a friend... a sister. I think that's why she kept many things from me till the very end.'

'What did she keep from you?'

'Dada, I am not permitted to tell you all of what I know. It's for your well-being. However, the mistress wanted you to know that the royal physician is on our side; it was because of him that she was able to escape, and I am alive and well.'

'I don't understand.'

'Your sister knows now what you have been trying to do your whole life. She has something you need. You need to go to Ra's temple.'

'I did, but-'

'You must take the forbidden path and prove your loyalty to almighty Ra.'

"My sources had informed me that an enormous group of hunters had followed Mayeen to the temple. I knew a shortcut and thought that I could beat them to it. I didn't expect to end up in that pit." Philitis revealed, attempting to break the silence that had settled between them after leaving the Siyari sect behind.

"Excuse me!?" Bhallar's accusing eyes fixed on his human companion. "How do you know her name?"

"I know a lot more than you think. And frankly, I am offended. I thought we were friends, yet you chose to hide your true motive from me." Philitis threw a child-like pout at Bhallar, who didn't know what to make of it.

"You didn't give me a reason to trust you." The light-eyed man replied with ease, hurting the hunter more than swords could have.

"Fine. I guess I should have been more forthcoming as well." Green eyes twinkled with hope. "Will you give me another chance?"

What was Bhallar to do? His heart was not made of stone, after all.
"Alright, then." The sap replied, "Tell me everything."

[Chapter word count: 1590;
Word count so far: 22713]