IFTINIL ISHRAQ (The Bringer Of Light)

Chapter 16 Heartache

Zuhaira went back and with a wave of the hand the invisible barrier went off, Yelda and co went up to her,
"What was that, you shouldn't have stopped us" Ameer said coming up to her,

"It was just a mere disturbance" she said dismissively and headed towards the cave,

"That wasn't a mere disturbance" Yelda said, Zuhaira stopped on her track

"mother felt it too" Yelda said, Zuhaira turned as the others gathered around,

"It was an outsider" Yelda said, and there was a huge murmur

"Is it true" Ameer asked looking at Zuhaira, she ignored him till when the murmurs died down, she then sighed and said

"Yes, an outsider, the high king's chief guard" , another loud murmur arose,

"The same outsider who saved my life by handing me over to Azura, when i was an infant" she added at the top of her voice and they all kept quiet,

"We still cant trust him, his kind killed our parents" Saudat said and spatted,

"I don't trust him either, thats why he isn't here with me" she said, and turned away

"What is wrong with you" Yelda snapped, taking everyone by surprise even Zuhaira stopped on her tracks without turning

"You are being cold, emotion less, and trying to be all that tough, Zuhaira let the pains out, we know........ "DONT" ZUHAIRA yelled turning to face Yelda, her eyes were red without anger "Don't say you know what it feels"

"All my life in here, i live in fear of rejection, everyone smiles at me, but i still feared rejection, all i wanted was to be accepted as a real Gohar, and now that i was accepted, it came with a huge consequence, the only mother i knew was killed right infront of me, when the acceptance came, am even afraid to embrace it, am at war with myself, the thirst for vengeance, but vengeance will only cause more distruction, but they need to pay, why does this bother me, because am the Girl in the prophecy, you have no idea what it feels" Zuhaira said, she then sighed and said

"I will leave for some days and be back in two weeks" she said,

"Where to" asked a kid with a glowing orange stone,

"A quest" she answered

"But you cant leave, what about us, who will protect us" the same child ask,

Zuhaira smiled and squatted near the child,

"My mother told me i have to do this, its for our own good, i have to search for it and be back and fufill the prophecy, besides Marwan will be here with you, he is a feirce one" she said,

"Is it that important" Haziq asked, Zuhaira stood up, "it is Haziq, i have to" she said

"Then i will protect everyone till you come back" Ameer said, moving forward to her,

"Am with you" Eshan said,

"Me too" Ameer said,

"Am with you" Saudat said,

"I stand for my people" Hamis said and also Sayyid stepped forward also,

"I will" Yelda said,

"And so will i" Heeba said joining them, Zuhaira sighed and nodded.

Zuhaira was seated on top of the cave late in the evening when Eshan joined her with rice cakes, she gave him a light smile and collected , just when Yelda joined them, and the three sat in silence watching the stars

"Will you be safe" Yelda asked breaking the silence

"For my people, Yes" Zuhaira said

"I miss us" Yelda said ad tears welled up in her eyes, Zuhaira pulled her for a cuddle, Eshan place his head on Zuhaira's shoulder, she inturn pulled him and cuddled his head with her free hand