Jalal gave the door a light knock before entering, "Shazi said you wanted to see me?"

Khalid let his eyes flutter open unaware that he had drifted off to sleep. "I was told you have something to say."

"I-" Jalal paused and really looked at his cousin. There was no temper in his eyes. He was tired yes. But he was also waiting for something to be said, "I had no right to say what I did at the library."

"Did it ever occur to you that you never told me who you spoke of?"

Taking a seat on the edge of the bed Jalal thought for a moment, "I thought you knew. It's clear now that you didn't but at the time… I thought you knew."

"I do not keep track of who is sharing a bed with whom." Adjusting just enough to become once again comfortable Khalid asked, "What is she now to you."

"She is to me what Shazi is to you."

Two weeks later Khalid stood in the shadows of Shazi's balcony watching the father's of the women who he had killed slowly approach the palace. "They do not seem to wish to be here."

"Despina heard a rumor that now that you killed their daughters, I want the entire family killed as well." She didn't need to turn to him to know he stiffened, "I'm sure she told the person something. It does not matter either way by tonight they will know the truth or most of it."

"After this, I would like to show you something."

"Oh?"

Letting his arms wrap around her waist her whispered in her ear, "I'm sure it will cause a great scandal. You should be proud."

Turning to face him she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Everything I do causes a great scandal I have yet to decide which ones I am proud of."

"Yes well expect Jalal not to be amused neither will his father."

Shazi rolled her eyes, "Your uncle is rarely amused with me. However why would Jalal be less than thrilled?"

"That my dear is a secret."

It was just before midday when Shazi accompanied Khalid into the banquet room. Or at least that is what she now referring to it as. She had her jeweled dagger just within reach. She didn't think she would need it but then again she couldn't be too sure …

…not now.

The men… The father's of the pervious brides all stood close tighter. A blend of hate and fear resting in their eyes.

Khalid saw all of them. Saw the guards stationed around the room. Saw none of the men who had been asked to come … were armed. A great relief yet there was much harm an unarmed man could cause. And he had the scars to prove it. Keeping his voice level he started to speak. "Your queen wishes for you to know why you daughter's died. Any who wish not to hear, Leave now."

Shazi wanted to roll her eyes or scold him. He had such a nice speech prepared. She knew this because she had heard him say the words. That was not what he had told her just last night. When no one moved she closed her eyes. "In the basket you will find a letter. Each with your daughter's name written on it. Please feel free to take it when you leave. Those left will be kept in case you ever wish to retrieve it." She paused hoping Khalid would say something. It was no surprise when he didn't.

Continuing she started again, "Before I explain why your daughter died you must understand the whole of it. Some of you may remember your king's first wife, Ava. After being married she conceived what should have been the heir. Sadly it was not meant to be. Falling into melancholy she took her own life with a silk cord before the dawn."

"So my daughter … all of our daughter died … because…"

She wasn't sure who said it but raised her hand enough to quite him… to quite all of them. "Please let me finish. Ava's father blamed your king for her death. He did not understand the heartbreak that her husband was too feeling in that moment. Instead he sought revenge. Through use of a mystic he cursed this land. 100 lives for the one that your king took. 100 hundred lives or the whole of the country would perish. The life scarified could only live until the first rays of dawn.

Your King did not know if the curse was real. The rains stopped and the wells dried up. People… your kinsmen were dying in the streets. With little knowledge of curses or how to break them he was left little choice then to carry out what the curse said. After the first death the rains once again started."

The men looked around stunned. "Tariq, What do you say to this?" One of the men asked disbelief in his voice as well as grief.

"I have known the queen all of my life. And I have seen for fact what she speaks of as truth. The Caliph only did what he had to for his country."

It was great relief when the men … the fathers of the others … had stayed to not only read the letters that their Caliph had written about each. In only few hours he had captured their daughters in both their best and at their worst.

In the end they had willing broke bread with their king and the queen who was wise enough to break curse.

Placing a scarf over Shazi's eyes , Khalid kept one hand around her waist and the other gripping her hand. "Careful joonam I do not wish for you to fall."

"If you would allow me to see you wouldn't have to worry about me falling."

Jalal coughed so he would not laugh. Now would he point out that Shazi was correct. "Perhaps letting her see until we are near the destination would be wise."

"Not leaving the palace would be wiser."

Shazi knew that voice . Khalid's uncle. But he had a point leaving the Palace in broad daylight was not wise. Then again they had a garrison of guards with them. "This could have waited."

Khalid ignored her as they slowly and very carefully made their way down the narrow streets until he stooped and turned Shazi toward something before removing her blindfold.

She blinked once as her eyes adjusted to the light. Then blinked again seeing what was left of the library Such a sad sight. This had been a place that once loved now.. Khalid?"

"I have ordered for it to be rebuilt in your honor. You will have complete access to it whenever you please. I'm not sure how that will work but this place is yours Shazi."

Turning to him she smiled. Tear of joy filling her eyes. It was more then she could have ever asked for. He was more than she ever dreamed of.

-The End