It had been long since the mare, shrouded by darkness, had stepped into the light. There had been sections of the caverns that allowed the sun to trickle in, but it was not the same. The caverns were close, the air heavy with secrets that she could never tell. The path she walked had taken her away from the ones she loved, but it had brought them safety, and in all that darkness, she’d found souls who had become guiding lights to her. They gave her purpose. And it was alongside them that she emerged from her solitude, her strange eyes looking only forward and to the future. She knew not what would happen, nor how her actions might change all that she had wanted to protect. The only thing she was certain of was that she would fight to the death for those that she cared for, which had grown to include the four with whom she had been sequestered with all this time.
Some things would remain forever buried in the deep darkness of those caverns, but there was new life upon these sands.
Naz stood by Varajakshi, placed a comforting caress to the blind mare’s shoulder as Rigel called and the Sadim answered. With a dip of her head, she acknowledged each arrival, bowing on bended knee to the Sheik and the Mira. Her beloved Sayyida. Emotion coiled in the pit of her belly. The marwari longed to cross the distance between them and draw the other mare into a fierce embrace. But now was not the time, and even as she accepted this, she heard Rigel begin his supplication, seeking to explain. Naz straightened, huffed gently upon the curve of Varajakshi’s neck, and took one step away from her toward Rigel (though not drawing any further from her side) to give silent support to his testimony. If called upon, she would speak, but until then, she would stand and serve, making good on the promise she had made to them, to watch over Varajakshi and the foals at her side – the son and daughter of Rigel.
Her eyes, like fire and water, watched them now, the brown speckled white filly and her brother, his legs and face starkly marked like his father’s (like her’s), body pale and speckled like the sky filled with myriads of stars. Skittish and clumsy on those long legs of his, he hid behind his mother, even as his dark eyes peered about, taking note of all the strange faces, a curious bleat the only sound he made.
And there, lingering at the edge of those gathered, a small red and white Arabian mare that Naz knew by sight only. Shahrazad – that was the name she’d heard from Rigel’s own lips. The young mare seemed to be contemplative, silently taking in all that was being said, her gaze flicking to Varajakshi and the twins every now and again, blue eyes bright with understanding, and some kind of bittersweet joy. There would be time later for Naz to acquaint herself properly with this mare, and the others of the Sadim she had yet to meet officially, including Rigel’s own twin and younger brother. But first, she would go to Sayyida’s side, resume watching over precious Aminah alongside Mrgsira and Dhruv, and then… Then she would seek out Tarek and her own beloved children – Naveen who was with him, and Shanti, who she had sent away.
In the depths of her heart, Naz prayed that they would forgive her for leaving them, trust that she had her reasons (as told by Rigel) and know that she loved them all the more fiercely for the time they’d been apart.