Sabit awoke. She lay on her soft couch of cedar wood. The wind whispered in the trees, carrying the sound of the morning exercises of the army of Ghabar.
Her army. Sabit was home.
Rising, she overlooked the courtyard where dozens of troops practiced drill, just as she had taught them. At their head was Aruru, tall and strong, just as Sabit remembered her. This was the life she could have had. Should have had.
Could still have, if only…
Catching sight of the incongruous cities on the distant mountainside, Sabit turned away from her figment-army. She was not here to indulge a dream, she was here to end one. Two, actually–hers and Rayshabu’s.
She’d barely taken a step when she heard a voice behind her, warm and full of love. “General? Do you have a moment?” said Ishum, the prince of Ghabar. Sabit closed her eyes. He laid a hand on her shoulder. She remembered the softness of his hand, the bright spark of curiosity in his eye, the quirk of his smile in those years when he was alive.
Those years before she failed him.
Sabit broke into a run. Ghabar sped by. She was on the impossible road to Bahteel within moments. Her mission was simple: Find the girl Rayshabu. Train her in what she must do to end her servitude to Heguir. Together, the girl, Qaansoole, and Sabit could destroy the flesh-merchant. Freedom was within their grasp. Nothing would stand in their way.
Already, Sabit’s stride had brought her to the gates of Bahteel. The gates of the city stood wide, allowing travelers to take their leave of the great city. One of the travelers looked at Sabit and smiled.
It was Allamu.
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Wayfarings of Sabit: Chains is copyright (c) 2018 by Michael S. Miller. All rights reserved. New chapters post every Thursday (and the occasional Monday). You can support this and other stories on Patreon: https://patreon.com/michaelsmiller Find more sword and sorcery fiction at http://ipressgames.com/fiction/.