her.
She pretended not to hear. It wasnât even the thought of the dakhmeh that scared her mostâsimply leaving the palace where she had spent her entire life was enough to send her heart racing. She was about to step off the edge of the world she had always known. Could anyone ever be ready for that?
Their timing was convenient, she supposed. The garden was alivewith music and celebration tonight, the night before the shahâs wedding. The crowd wasnât as large as the one on Nog Roz, since only members of court were attending, but it was large enough to let Soraya and Azad blend in as they made their escape.
Soraya gripped his arm tightly as they walked through the garden, trying not to flinch every time someone passed by them. She kept looking around her, sure that her mother would appear, or that someone would collide with her and accidentally touch her skin. She almost felt like she was walking through a painting or a tableau on a tapestryâlike she was intruding in a world where she didnât belong and didnât quite fit, and it was only a matter of time before someone noticed her. But Azad confidently steered her around the celebrants as they danced or laughed or ate together, and no one paid the two of them much notice.
Finally, they neared the palace gates, and Azad told her to wait as he approached the guards standing watch there. She knew why he didnât want her to hear himâshe could tell what Azad must be saying from the knowing smirks on the guardsâ faces. But whatever Azad had said evidently worked, because soon he was waving her forward, and she was hurrying past the guards to join him.
And then they were through, looking down the steps cut into the small hill that would take them into the center of the city. It really did feel like stepping off the edge of the world. Or was it the other way around? Was she finally stepping into the world? Soraya turned her eyes above, to the stars that were beginning faintly to appear. Looking out at the city made her feel disoriented and exposed, but when she looked up, she could imagine herself swimming in the stars, sinking beneath the surface of the sky to some hidden depth. Maybe in a world turned upside down, she wouldnât be poisonous anymore.
Azad was standing motionless a few steps ahead of her, and she tore her eyes away from the sky to see what was occupying his attention. But it was her âhe was watching her, his eyes brighterthan the stars. She returned his gaze, and her fingertips tingled through her gloves.
âAre you ready?â he asked for the second time, and reached slowly for her hand.
She closed the gap, letting her gloved fingers entwine with his. âI am now.â
Azad led her into the emptying streets. The city was beginning to quiet down for the night, but there were still enough people out to make Soraya cautiousâthough not so many to overwhelm her, as on Nog Roz. And as they neared the city square, the streets widened, and she began to breathe more freely.
It was when they reached the square that it struck her how strange it was to be inside this space that she had only seen from above and afar for so long. Here were the block-shaped homes and buildings whose roofs had lit up for Suri, and there were the archways that led into and out of the square. Everything was both familiar and foreign, both known and unknown.
Azad must have noticed the way she was looking up and around, and he paused to point out a tall, imposing building. âThatâs the courthouse,â he whispered to her. âWeâre about to go through the bazaar now.â
Soraya peered down the long avenue at the people closing down their stalls and shops, imagining how it must look and sound during the day with bustling crowds and merchants calling out to potential customers. Only the scents of the bazaar lingered; she thought she caught a hint of rose water in the air, and a little while later, the
She pretended not to hear. It wasnât even the thought of the dakhmeh that scared her mostâsimply leaving the palace where she had spent her entire life was enough to send her heart racing. She was about to step off the edge of the world she had always known. Could anyone ever be ready for that?
Their timing was convenient, she supposed. The garden was alivewith music and celebration tonight, the night before the shahâs wedding. The crowd wasnât as large as the one on Nog Roz, since only members of court were attending, but it was large enough to let Soraya and Azad blend in as they made their escape.
Soraya gripped his arm tightly as they walked through the garden, trying not to flinch every time someone passed by them. She kept looking around her, sure that her mother would appear, or that someone would collide with her and accidentally touch her skin. She almost felt like she was walking through a painting or a tableau on a tapestryâlike she was intruding in a world where she didnât belong and didnât quite fit, and it was only a matter of time before someone noticed her. But Azad confidently steered her around the celebrants as they danced or laughed or ate together, and no one paid the two of them much notice.
Finally, they neared the palace gates, and Azad told her to wait as he approached the guards standing watch there. She knew why he didnât want her to hear himâshe could tell what Azad must be saying from the knowing smirks on the guardsâ faces. But whatever Azad had said evidently worked, because soon he was waving her forward, and she was hurrying past the guards to join him.
And then they were through, looking down the steps cut into the small hill that would take them into the center of the city. It really did feel like stepping off the edge of the world. Or was it the other way around? Was she finally stepping into the world? Soraya turned her eyes above, to the stars that were beginning faintly to appear. Looking out at the city made her feel disoriented and exposed, but when she looked up, she could imagine herself swimming in the stars, sinking beneath the surface of the sky to some hidden depth. Maybe in a world turned upside down, she wouldnât be poisonous anymore.
Azad was standing motionless a few steps ahead of her, and she tore her eyes away from the sky to see what was occupying his attention. But it was her âhe was watching her, his eyes brighterthan the stars. She returned his gaze, and her fingertips tingled through her gloves.
âAre you ready?â he asked for the second time, and reached slowly for her hand.
She closed the gap, letting her gloved fingers entwine with his. âI am now.â
Azad led her into the emptying streets. The city was beginning to quiet down for the night, but there were still enough people out to make Soraya cautiousâthough not so many to overwhelm her, as on Nog Roz. And as they neared the city square, the streets widened, and she began to breathe more freely.
It was when they reached the square that it struck her how strange it was to be inside this space that she had only seen from above and afar for so long. Here were the block-shaped homes and buildings whose roofs had lit up for Suri, and there were the archways that led into and out of the square. Everything was both familiar and foreign, both known and unknown.
Azad must have noticed the way she was looking up and around, and he paused to point out a tall, imposing building. âThatâs the courthouse,â he whispered to her. âWeâre about to go through the bazaar now.â
Soraya peered down the long avenue at the people closing down their stalls and shops, imagining how it must look and sound during the day with bustling crowds and merchants calling out to potential customers. Only the scents of the bazaar lingered; she thought she caught a hint of rose water in the air, and a little while later, the
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