You are the light of my life,
The one who makes everything right,
Your love, a melody in my heart,
Forever and always, my sweetheart.

It was dark with only the moonlight guiding me. I did not bother to pick up the chiragh (lantern) with me since it would only get attention from passersby and what I have heard from my brothers, at this hour, only those who revel in violence and theft roamed free.

Being a woman with only a dagger to protect me, I could not pay the hefty price of being mugged.

I have to be smart about this, can not risk myself dying even before I reach the battlefield.

Quwa walked with his head bobbing periodically and I sighed. The empire gates, I know where it was but what I did not know was what exact time it would take me to get there. I have been there several times when my family used to travel but I hardly kept track of the time.

I was the person people would call lost in thoughts, in her own world, or out of reality.

The path we traveled on was thick with trees and only a straight road made up of cheap coal. Quickly reciting a prayer for protection, I clutched the pendant under my hood.

I might not be strong and muscular like men but it did not deter me from doing what I liked. Even in the protection of the four walls of my house, I practiced throwing rocks at targets, getting better at accuracy and precision both.

This explains why I chose a dagger as my hefty partner.

But as I will start to go further, this skill will fall short and I will need to hone something else for the shortcomings.

Maybe a sword or a spear. Something that would keep me up and running even in close combat.

How long have I been traveling like this? How close am I to the destination?

The sleep started to dominate my body, my eyelids threatened to drop shut and my grip on the reigns started to loosen. My head felt like it weighed a ton, making it harder to keep it straight up.

I hope I don't fall off.

"Ya, Allah! Help! Thief! Is anyone here!? Help!"

Jolting awake, my eyes were wide open and my heart beat frantic at the sudden distress. Quwa neighed lowly

I should change my direction, I can't face them at the stage that I am! I don't even know how many people there are. If anyone knows I am a woman, they are only going to -

Stop thinking! If you save a human, it is like saving the whole of humanity!

Wheels started turning in my head and I took a deep breath. You have Quwa and Allah with you Hoor.

You can do this!

Dismounting my horse, I moved between the trees and towards the wailing man.

"Don't take that! No! Please! I have mouths to feed, Ya Allah! Someone stop him!"

Peeking from behind the tree, I noticed a man greedily picking things from the cart of the old man who was pushed on the ground.

Lub dub

My heart was beating so hard that it hurt in my chest and my hands were starting to shake.

Will I die? Will I die if I fail?

Pulling the dagger out from my waistband, I quickly dipped it in the vial of poison I had brought with me. If not with strength, I will take him down using my brain.

Raising my arm, I take aim.

Calm down! Relax! If you can not stop that shaking, you are going to fail either way!

Blowing air out of my mouth, I train my eyes on the buff man picking things from the merchant's cart.

Pulling my arm back, I gather the force - please go where want it to go! - forcing my hand forward, my fingers release the dagger.

"Ahh!" The dagger jammed itself into the man's shoulder, and him immediately wincing and groaning, trying to reach his shoulder blade.

My heart had almost exploded.

The wailing merchant had stopped his shouting and looked in my direction, trying to see who was his fated savior.

I am sorry old man but I can not guarantee your protection! I do not even know if I will survive this!

I pulled back from the tree and slowly walked to another side amidst the shadows.

"Didn't think there would have been another man on this path at this hour." The thief grunted as he stood up from his crouching position and my eyes widened.

So . . . Gigantic! I had no other words to give this thief other than that. Armed with several knives and other weapons.

"If you are a true warrior and a man, show yourself! Let's have a duel like warriors!"

I wasn't a man so this did not apply to me, correct?

Staying hidden, I grab a rock from the ground beside my feet and aim it at a tree at a distance.

"Huh! You coward! Come out and save this man if you dare!" The thief strutted towards the old merchant and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

Holding a knife to the merchant's throat, the thief was enamored with a wicked grin.

My hands were getting clammy.

A minute went by and when I did not move from my spot, the thief was starting to get restless, scratching his chest after the passing seconds.

My dagger was still jammed in his punctured skin and I had no other weapon. My eyes moved to the merchant's cart, taking in all the weapons that it carried.

I see.

Any warrior that lays a hand on that cart will be blessed with the countless bounty it had.

The thief dropped the merchant and unsheathed his sword.

He seemed tired of me hiding.

The rock in my hand felt heavier already but I took the shot. Throwing the rock so that it slammed against the bark of the tree, creating noise in the silent night.

"I see you, coward."

He bought it!

The thief made his way slowly and carefully toward the source of the sound while I sneaked behind his back and toward the cart filled with weapons.

My body was small and flexible, allowing me to be light on my feet and faster than the buff thief.

My fingers wrapped around the first sword they touched and pulled it up. The noise of steel captured the thief's attention and he turned around.

"There you are!" The man charged at me and my body froze. What do I do!?

"Dodge and Block!" The old merchant called out and as if on cue, I moved out of the way, the thief swinging his sword at where I stood not even a second earlier. Twisting on my heel, I raised my sword up to block the incoming attack.

My arms almost gave in when his blow landed on in my blade.

So strong!

"Uh!" The thief fell to his knees and coughed up blood.

Thank God! And I thought the poison was taking forever to act.

His hand was now coated in crimson red and he looked up at me in disbelief.

"What did you do?"

I could only watch as he realized something was wrong.

"WHAT DID YOU DO!!?" I flinched as the man screamed at me and on instinct I brought the tip of my sword to his throat.

"Poison." My voice croaked out and his eyes widened in surprise.

"You are no man . . . You ar-" I gulped and the man coughed again.

Lowering my sword, coming to the conclusion that this man can't stand on his own anymore, I walked behind his back and grabbed my dagger still stuck in his back. With one jerk, I pulled it out of his body, another grunt escaped his lips, and blood started to gush out of his back immediately.

Vomit seemed to gurgle at the bottom of my throat.

Dragging my eyes away and Moving toward the old merchant, I dropped the sword away and helped him stand up.

"Alhumdulilah, ya Allah. Thank you, child. Thank you." The man smiled at me but I could not smile back or feel happiness.

The fact the thief is probably going to die is killing me from the inside. I am the reason he might die.

Do all warriors have to kill?!

"I don't know what I would have done without you, my child." Nodding once, I moved towards the merchant's cart that was turned over and tried to lift it back up on its wheels.

A wheel seemed loose but it would live.

Glancing at the thief, he was breathing harshly and my body hesitantly moved towards him.

"In that direction is a town, if you make it there before you die, you will get treated." My voice felt restrained.

That man huffed out a short laugh, "I can't believe this."

Instinctively, I wiped my hands down my hood, trying to wipe the invisible blood from it. Turning around, not able to see that man anymore, I nodded once again at the old man and started to leave.

Quwa must be waiting for me.

"Wait, habibti. I am yet to reward you for your brave deed." Turning around to face the old man, I shook my head.

"No need, I have things more than enough already."

"Nonsense, for people like you, you can always use a fine weapon. Go on, pick anything you like." He extended one of his arms to his cart.

I can use a sword.

Walking closer to the cart, my eyes searched for something that would just . . .  Click.

"Can I take anything?"

"Yes, anything."

My eyes stuck on this sword, curved at the end and the handle made of a metal I could not name, laced with small sapphires at the end.

"Then I'll be happy to take this."

"Amazing choice. A very strong weapon for those who know how to wield it. I would like to throw a book in with this, will help you on your journey." The merchant handed me a thick book.

The way of the sword and survival.

Just by the title I could tell that this would help me indeed.

"I would like to ask one more thing, do you know how far is the empire gate from here?"

The man seemed to think, "An hour I think."

"Thank you, may Allah bless you." Rounding my arms around the weapon and book, I quickly ran to where my horse stood.

I have spent way too much time here already! Hopefully I reach before the sun rises.

"Sorry Quwa, you had to wait long." Putting the book in my bag and strapping the sword to my hip, I mounted on the horse and was on my way once again.

Ya Allah, the sword is heavy.

Today's chapter was a wild experience for hoorain!

❗How I imagine hoorain in a man's getup on the top!

Your thoughts on this book so far?
Can you guess what will be in the next chapter?