Page 15 of Bound By Wishes

I heard her mumbling to herself, followed by the rustling of blankets. Stepping away to give her some privacy, I found a particularly uncomfortable tree trunk to lean against. The stars above caught my attention, and I marveled at their brilliance. A deep, velvety black stretched in all directions, speckled with countless stars. I hadn’t realized how much I missed simple pleasures like this until I spent so many years trapped in that lamp.

I hadn’t heard a sound coming from the tent for a while. Was she finally asleep? I approached it slowly and peered through the slit in the entrance. She was sleeping peacefully, her breathing slow and steady, each rise and fall of her chest a gentle lull. Her dark, flowing hair spread out around her like a silken halo, catching the gentle glow of firelight that flickered from the lanterns.

I cautiously glanced around, aware that I couldn’t stray far from her side for long. But I would have to risk it since I needed to do some scouting to determine when the other marriage prospects would arrive. According to the scroll, they had already been summoned, which meant I was running on borrowed time. I hoped the magic would behave for a little while without it annoyingly calling me back to her.

I whisked myself to the city’s edge, surprised by the commotion at this hour. Tents, caravans, and fires stretched for miles. Curses! They were already here. Each royal family with a daughter to offer was camped outside the city gates, awaiting their summons. Their banners flew high, proudly showcasing their lineage. The kingdoms on display were nothing short of impressive, raising the stakes for the impossible task of turning a pauper into a princess. Aggravation knotted between my shoulder blades. Even a genie couldn’t pull off this kind of miracle.

Something stirred me from sleep. I blinked a few times as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. And then I heard it again, a faint whisper and the nickering of horses echoing through the stillness of the night.

I sat upright in the bed, clutching the covers to my chest. “Ranen?” I called, my voice barely above a whisper. As the sounds grew louder and he remained silent, my anxiety fluttered to life.

I cautiously approached the tent opening and peered through the slits without untying them. My breath caught as shadowy figures descended from the top of a dune, moving in my direction. I backed away, my heart thundering in my chest.

“Where are you, Ranen?” I pleaded as my limbs began to shake uncontrollably. What was the point of having a genie if he wasn’t around when I needed him? I glanced at my surroundings. There was nothing in this fancy tent toprotect myself with. I couldn’t be sure that these people had bad intentions, but being alone in the middle of the desert with strangers was not ideal.

“Whoever is in that tent, I suggest you come out, slowly,” a deep voice boomed from the other side of the thin canvas. A shiver of fear crept down my spine, like a spider skittering along each vertebra. He didn’t sound too friendly.

When I didn’t respond, the blade of a sword shot through the tent entrance, slicing through the meager ties that held the flaps in place. Definitely not friendly.

“Well, well, look what the sands have blessed us with.” A menacing man emerged from the darkness, clad in tattered robes. His eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the interior of the tent before resting on me again. A scarf concealed most of his face, revealing only glimpses of weathered skin and a glint of cunning eyes beneath the shadow of his hood. Fear gripped me, freezing me in place as he took another step toward me.

“What is a desert rose like you doing out here all alone?” His voice grated across my nerves, sending dread spiraling to the pit of my stomach.

I glanced at the tent entrance, where the flaps danced in the night breeze, and more masked men ventured inside, their faces hidden beneath similar cloth coverings.

Where was Ranen?

“Look at her.” A shorter man snickered as he stepped closer. “She’ll bring a high price in the market.”

His words sent a chill through me, shaking me out of my fear-induced paralysis. My heart pounded wildly, torn between the urge to run and the instinct to fight. Anger and dread bubbled up inside of me, my muscles coiling likea spring ready to snap. I would die before I let another man attack me.

With wild, frantic eyes, I scanned the tent for anything I could use. My gaze snared on a lantern sitting on the bedside table. I grabbed it and hurled it to the ground. The air filled with the scent of burning oil as flames erupted, creating a small barrier between me and the men. The fire spread fast, fueled by the rug beneath the tent. Flames danced and flickered, consuming the fabric at an alarming speed.

The men cursed, their shouts mingling with the roar of the flames as they struggled to reach me. But the growing inferno forced them back, its searing heat and fierce glow keeping them at bay.

But it wasn’t enough to stop one of them from lunging for me. He grabbed my arm, his viselike grip threatening to crush my bones as he yanked me toward him.

Panic surged within me, and I fell to my knees, desperately searching for something, anything to free myself. My fingers closed around a sharp shard of glass, the jagged edges ripping into my skin as I tightened my grip. The heat of the flames scalded my bare skin, but adrenaline surged through me, sharpening my focus.

I swung wildly, finally managing to slice through the arm that held me captive. He released me, a slew of curses spilling from his lips as he clutched his injured arm. His face twisted in pain, and his eyes widened with disbelief and anger.

Everything seemed to shift into slow-motion. The fire crackled as I scrambled away, franticallyfighting my way through the growing inferno, the heat licking at my skin as I hurried to the back of the tent.

Dropping to my stomach, I managed to squeeze through a small gap between the sand and the tent. As I crawled out, a searing pain shot up my leg. I sat upright and realized the hem of my skirt was on fire. I quickly threw sand on it to extinguish the flames, but not before the heat scorched deep into my skin, leaving it raw and blistered. Tears gathered in my eyes from the intense burn, but I had no time to inspect my injuries. I had to keep moving.

My legs wobbled as I forced myself to stand, ready to run, only to find myself trapped in a pair of strong arms. The pungent odor of an unwashed body assaulted my senses, making my eyes burn as he pressed me tightly against his chest.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he grumbled in my ear.

I dug my nails into his forearm, but his grip did not ease up. Desperate, I slammed the back of my head against his face. I heard something crack, and then he threw me down. Sand stung my eyes as my face collided with the ground. The gritty particles embedded themselves into my skin, making the impact hurt even worse.

“That little viper broke my nose!” He cursed, holding his hand up to stop the blood that trickled down his face and sprinkled on the ground.

Before I could gather myself, more hands grabbed me, forcing me to my feet. Two of them held me firmly in place.

“Let me go!” I fought like a wildcat, but they were too strong. “Ranen!” I screeched, desperation clawing at my throat as tears burned my eyes.

“Who are you calling for? There is no one here to save you.” The miscreant’s words seeped into my soul, causing my legs to buckle beneath me.

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