Shattered Pillars(136)

Before him, new light was spilling over the half-rebuilt city. The first tradesmen and merchants in the streets paused and turned; the gates of the keep were not usually thrown wide by a pregnant girl.

Saadet clung to the bolt as if that were all that held her upright. She raised her voice; she raised her unveiled face and cried, “Blood ghosts! Blood ghosts within the keep! Loyal men of Qarash, to me! To the son of Qori Buqa!”

Merchants and tradesmen, they came. They ran.

Behind al-Sepehr, there was blood. There was dust. Before him, Saadet disappeared into a swirl of embroidered coats and drawn knives.

Against a turquoise sky, a hot pale sun rolled up the western horizon to shine on a land that had not seen it before.