© Muhammed Aliyu Fahad

CHAPTER ONE
THE MERCHANTS AND THE SLAVES

It begin with Two merchant brothers travelling to Cross the desert from Western Sudan region to North Africa, with their caravans and Camel's. 

On the route, they came across some groups of slaves sellers, with some slaves with them, immediately one of the merchant, Whose name is "Kadamir" stop the traders, and plump down from his camel and step forward to the slaves, he took a look of the slaves. Shaking his head With deep breathe and honest sights. He gently ask.

    "Please may i know the price of your slaves?" Kadamir asked,curiously.

    "Which one,sire?" The slave master asked,politely.

The young lady! Kadamir Said.

The slave seller replied by saying. Oh the young lady behind.

Yes; kadamir answered.

She is not for sale, the slaves seller replied!

The other young merchant who seem to be kadamir brother drop from his horse with a sword on the side of his cloth and came close to them. And asked why?

The slave man replied cause i don't want to.

But you must have a big and good reason why you don't want to sale this young lady to us, kadamir Said

Yes because she is special to me, you can't afford her price. Said the slave man.
The slave seller intend to keep the young lady with him, to be his mistress, so that he will do what ever he wish to.
With  sudden, kadamir brother ask him.

How do you know? With a smile on his face.

As young as you people are you don't have enough wealth to pay for this girl.  the second slave seller replied.

Kadamir quietly said, but you haven't told us her price, to know if we can afford to pay.
Because i don't have to, said the slaver seller

They took hours exchanging words, but still the slave seller refuses to give away the price of the young slave lady Who seem to look beautiful with her name
"Fatima". But the slave seller refuses to give away the lady. This drew the attention of Kadamir brother to feel very uncomfortable with the action of the slave sellers over the young lady. And he also saw how the young lady was very somber and testy, when he look at her.
Kadamir and his brother Kashmir are well trained fighters. And used that advantage to raid over the slave sellers and killed them all. It took just five minutes to finished them .

The Slaves were very shock when watching, how the action goes. They stand two meters away with chains on their necks.

It okay, you are all now free ! Kashmir said, intending to touch Fatima (the young slave).
She was weak and very exhausted, tired, testy and hungry. Kashmir intend to offer her drink, And unfortunately she was unconscious.

The other slaves are very happy to regain their freedom, But sad, the thing is that how are they going to cross back home, they look so grimly. Kadamir look at the desert and poignant to them. And decided to say, We are all going together.
And their journey continues to a city in the Nile region known as  center of trade and civilization  Misra (Egypt).



       CHAPTER TWO
THE CITY OF NILE          
             
         After many days and weeks spends by them travelling to cross the desert, they now arrived to a city of trade and civilization. Fatima was still unconscious throughout the long journey that seems to last forever. After their arrival at the coast of the Nile,they all seems exhausted,so Kadamir and Kashmir decided to move on and rent a lodge where they can spend more days,before moving to their destination. They took the men's lodge,while Fatima was taken to the Girls guests house,which is the most beautiful guests inn in the town.
    Kashmir gave a lot of money to the woman in charge even though she isn't the owner of the inn,to make sure she provide anything Fatima needs.
    In the morning, Fatima woke up so confusing and she look around her environment,wearing the most elegant dress she has ever seen before.
    Kadamir and Kashmir woke up with the other slaves,one of the slaves,much older than the others insists to serves the brothers but they refused.
    "Every human being was born free. I see no reason why you should serve us." Kadamir said,in a stern voice.
   "if you leave us here we've nowhere to go,you're the only ones we know." The older free slave said,softly.
    "Yes!" The other free slaves said,in unison.
    "OK i understand you now." Kadamir said
    Kadamir calls up  for Kashmir and asked him about what they should  do with the free slaves.
    Fatima woke up,looking around the house with a smiling face.
    "Do you like it?"  The woman behind her asked,softly.
   "Pleases where am i, Fatima asked,curiously.
  "You are at Girls guests inn, the beautiful place in the whole of Misra!." Said the woman,with a smirk.
  "But how do i get here?" Fatima asked,sounding more curious.
   "A handsome young man brought you here yesterday." The woman replied
    Fatima begins to think about this handsome man that brought her here. Perhaps Fatima was very beautiful young woman. She was tall, fair and lanky, with a oval face displayed a long pointed nose,like tuwarek.
    Fatima was still not comfortable with the environment,she was thinking whether she was sold as a slave again.
    "Are you okay my lady?" The woman asked
    "Hmmm, yeah am fine!" Fatima said
    "Are you sure?" The woman asked
    "Yes!" Fatima replied.
    "Okay,so if you're ready come downstairs to take your break fast" the woman said,tenderly.
    The woman walk away and silently close the door
But still Fatima doesn't trust the lady.
    "There are reasons why Fatima seems to worry about the young man that brought her here." The man said.
    Before Fatima was rescued by the two brothers. On her journey, with the chain in her neck. She was raped twice by the Slave seller and that has put her in a lot of trauma. So she was scared after learning that a man brought her to the inn,not to mention a young man.
    Fatima decided to get rid of the thoughts in her head and goes downstairs. She was looking at the environment up and down, because this was very strange to her. She never see a place like this before in her life.
    Kadamir and Kashmir decided to take the slaves with them to the capital, where they can have more opportunities to be free, and begin a new life.
    "We are getting late " Kashmir said,in a warning tone.
    "Okay, guys lets move!" Kadamir said,in a hurry.
   They rushed to the Girls guests inn, where Fatima is   
to get her. After their arrival at the hotel, The woman in charge, came to them with a devastating news that Fatima is nowhere to be found.
    "How did you let her get away?" Kashmir asked,in fit of anger.
    "I Swear, i don't know how it happened!" The woman said,sincerely.
    "It's okay!" Kadamir said,tenderly,holding Kashmir by the arm.
    Kashmir was so angry when he heard this bad news. But still he was like asking himself "why did i brought her here alone?"
    "It's okay,don't bother yourself,we'll get her back. In fact,she can't get away because this is Misra" Kadamir said,in a convincing tone.
    "Now the best thing we should do, is to start searching for her. Before she got herself into trouble." The older free slave man said,with an idea,whose name is Mudi.
    "But we don't know where she went" Kashmir said,with a nervous sigh.
    They took out a map, spreads it out on a table,then give themselves the directions to go in other to find Fatima.
     Kadamir and all the others searched for Fatima the whole day,but couldn't find her. They have searched every place in the town they believe she could be.
   "Fatima!!!" Kashmir said, loudly.
   "It's getting late. And Fatima is still nowhere to be found. Kashmir decided they should just go back because the weather is changing and it looks like it's going to rain.
    Fatima was walking alone in a deserted yard somewhere in Egypt,with her arms clutching her chest feeling the weather changing gradually. As she was walking through the trash,scattered everywhere in the yard she thought about the place Kashmir took her,and wonders what on earth is happening there since she left.
    Suddenly, Fatima heard footsteps behind her which seems to startle the living daylight out of her. She halts in her tracks,turns around and find two men dressed in rags approaching, smiling hungrily as they looks at her,that's when she realizes that her beauty has just put her life at stake again.
 

   "Looking for a good time honey?" One of the men asked, in a chuckle, as he and his friend stops few feet away.
    "What do you think beautiful? We promise to go easy on you" the other man said,with a vicious grin.
    Fatima could feel her heart slamming in her chest,racing with thoughts of what to do next and how to escape these brutes with bad ideas,in one piece. At that moment she thought about why she even left the girls guest inn.

   The men lurched towards Fatima hungrily without any second thought about who she's or where she came from. They're just consumed by their unquenchable desire to rape her. But Fatima took off as fast as possible   to escape these brutes as they chased her through the deserted yard.
     Kashmir,Kadamir and the five free slaves were walking on a crowded street,apparently exhausted from trying to find Fatima even though she's nowhere to be found as if she doesn't exist at all. Kadamir gave his brother a side look studying his expression, and could see how desperate he's to find Fatima.
    "We'll find her,i promise." Kadamir said, sounding convincing.
    Kashmir sighed nervously as he looks ahead,but before he could respond he saw a girl sprints out of a yard chased by two men wearing rags. He suddenly recognizes the girl to Fatima whom they have been looking for all day.
    "Look! It's Fatima!" Kashmir said,with delight,pointing towards her direction.
    Kashmir draws his sword out immediately,shortly after his elder brother and the free slaves pounced at the men chasing Fatima fiercely. The free slaves jumps on the dirty men angrily,punching,and kicking them. In a blink of an eye the brutes were lying on the dirt unmoving.
    Fatima seems happy in the inside after being rescued by Kashmir and the others,but looking remorse for what she has done. Kashmir on the other hand doesn't seem to blame her for trying to leave because she doesn't really know them.
    "I'm really sorry!" Fatima said,sincerely.
    "You didn't do anything wrong. Let's go home!" Kashmir replied.

CHAPTER THREE
THE ARRIVAL

After a long journey that seems to last for like forever, Kadamir, Kashmir, Fatima and the five free slaves finally arrives at Istanbul,the capital of the largest Islamic Empire at that time. So many people gathers together to welcome the brothers whom were apparently famous, because their father is currently one of the most wealthiest men in the city. This seems to amuse Fatima and the free slaves,making them feel at home and happy.
    Some of the people welcoming Kadamir and his brother were holding drums and other musical instruments,dancing and praising them in excitement. Kashmir was riding on a horse,while Kadamir and the others were riding on camels; there were six other camels with lots of goods on them. The celebration ended after the brothers and their companions arrives at a gigantic and well decorated castle guarded by soldiers wielding all sorts of weapons.
After a servant escorted Kadamir and the others inside the castle surrounded by walls made of solid earth and rocks. They found their father in one of the courtyards smiling widely,apparently glad to see his sons back home safe and sound.
    Kashmir and Kadamir rushed towards their beloved father,and embraced him gently and happily,while Fatima and the free slaves stood there feeling excited as well. At that moment, Kashmir thought about introducing Fatima and the others to his father.
    "father,may i introduce our new friends?" Kashmir asked,softly.
    "go on,my son!." His father said,with a gesture.
    "this is fatima,barau,mudi,lama,kabir and mubi." Kashmir said,with a grin.
    Fatima and the free slaves lowered their head as the head of the family looks at them briefly wondering where his sons has found them,because they seems to be foreigners.
    "welcome to Istanbul everyone!" Kashmir's father said,happily.
Kashmir's father whispered in his eldest son's ears demanding to know how he and his brother had met fatima and the rest.But Kadamir claims it's a long story and that they'll tell him later.
    Kashmir calls out for his sisters to come and take fatima to the guest chamber where she could take her bath and rest for the time being.While Kadamir escorted the free slaves to one of the chambers before he figures out a suitable job for all of them.
    Kashmir's younger sisters, Zainab, Bilqis,and Rukaiyat shows up and escorted Fatima to the most beautiful and elegant guest room she has ever seen. Fatima glance around the room,well decorated with expensive furnitures, while Zainab and her sisters kept staring at her happily.
    Bilqis provides hot water in the bath tube for Fatima,while Zainab provides the most elegant dress in the country for their guest,and Rukaiyat prepares the most delicious meal ever cooked.
"if you're ready come downstairs to meet our mother!." Bilqis said,happily.
    "thanks so much!." Fatima said,in excitement.
    "you're welcome,dear. the maids are available if you need anything." Zainab said,tenderly.
    "okay,but you didn't tell me your names." Fatima said,curiously.
    "oh where are our manners? iam rukaiyat,this is zainab and bilqis." Rukaiyat said,happily.
    "and iam fatima,it's nice meeting you!" Fatima said,feeling glad.
    The sisters nods shortly before they exits the guest chamber.Fatima spuns around just before a woman dressed in elegant clothes walks smiling at her.
    After realizing whom it was Fatima immediately bow a bit greeting her traditionally. The woman walks to her happily and embraces her gently.
    "what's your name young lady?." The Woman asked,softly,as she takes fatima's hands.
    "my name's fatima!." Fatima said,with a smile on her face.
    "i'm surprise you can speak our tongue!." The Woman said,sounding surprised and impressed as well.

"my father taught me when i was ten,in fact it's the main language we speak in our hamlet,beside our native tongue!." Fatima said,seriously.
    "i'm kashmir's mother,you're welcome to Istanbul." Kashmir's Mother said,tenderly.
    "thank you!." Fatima said,happily.
    Kashmir's Mother smile widely before leaving the guest chamber. Fatima stood there apparently impressed by the way kashmir's family are very kind to her.
    That Evening, Kadamir and his best friends Kurai and Ohan went for a flying visit to the great palace of Sultan Mustafa the ruler of Ottoman Empire, who is also Kadamir's father in-law due to the fact,he was bethroned to the love of his life Princess Laila,the most beautiful lady in the realm.
    After reaching the gates of the palace made of pure gold,the guards immediately opens the gates for Kadamir and his friends. Kadamir spotted Laila in the garden dressed in a royal dress with a scarf covering her adorable pretty face.
Princess Laila instinctively spuns around,caught the love of her  life and her prince charming staring at her with a lovely smile on his face. She immediately hurried into the palace, Kadamir and his friends follows suit and found sultan Mustafa sitting on his throne comfortable,while his subjects were standing still.
    The Sultan was very happy to see Kadamir and his friends in the palace. He quickly gets up to welcome them shortly after they greeted him traditionally. He dismissed his subjects with a gesture of his hand,before leading his in-law and his friends out of the throne room,to his chamber.
    The Royal Servant served Kadamir and his friends with water,roasted peacocks,fruits and pancakes after they sat down on the sofas with the sultan.
    "the last time i asked laila about you she told me you'll soon be back,i just wonder how she knew that." Sultan Mustafa said,with a grin.
    "that's lovers' instincts,your grace!." Ohan said,in a serious tone.
The Sultan and the others broke out of a laughter that lasted for a while. The Sultan just wonders how much Kadamir and Laila love each other,because he believes the kind of love the two share was meant to last for all eternity,and that kind of love happens once in a lifetime.
    Ohan and Kurai swung a look at Kadamir reminding him why he came to the palace,it's not just about seeing laila,but about seeking permission to marry her,even though he was betrothed to her since their childhood,because their fathers have been friends since childhood.
    "i'll send for laila right away." The Sultan said,ready to take a leave.
    "i came to talk to you about princess laila,your grace." Kadamir said,feeling nervous.
    "iam all ears son!." The Sultan said,softly,studying his expression.
    "i... want to marry princess laila, iam... ready now,your grace!." Kadamir said,nervously.
    "you're like a son to me and your father is the only living best friend i got. laila is yours!." The Sultan said,in a sincere tone.
After a couple of days, Fatima was given an opportunity by Kashmir's parents to go back to school after discovering her innate ability to read and write,and to learn what she don't know.
    Fatima was taking to Ummir Abdallah Islamic School by Kashmir's mother. The school was named after kashmir's father who built it years ago.
    Kashmir has fallen in love with Fatima ever since he met her,but his pride couldn't allow him to tell her how he feels about her,so he decided to keep it a secret for the time being until the time is favourable for him. A part of him urges him to just confront her and tell her how he feels about her as long as he could,while the other part of him warns him to handle the situation sagaciously,to avoid unexpected heartbreak,because love can be catastrophic sometime.
    Kashmir sighed nervously while he sat comfortably on a sofa in his own chamber. He thought about showing fatima that he loves her first,rather than just telling her which might turn into something he didn't plan.
After some days later,Barau and the other free slaves began a business of their own at one of the most influential markets in the country,thanks to Kadamir, Kurai and Kabir. Some of them even get married to Turkish women so they could make a family of their own,while Kadamir married Princess Laila and it was quite such a remarkable  and unforgettable wedding ceremony in the whole of Ottoman Empire,because many noble and royal families had come to the ceremony. Some even mistake the remarkable ceremony with coronation of a new Sultan.
  Throughout the ceremony Kashmir and Fatima has been together, both dressed in royal clothes like a king and a queen. Kashmir could see in Fatima's beautiful eyes that she's in love with him too,but waiting for him to make the move first,while he believes the time has come and he's not willing to hesitate again.