warrior's heart

chapter 28

# assalamualaikum,pardon any mistakes please,the chapter has not been edited!!##

Marliyyah woke up to the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread and opened her eyes to see Nawfal sitting in front of her,fully dressed with a smile on his face. She had been exhausted and after Fajr,had gone back to sleep.

"Saba'ul Khair sleeping beauty".

She smiled back at him and returned his greeting before turning to the source of the delicious aroma and a tray with a plate of freshly baked bread,butter,some fruits and dates. There was a cup of freshly brewed herbs that were no doubt from Safwanah.

"I brought you some breakfast,seeing that you are not to move too much to allow your foot heal fast. Now,let me help you to your hamam so that you can freshen up and eat."

Her eyes widened as he said that and sensing her worry,he said

"Do not worry,I am just helping you in,I am not staying inside with you."

Marliyyah blushed at how straightforward her husband was and went in to her hamam to take a bath. After her bath and dressing, she came out with her hair still damp and falling freely and cascading down her back.

"All praises and Glory be to He who has created such beauty" said Nawfal with an intense look in his eyes which made Marliyyah go weak in the knees. She shook her head to clear the fog that seemed to be around her ever since she got married. She sat down in a simple jade coloured abaya and began to eat her food. She noticed that Nawfal was wearing riding boots and could not help but be confused.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes my queen, I am afraid I have to return to Heman as I left the kingdom without a leader and though I trust my members of council to take care of everything whilst I am away,I cannot leave my people just like that."

"Then I must get ready, I am coming with you."

"No ya sheikha, you are in no position to ride and I would not allow it. You would come back when you are fit again and I would send Murad to accompany you back. Marwa would be staying with you until your foot has healed."

Marliyyah sighed, knowing he was going to have his way and that he had the final say. She nodded in agreement and could not understand why she was feeling sad at the mention of his departure. After she had finished eating,she wore her hijab and Nawfal helped her to wear her sandals before they left her chambers.

"How did this happen?" Asked general Farouq,shocked to find the corpse of the attacker with an ugly slash on his throat. One of the guards on duty walked up to him.

"Sayyed, we were on duty here the previous night and whilst we were on patrol, a we smelt something pungent and everything went black. It was your presence here this morning that woke us up from this strange slumber."

General Farouq ' s forehead creased in confusion and anger. Who could have done this? Who could have sent him? Where the questions that plagued his mind. He knew without a doubt that it was a planned conspiracy and whoever was behind it had killed the man to cover his tracks. He also knew, with a sinking feeling that whoever it was, was definitely someone from the palace. It was definitely an inside attack.

Nawfal and sultan Imran arrived and were met by general Farouq ' s worried expression. He walked up to them and after greeting them, told them about the situation.

"Whoever did this is someone from the palace who does not want to be discovered. I believe the same powder that was used on the guards at the border was also used on the guards here. Without a doubt,Fazil beig is behind this. The only problem is that a person from amongst us is his pawn and aide and we do not know who that it."