The sun had reached its meridian. And the shadows were at their shortest lengths, to grow gradually as the sun slowly retreats from its zenith. It was noon. The busiest time of the day when the markets would be bustling with people buying, selling, showcasing goods, trading, or haggling over a price. The noise and the crowd were too much for Elyasa so he twisted and turned his body to make his way through the people. He was dressed in plain clothes so not to catch any unwanted attention. He was donned in a white robe and white turban with the end of it covering the bottom half of his face and wore a brown cloak to conceal his sword by his waist. He was grateful that he was able to slip out of the palace without any trouble. When he at last made his way out of the Market Square he gasped for air and was thankful to be free of that place, where he could barely move.

In the meantime he decided to wander the streets of the city until the market place settled. He walked on the dirt road amidst the mud brick houses with fa�ades of beautiful and intricate geometrical patterns, some of which were painted in turquoise, red or green. The houses ranged in size; most were small modest dwellings; others were two story buildings that housed an artisan shop at the main floor and a family on the upper floor. There were also, not far from the Market Square, Houses of Hospitality that accommodated mostly merchants from abroad.

As he walked further down the street, a little distance away from the market, Elyasa came to the great House of Congregation. A splendid house with a large open courtyard in its midst, it was a house open to all who wished to pray and meditate, or learn, or to meet other people, or to socialise quietly or just to relax. The doors were open and Elyasa caught glimpse of a circle of children listening attentively, seated around their teacher, a young woman, in the open inner courtyard. Elyasa took off his sandals and entered. He found in the dimly lit hall before the courtyard a small group of men sitting on the floor that was covered with red rugs, laughing and chatting quietly. Elyasa greeted them with peace and blessings as he passed by them and they returned his greetings heartily, all smiling broadly and with hands on their chests. Also, spread out in the hall, were several individuals meditating or reading on their own and Elyasa even noticed one man in the corner who decided to take a siesta. As he exited the hall, at one side of the inner courtyard of the House, Elyasa saw that the circle of children was not the only assembly. Here, there were all types of people young and old, men and women, of the different races that inhabited the Kingdom, seated underneath the shade of the awning listening to an old scholar, with the signs of wisdom as apparent as the wrinkles that withered his face, dressed in a large white turban with a red cap in its misdt and a long white robe, standing before them. Elyasa could not help but smile and leaned on the column beneath the archway. He stood there for a while and tried to listen to the lesson but could not make out the words from where he was and although he yearned to join them, he was short on time, so he left. Before leaving the House he dropped some money in the charity box at the door.

When he strolled through the streets he found that it was still busy and alive. Some women were carrying large vessels on their heads and he observed a few late merchants and artisans in haste hauling out of their houses their goods. Most of the people he guessed were headed to the market. Among the people, he noticed, a small girl hunched over carrying a huge heavy bundle over her shoulders. Every now and then the girl put the bundle down on the ground to rest and then heaved it up to her shoulders again with difficulty. Elyasa approached the girl.

�Let me help you with your burden� Elyasa offered.

The girl, who was of Chingis race, with somewhat tanned skin, a round face with high cheekbones and hair covered underneath a silk red veil, nodded shyly, �Thank you.� She replied.

Elyasa lifted the bundle up and was surprised, even he found it rather heavy. �You�re a strong young lady. Where are you taking this bundle?� he asked as he heaved it up to his shoulders.

�To the market. To sell� The girl replied bashfully, lowering her gaze.

Elyasa surprised at this, looked at the girl curiously. She looked no more than a couple years younger than Jem. �But you are a girl and too young to be working and lifting such heavy loads.�

�My father is a merchant. Lately he has fallen ill so he cannot work. My mother is pregnant and looking after my younger siblings, the cooking and housework. It is the least I could do for my family. We cannot afford not to work.� The girl explained.

Elyasa admired this girl. He put the bundle on the ground. �Give me an estimate of how much you expect to make today?�

The girl looked up at him bewildered. � I cannot say. It all depends.�

�On average how much do you make, roughly?� Elyasa phrased his question differently to help the girl.

The girl shook her head, �I don�t know. Each day differs greatly from the other. Some days we do not make any sales and other days we do well.�

�What is the most you have made in one day, then?� Elyasa asked again hoping the girl could answer this question.

�The most we�ve made in one day.� The girl repeated to herself and she thought about it for a while. "Two gold coins, four silvers and seven coppers. But that was only once. We usually make much less than that.�

Elyasa put his hand in his cloak and pulled out a small sac from his pocket. �Here then, take this.� And he handed the sac to the girl.

The girl felt the sac, �What�s this?� She shook it and heard the ringing sound of coins then she opened it and looked into it. She looked up at Elyasa, still bewildered. �I thank you but I cannot take this from you. What you have given me is much more than what our silks are worth.� She said and she handed the sac back to Elyasa.

Elyasa shook his head and smiled. �I will not take it back.� He lifted the heavy bundle to his shoulders. �Now tell me which way is your home so I may carry this bundle back.�

�But it�s yours. Did you not just buy it from me?� The girl asked puzzled.

Elyasa could not help but laugh. He shook his head again, �I have no need of these silks, dear child. It�s yours. I do not wish for you to toil in the market place. Take it as a gift from me. Now show me the way to your home. This burden is heavy.�

The girl opened her mouth to protest, �But..�

Elyasa cut her off, �I am not used to being disobeyed.� He said giving her a menacing smile.

The girl relented, with her gaze downcast, she smiled back at him, �I thank you again kind stranger.�

On their way to her home they did not speak. Although Elyasa wished to know more about this girl he refrained from asking her any questions not wanting to impose on her and also fearing that she would suspect in him some ill intentions. When they reached her home Elyasa lost no time in handing the bundle over to her. �Send my best wishes to your father. I must be on my way.� He said.

�Kind gentleman I thank you again for your generosity. Will you not come in.� The girl offered.

�Unfortunately I cannot I must be on my way.� Elyasa said regretfully.

�Will you come and visit us some other time?� The girl asked eagerly.

�By the Will of the All Knowing, I will try. Peace be with you.� He said bowing his head and he turned around to leave.

�Peace be with you as well. Thank you again.� The girl replied. �Wait!� She called after him suddenly remembering something. �I forgot to ask your name.�

Elyasa turned around.

�If you do not mind I wish to know who you are.� The girl continued timidly.

�I prefer to remain nameless.� Elyasa smiled. �Who I am? I am but a wanderer, seeking that which will help me serve better. With peace.� And he turned and walked away again.

As he moved in deeper within the market he noticed a group of people huddled around one stall and wondered what was so special about this stall to entice so many people. As he moved closer Elyasa realised that it was not merchandise people were seeking but rather an argument had caught their attention. He heard the voices of men shouting but he could not make out what they were saying as others in the huddle were heckling at one man or the other. Elyasa gently pulled a young man aside from the crowd.

�Friend, can you please tell me what is the matter here?� Elyasa asked the young man.

�They�re arguing about the king.� The man answered.

Elyasa was taken aback for a moment, �What about the king?� he asked eagerly.

�That burly man, Uzun Zatu, he�s a merchant that works with Razal Ochin, believes rumours that King Elyasa poisoned his father to become king while the other, who I do not know, argues against him.�

Elyasa was stunned. His face grew hot. He could not believe it. How could anyone accuse him of such a horrendous act? Never in his life would he even conceive such an idea. The blood boiled up within him. He felt like pushing his way through the crowd and confronting the man. But whatever reason he had left, yet untouched by the roaring fury, warned otherwise. If he confronted the man he risked revealing his identity which would not be wise. He heeded reason and walked away from the market in a fit of anger.

When he reached the palace he walked briskly passed everyone without a word, not even smiling or nodding. Only Salih, concerned about the young man, dared to follow him to the garden. Elyasa ripped the turban off his head and threw it on the ground. He did likewise with his cloak. He looked vigorously around the garden for something to stike with his sword. But when he found nothing that could endure his wrath he paced back and forth utterly frustrated muttering to himself, like a madman.

�Fools! �Unthinkable! � Never! � Never! Never!� was all Salih could make out of Elyasa�s incoherent ramblings.

�Elyasa my son, what ever is the matter?� Salih asked befuddled and extremely worried, for he had never seen Elyasa so upset.

Elyasa ignored Salih as if he wasn�t there and continued pacing around the garden, silent.

Salih did not venture to speak for a while but thought it wise to wait until Elyasa�s anger subsided somewhat before he spoke to the young man again.

�Elyasa will you not sit down? Sit down my son to soothe your anger and tell me what is the matter.� Salih said when he judged the time was right.

Elyasa obeyed and sat down on a chair. He buried his head in his hands as he usually did when he was stressed.

�Now my son, tell me what is upsetting you.� Salih said gently.

Elyasa sighed and looked up at Salih. �Dear, respected father of Luqman, I wish to be alone. I am not feeling well. Do not let anyone disturb me for the remainder of the day.�

�As you wish my son.� Salih replied still confused and concerned.

Elyasa got up, gathered his turban and cloak from the ground, headed to his personal chamber and locked himself in. He sank to the floor and covered his face in agony. He spoke in the darkness of his hands.

�Glory be to You who knows what is secret and what is even more hidden. The All Aware, The Hearer of All, The Seer of All, The Just, The Judge, The Truth, The Merciful, The Forgiving, The Compassionate. I ask You by every name belonging to You, ease my pain. You know what people do not. I am guiltless in thought and deed. Wipe suspicion away from the minds of my people for I cannot govern them if they doubt me.�