“Honestly, if this is the way he wishes to travel, so be it,” Vor said. “I’ve spent the last fourteen years imprisoned and nearly died before I found freedom. If my beautiful mate wants to travel in style, I won’t judge him for it. I’ll simply be grateful to be at his side.”
Shen sat up and eyed Vor and then Snow. “He’s right. I’m sorry I chuckled. I’m just not accustomed to traveling in that way. It was simply Hwa and I walking from town to town, singing for our supper, and relying on the kindness of strangers on a rainy night when we couldn’t sleep under the stars.” He eyed Snow. “Will we have grand tents as large as a palace with furniture and carpets to cover the sandy terrain in Ifriqiya?”
“Perhaps not palace-sized,” Snow said. “But how about cottage-sized?”
Shen smiled. “Ithinkthat might be large enough.”
Epilogue
Deep in the vast desert of North Ifriqiya…
Snow White pushed open the flaps on their tent, squinting against the burning sun above. He waddled towards the small oasis they’d camped beside and knelt at the edge of it, under the shade of a massive palm tree. Their guide told them the water there came from a deep underground aquifer and was of the best quality. After sliding his hands under the cool water, he lifted them to his lips and drank, sighing at the clean taste.
Vor had claimed it tasted salty, but Snow didn’t taste that at all. For most of his last pregnancy and this one, he’d craved salt the entire time, so perhaps that was why it tasted so incredible to him. He lifted another palmful to his lips before lying in the soft grasses growing amid the sands of the desert.
A bellowing goat awoke him from a nap he’d not even realized he’d taken. He opened his eyes, face-to-face with said goat. Sitting up, he smiled at the young, chuckling boy who was a partof the tribe who lived along that small oasis. When he eyed the boy, he thought he saw bits of his papa, and it made him smile.
The boy spoke to him in the local language Snow knew little of. He was learning and getting better every day, but the boy’s rapid words made it hard for him to keep up.
“Aibti,”Snow said, repeating it a few times when the boy charged ahead without slowing.“Aibti.”
Slow down. Slow down.
The boy shook his head and giggled, no longer speaking at all. He walked closer and stopped directly in front of Snow. He lifted a hand and gently caressed the side of Snow’s face. After he was done, he opened his hand. Resting on his palm was a small diamond.
“That’slovely,”Snow murmured, smiling at the boy. He lifted his hand and used his fingertip to turn it from side to side. Along one side were sand crystals stuck along it, but most was crystal clear and stunningly beautiful.
“For you,” the boy said, his accent heavy. He dropped the gem into Snow’s hand and backed away.
“No, no,”Snow said, trying to hand it back, but the boy ran away, turning to wave and smile at him. His goat remained behind, too interested in drinking to notice his master was gone.
Snow forced himself to his feet, which was hard at such a late stage in his pregnancy. He didn’t want the boy to give away such a precious treasure. “Come back,” he called, urging the boy to return with a wave of his hand.
“Don’t return his gift,” one of Snow’s newest Guardsmen said, his heavy French accent belying his Ifriqiyan heritage. “It would be a dishonor.”
Snow hadn’t noticed the man standing so close. He turned to fully eye his newest Guard, a bit shocked to notice how much they resembled one another. The Guard’s tight curls were much shorter, and his eyes were hazel, not blue, but the similarity was rather striking in Snow’s opinion. He stood for a moment, trying to remember what the captain of his Guard had told him about the man. Born in North Ifriqiya but schooled in Tavaria and Francia. Snow hadn’t yet spoken with the man, but he was suddenly curious. A conversation of sorts was overdue. He wandered closer, remaining far enough away to remain in the shadows of the massive palms. “I can’t take something this precious from him. It’s a diamond.”
“Adesertdiamond. They’re not true diamonds, but quartz created by the weight of the shifting sands. The dunes near here are rife with them. He likely has a pocket full, so have no worries about keeping one.”
“You’re sure?” Snow asked, frowning.
“Positive,”the Guard said.
“Did you hear any of what he said to me?” Snow asked. “I couldn’t keep up.”
“His chieftain told the tribe last night that your ancestors come from this desert—and that you will someday be a king in Germania. The boy wanted to give you a diamond for your crown.” The Guard smiled to himself. “He also said you were the most beautiful omega he’s ever seen and understands why the gods chose you to be a king.”
Snow blushed. “Looks have nothing to do with my ascension. Nor does ability to rule, for that matter. I just happened to have the right parents. Luck led me there.”
“Fate led you to where you are,” the Guard corrected. “The fact you are curious of your ancestry and came here to learn more gives these people hope. The kings from your part of the world have not always been kind to those who live in Ifriqiya. Perhapsyouwill do better.”
“I hope to,” Snow said. He opened his palm and turned the small desert diamond over a few times, smiling at the thoughtfulness of the boy’s gift. He lifted his gaze and saw the boy peeking from one of the tents across the oasis. He waved and smiled.“Shukran!”
Snow searched his brain for what to say after ‘thank you’. He eyed the Guard. “How do I say, ‘I will treasure this gift always’?”
“Sa-a-tazzu bi-ha-tha da-i-man,”the Guard replied.
Snow repeated the phrase once for the Guard. After he got a nod, Snow turned and called out to the boy, adding a bow when he was done. The boy stepped out of the tent, beaming, and returned the bow. After the boy disappeared back inside the tent, Snow turned to the Guard.
