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The Lunja loved beauty and craftsmanship. If Hafsa was as beautiful as they said, she had a chance at this.
“Diyha, could you look for me?”
“There are better people out there.”
“Yes,” uncle Mehdi agreed with my mother, “And they are being advised, but I want to hear your opinion. Your eyes are as sharp as those of your grandmother. You’re descended from a Caid through your mother and her through her mother. That means something.”
I frowned but said nothing. I had no desire to get involved in this.
“I think I’ll go to bed.” I stood up. “It’s been a long day.”
“Yes, it has,” my mother said, her voice soft. “Get some rest.”
I nodded and left the room. But I didn’t go to bed. I went to my window and stared out at the city. The moon was high in the sky, and the streets were empty. I wondered what the girl who was going to be betrothed to the prince was doing right now. Was she asleep? Or was she awake like me, staring up at the moon and wondering what her future held?
∞∞∞
I had always loved the hustle and bustle of the city, but today it was especially invigorating. Rushing throughout the streets, dodging people as I went, I felt alive. The clacking of my shoes on the stones was a beat that kept me moving forward. Just in time, I reached my destination and gratefully took a seat on one of the arched benches.
Store lights illuminated the streets, and people rushed into the stores. Dryads darted from shop to shop, their laughter tinkling in the air. While Midarians scurried by with bags of goods.
A group of particularly boisterous Halflings staggered out of a restaurant, singing at the top of their lungs. They bumped into a young woman who was walking by and she dropped her bag. One of the Halflings stopped to help her pick up her things, and she smiled gratefully at him. It was moments like this that made me love Midar. There was always something happening, someone to meet, and somewhere to be.
The runes on the cobblestone in front of me turned blue, and I stood up. A small girl in a bright pink kaftan tried to cross the street, but her mother grabbed her by her shoulder just before she could rush away. I smiled at them both before turning my attention back to the runes. They were inactive for now, but I knew they’d be active again soon.
The sound of a loud pitched noise became louder and louder as the train came to a screeching halt in front of me. The train was made of shiny metal that reminded me of glass. It was smooth and curved, with no sharp edges. It floated slightly off the ground, with branches and leaves entwining around it. The windows were large and clear, and the inside was filled with light.
I sighed in relief, but it was short-lived. As soon as the train came to a stop, people disembarked, and the platform became crowded quickly. I weaved my way through the crowd and joined the line.
The attendant inside handed me a yellow ticket. “You are upstairs,” the lady absentmindedly noted as she welcomed the next passenger.
As I hurried up the stairs, I heard the attendant wish the new arrival a good morning.
The second level of the train was not as crowded, but it was still quite full. I found an empty seat next to a window and sat down. The train moved, and I watched as the city passed by in a blur. We went by so fast that the buildings were just a mass of colors and shapes.
I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes, letting the movement of the train lull me.
A moment later, an elderly couple entered the compartment. The woman sat down in the seat next to me, and her husband sat in the seat across from us. We exchanged brief smiles, and then I looked out the window as the city flew by.
The train clattered over the tracks, and I watched as the scenery changed from buildings to trees. The redwoods towered over us, their leaves rustling in the wind. A few moments later, we emerged from the trees and I glimpsed the ocean. The water was a deep blue, and the waves sparkled in the sunlight.
“Are you going to Setif?” the woman asked as she knitted.
I turned to her. “No, to the university. I work there.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Oh, how wonderful! What do you teach?”
“I’m not a teacher, but a part of the faculty. I make sure the teachers have what they need and that the students are behaving.”
The woman nodded her head in understanding. “That’s important work. Someone has to do it.”
“What about you, aunty?” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Where are you off to?”
“Setif,” she replied. “We’re going to visit my granddaughter in Setif. She recently got a job at the Al Kabyle Observatory.”
“Wow, that’s impressive. You must be so proud.”
The woman beamed. “I am. She’s very smart, just like my daughter.”
