In the shadow of Mount Bidād, Kiadiv, who had transformed into one of the most terrifying and formidable of his kind in just a few months, rose to his feet. The first group of demons, who had heard his thunderous call, had finally reached him after weeks of traveling in secrecy. The moment they laid eyes on his grotesque and monstrous form, they dropped to one knee and struck their fists against the ground in a sign of reverence.
Any creature would smile upon seeing its allies—but not Kiadiv. His voice rumbled with fury as he commanded, “Rest for a while. Once the rest of the tribe arrives, we will begin our march.”
At that very moment, a unit of soldiers from the city of Zar, who had been sent to investigate the rumors surrounding Mount Bidād, arrived at the scene. Upon hearing the guttural voices of the demons, they took cover, pressing themselves against the rocks. But when their eyes finally caught sight of the creatures, they froze in terror. They could not believe that beings of such monstrous proportions could truly exist.
One of the soldiers, unable to contain his fear, turned to flee. That was all it took for Kiadiv to notice them.
With only a few powerful strides, he reached them. The soldiers, paralyzed by sheer dread, could do nothing but let out a desperate scream—before silence fell over the land once more. Kiadeo had crushed all twenty of them with a single strike of his fist. As if they had never existed at all.
The lone survivor, the one who had begun his escape moments earlier, witnessed the horror unfold. He whipped his horse mercilessly, urging it to go faster.
"Stop him!" one of the demons growled. "He’ll escape!"
But Kiadiv, with a wicked glint in his eye, merely smiled and said, "Let him go… My kind do not fight dishonorably. We will give them the chance to stand and face us."
The forests surrounding Mount Bidād were withering, the creeping darkness swallowing them whole. It was as if the spirit of nature itself had abandoned the land. In the distant villages, whispers of dread spread among the people. Thunder rumbled where there were no storms, and the nights grew darker than ever before. The villagers spoke in hushed tones of an ancient terror returning—a curse, long forgotten, now awakening once more.
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FORTRESS OF THE SUNOld Tahmasb, King Bahram’s advisor, was deep in conversation with Esfandiar, the court’s other counselor, within the palace’s astronomy chamber. Esfandiar was carefully adjusting his astrolabe, observing the stars through the domed ceiling above.
Tahmasb sighed and asked, “Have you found nothing yet? Princess Samin still experiences the same visions. I don’t know how to reassure her. She waits for more answers about the Farr of the forest, but I, too, have reached a dead end. Every clue leads back to that single book I read in the library of Zar—nothing but a collection of records on the incurable madmen of the realm. I’m beginning to doubt the Farr myself… What if the princess truly has gone mad? The king and the desert queen…”
Before he could finish, Ardeshir interrupted with a sharp breath. "Woe upon us… May the gods have mercy."
Tahmasb hurried to his side, glancing between the astrolabe and the sky. He struggled to understand what had caused such alarm. No matter how many questions he asked, Ardeshir remained silent, his mind lost among the stars. Finally, in a hushed voice, he whispered, “Antares… I cannot see Antares… The guardian star of the western lands—it’s gone.”
Tahmasb stiffened, grasping the weight of his words. “How is that possible? A star of such magnitude cannot simply vanish. Stars do not extinguish… Ardeshir, look again.”
Ardeshir snapped at him in frustration. “Do you take me for a fool? I have searched every sphere of the heavens! I’ve scanned from west to east, and yet Antares is not there. Tahmasb… this has happened only once before.”
His voice grew lower, more grave. “I once read in the palace archives that five hundred years ago, when Balis, the leader of the demon tribes, waged war against mankind, the star Aldebaran disappeared. No astrologer could find it. Even when the war between the demon clans escalated, and humans interfered—leading to the near annihilation of both factions—the star remained unseen. Since then, many believe that Balis survived and escaped into hiding. But look.”
Ardeshir raised his hands, tracing two constellations against the sky. “See? Aldebaran has fully returned to its place… but now Antares is gone. Who will save us now, Tahmasb? The western guardian is no more, and the gods have turned their backs on us!”
Tahmasb’s heart pounded. A thousand thoughts rushed through his mind as he paced anxiously. "We must help Princess Samin. If what she says is true, she might be the key to saving the realm."
Ardeshir pressed his fingers against his temples, nodding grimly in agreement. His grip faltered, and with a hollow thud, the astrolabe slipped from his hands and crashed onto the floor.
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City of Zar
Far beyond the Fortress of the Sun, Princess Sophia, who had discovered her father’s role in arranging her acquaintance with the Sheikh, packed her belongings in the dead of night. She made her way to the handmaidens’ quarters, quietly waking her trusted servant, Rana, and summoning her to her chambers. As soon as Rana arrived, Sophia broke into tears and embraced her. She recounted everything—the conversations she had overheard while hiding in her father’s private chamber, the scheme devised by the great King Nima to secure the realm. Rana listened attentively, the sorrow evident on her face. Once Sophia had regained her composure, Rana hesitantly asked, "Are you sure running away is the right choice? You barely know the Sheikh… Perhaps staying in the City of Zar and ending this relationship is the wisest decision!"
With a trembling voice, the princess responded, "I cannot stay here for a moment longer. My father has literally traded me to protect his throne. And my mother, Shirin, shows me not even the slightest affection or love. She only cares for my brothers, who are lost in their own indulgences. I must leave… The Sheikh will protect me. I have no doubt about that!"
She picked up her belongings and threw on a cloak. Rana, who had always stood by her side and loved her like a sister, quickly gathered a few peasant garments and followed. Their plan was to escape the palace unnoticed, steal two horses from the stables, and head towards Seacity. Their destination was clear—the Red Dominion. A place where Princess Sophia believed she would finally feel safe.
As they were about to leave the main hall, they spotted two patrolling guards. Quickly, they took cover. The guards were speaking in hushed tones:
“I hope nothing terrible happens… Everything is falling apart day by day. If the attacks on the Sunfortress’s ships are truly the work of the Red Dominion… another war is inevitable.”
“Would that be so bad? I’d love to see the head of a few filthy Reds on a spear, parading them through the city… Nothing impresses women more than slaughtering a few of those savages! I once visited a brothel and saw General Ashkbos there. The moment he spoke of killing Reds on the border, the women flocked to him without hesitation!”
“Oh, shut up… How do you even know you’ll survive to parade your spear? It’s always been the same… Politicians start wars, and fools like you fight them, driven by empty hopes—mostly fueled by lust. Meanwhile, children become orphans, and women widows…”
The first guard, irritated by the lecture, left to relieve himself, while the second remained. Just as he stood in silence, he heard something fall. Sophia, weary from staying still, had shifted her footing, causing her shoe to make a sound. The guard stepped forward, his eyes locking onto the princess and Rana. Sophia froze in terror. Before the guard could call for help, a dagger flew to his throat. With a gruesome gurgle, he collapsed, drowning in his own blood. Sophia was paralyzed with fear, but Rana quickly dragged the corpse behind a row of vases, dusting off her clothes as she concealed three more knives. Sophia gasped, her eyes fixed on the bloody wound, watching the soldier’s futile struggle for air. Her heart pounded wildly, but before she could scream, Rana grabbed her hand and whispered, "Move!"
They swiftly stole two horses and rode into the night.
Less than an hour later, as dawn broke, a handmaiden entered Princess Sophia’s chambers to wake her. Noticing her absence, she immediately alerted the guards, who then reported to the king. Soldiers soon discovered the slain guard, spreading further alarm. King Nima rushed to his daughter’s room, his mind immediately jumping to the possibility of her abduction. Gathering his nearest commanders, he ordered a citywide search, threatening execution for failure. Enraged, he stormed into his private chambers and summoned Siamak the Wise.
“Which bastard dares defile my honor in this way?” the king roared. “Call upon the outlaws and informants! Use every resource of the kingdom! If Sophia isn’t found within the hour, I will have every last guard beheaded!”
Siamak, pale with fear, knew the king’s wrath was not to be taken lightly. He attempted to calm him. “My lord, please, remain calm. The best commanders are searching, and we will soon have results. But who would dare commit such an act? You have had no known enemies; the people have been content and more loyal than ever. Do you suspect anyone?”
The king pondered briefly before overturning a table in fury and striking the wall with his fist. “Have you forgotten the attacks on the Sunfortress’s ships? I warned that we needed to investigate sooner… Perhaps King Bahram believes we are behind it! The entire kingdom expected the seas to be safe after my treaty with the Sheikh… I am certain this is connected! Bahram must think I conspired with the Sheikh to raid their wealth!”
Siamak was deep in thought. The king’s words held weight, but there was no sign of a kidnapping. Yet, there was also no reason for the princess to leave voluntarily. As far as Siamak knew, Sophia had been content and had no reason to take such a drastic risk.
The king’s furious voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “Why are you silent? Speak, or get out of my sight! I swear by the gods, if anything happens to my daughter, I will make sure you never speak again!”
Siamak trembled, knowing King Nima never made idle threats. “My life is yours, my lord… Please, remain calm. If you wish, let us summon that wretched handmaiden, Rana. She is always whispering among the girls and might know who took the princess!”
The king stormed out of the room, and Siamak followed closely. They interrogated the handmaidens and kitchen staff, but none had seen Rana. One of the servants mentioned that Rana often spent her free time in the palace garden. When they arrived, they saw a tree that had burned horribly the previous day. None of the woodcutters had been able to remove the charred corpse attached to it.
The king growled in frustration and split up from Siamak to continue the search. Siamak wandered to the far end of the garden but saw no sign of Rana. Just as he was about to turn back, he heard a strange sound—a whispering voice.
"Darkness… near… Sunborn… Darkness… Where is the Sunborn?"
His legs trembled as he stepped closer to the burnt tree. The voice seemed to come from within. As he leaned in, a charred hand suddenly moved, locking around his wrist. Siamak screamed in terror, and several soldiers, along with the king, rushed toward him. Before they could reach him, the corpse’s head twisted towards him, revealing glowing red eyes. The lifeless body had transformed into something monstrous.
It whispered a single word: "Mared."
A hideous cackle echoed from the burnt body. Siamak shrieked in agony as the grip tightened. The king, upon hearing the name "Mared," was consumed with rage. Drawing his sword, he rushed forward to sever the corpse’s hand. But at the last moment, the body pulled Siamak closer, and the strike instead severed Siamak’s entire left arm from the shoulder down! Blood gushed, and the soldiers recoiled in horror. Siamak writhed in pain, his face pale as death.
The corpse, having played its role, finally released the tree and crumbled into ashes.
The soldiers quickly carried Siamak away to the royal physician, hoping to stop the bleeding before it was too late.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
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Daryashahr
Several weeks had passed since the disappearance of the ships from the Fortress of the Sun. Ashkbos, the commander of the Fortress of the Sun's army, along with Ardashir, King Bahram's advisor, and several other commanders and soldiers, arrived in Daryashahr. Following King Bahram's orders, they headed straight to the docks and began their investigation. The atmosphere at the docks was heavy. Fishermen and merchants eyed Ashkbos and his group with suspicion, but no one dared approach them. Ashkbos, with his sharp eyes, paused briefly on each face. He was a man who understood silence better than anything else—and Daryashahr was far too quiet. Ardashir stepped forward and said firmly, "We are here for the truth, not to start a war. If anyone knows anything about the ships of the Fortress of the Sun, speak now."
A few sailors, their clothes still white with sea salt, exchanged glances. One of them, a man with a salt-and-pepper beard and a sunburnt face, finally took a deep breath and stepped forward. "We're just fishermen and traders, sir... but that night, we saw something that didn’t look like any ordinary attack." Ashkbos narrowed his eyes. "What did you see?"
The man swallowed hard and continued in a shaky voice, "The ships were on fire, but not from fire arrows! It was as if something had set them ablaze from beneath the water. The fish went wild, as if the sea itself had turned angry. And then..." He paused, as if summoning the courage to continue.
"And then what?" Ardashir asked impatiently. The man pointed toward the sea and said quietly, "That night... I saw shadows walking on the water." A heavy silence fell over the group. Some of the soldiers smirked, but Ashkbos didn’t take his eyes off the sea. "Shadows walking on the water..." he muttered under his breath. Ashkbos asked, "Are you sure?" The man nodded firmly. "By the gods, they weren’t human." Ardashir glanced at Ashkbos. "This is nonsense. It could have been pirates."
But Ashkbos, who always paid attention to unusual signs, simply said, "If this is true, then we’re not dealing with an ordinary war." The sea was calm, but the air in Daryashahr felt unnaturally heavy...
One of the other commanders approached Ashkbos and said in a gruff tone, "Commander Ashkbos! Everyone believes this attack came from the Crimson Realm... Why are you entertaining these absurdities? The Supreme King must have authorized this. Surely, when the peace treaty was signed, the Sheikh made several demands, including permission to plunder the Fortress of the Sun, and the King agreed. We’ve known about the savagery of those nomads for years, and listening to these delusions is a complete mistake!"
Ashkbos replied irritably, "Quiet! Don’t you know that slandering the royal family is treason? You’ll lose your head! We’re here to uncover the truth. Listening to the people is a crucial part of the investigation. If this lead doesn’t yield anything, we’ll follow other clues. Go and rest at an inn. We’ll be staying here for a few weeks!"
The merchants of Daryashahr, hearing this news, quickly began attracting customers and selling their goods to the soldiers. Some of the commanders headed to the local brothel to spend the night. Ashkbos and Ardashir walked to the edge of the dock and stared out at the vast gulf. Ardashir said quietly, "What do you think? Are ghostly shadows more logical, or is it the barbarians of the Crimson Realm? Ashkbos... you know as well as I do that these tales of ghosts and demons are just stories mothers tell to scare their children. Why are we wasting our time like this? If there’s even the slightest clue left about this conspiracy, it’s slipping away with every passing moment!"
Ardashir, noticing Ashkbos's impatience, decided to leave him alone. After he left, Ashkbos's attention was drawn to a nearby boat. Two girls in cloaks and veiled faces were haggling with a captain to take them to the Crimson Realm. One of the girls pulled out a pouch of coins from under her cloak—a silk pouch embroidered with several red rubies. A pouch like that was something only nobles could afford, far beyond the means of ordinary folk. Ashkbos grew suspicious and approached. He grabbed the girl’s arm, startling both of them.
Sophia, who after days of fleeing was finally within reach of this cursed realm, felt her hopes shatter. Commander Ashkbos had spent a long time in the City of Zar with King Bahram, and out of familiarity, Sophia used to call him "Uncle." The moment their eyes met, Ashkbos recognized her. A thousand questions flooded his mind. Sophia, the princess of the City of Zar, the capital of the Azharian Realm, was here in Daryashahr, disguised and in a state of distress. This was virtually impossible unless there was an extremely important and urgent reason. Making sure Ardashir and the other commanders weren’t around, he angrily pulled Sophia aside to talk: "What are you doing here? What’s with this state? You’re the princess of this land! What business do you have in the Crimson Realm, Sophia? Haven’t you heard that just a few weeks ago, they destroyed all the ships of the Fortress of the Sun? Right now, this gulf is more dangerous than anywhere else!"
Sophia, who had started crying and was struggling to catch her breath, pleaded, "I swear by the gods, let me go... If my father finds me, he’ll have my blood! Ashkbos... there are things you don’t know... I have no place in this realm. I must go to my beloved... I beg you, don’t stop me!" Ashkbos, his heart breaking at the sight of Sophia’s tears, pulled her into an embrace. The first time they had met, Sophia was only nine years old—a playful, sociable girl. Everyone loved her, and now, her face was filled with indescribable sorrow. After comforting her for a while, he asked her to stay the night. They would talk, and in the morning, Ashkbos would find a safe ship to take the princess to the Crimson Realm.
It grew dark. Sophia, Rana, and Ashkbos went to a quiet inn near the docks to spend the night. After Rana and Sophia cleaned up and changed their clothes, they sat around a small table in the room. Ashkbos prepared several dishes, and as they ate dinner, they began to talk.
Sophia told Ashkbos everything. She had no choice. Either she trusted him, or Ashkbos would undoubtedly return her to her father’s palace. When the conversation turned to the secret discussions between the Supreme King and Siamak the Wise about the demons, Rana recounted the story of the woman who had burned in the royal garden. She repeated the woman’s strange words. Ashkbos paled. His hands grew cold, and he replayed all the events in his mind... Darkness was approaching... and it was becoming more evident with every passing moment.
When the conversation ended, all three fell silent. In Ashkbos's mind, countless questions swirled: "Did the Supreme King really sell his daughter so easily? What do these recent events mean? Who destroyed the ships of the Fortress of the Sun? If Sophia’s words are true and that filthy old man really loves her, he wouldn’t allow an attack on the ships. That could cause countless conflicts between him and the Supreme King..." He turned to Sophia and said, "You shouldn’t go there... the gulf isn’t safe! Tomorrow, I’ll leave the investigation to Ardashir and come with you. We’ll go to the Fortress of the Sun together. King Bahram needs to know about these events. I promise no word will reach your father, and you can stay there in peace for as long as you want. Who knows what that wretched Sheikh is plotting? You’re young, and you think you’re in love... but going there right now is not in your best interest!"
Rana, who had been silent, nodded in agreement. She too knew that going to the Crimson Realm was a mistake, and this was the best solution to bring some peace to Princess Sophia for the time being. The girl, her tears streaming down her face, felt the weight of heartbreak once again. Rana continued to explain the advantages of this choice to Sophia and finally convinced her to go along with it.
Late into the night, Sophia and Rana went to bed, while Ashkbos lay on the floor in a corner, resting his head on his armor, and fell asleep.
A few hours later, all three were awakened by shouts and screams coming from the docks. Ashkbos looked out the window and paled. A large number of soldiers and commanders were beating and interrogating sailors. Their golden armor, helmets, and banners could only mean one thing—the City of Zar! The army that the Supreme King had sent earlier to investigate the attack on the ships of the Fortress of the Sun had finally arrived. It was a small but powerful force, and they had already ruthlessly killed several sailors for refusing to cooperate, driving spears through their throats. Meanwhile, some soldiers and commanders had commandeered a ship and taken several sailors hostage, forcing them to reveal the trade route of the Fortress of the Sun. This was clear proof that the Supreme King had no involvement in the attack on the ships, but now the situation had changed. Ashkbos's priority was to save Princess Sophia from her father, and at any moment, the soldiers could find her and take her back to the City of Zar.
Ashkbos told Sophia and Rana to stay put and quickly left the inn. He met with the commander of Daryashahr, thanked him for the investigation, and paid his respects. Then, he hurried to Ardashir's quarters. When he arrived, several half-naked prostitutes were leaving the room, clutching their clothes. Ashkbos entered, and Ardashir shouted, "What's going on? I heard the commotion. I'm just changing!" Ashkbos, still catching his breath, said in a broken voice, "The City of Zar... they've sent an army to investigate the attack... There's nothing more we can do... You take charge of our soldiers. They'll leave soon, and you can continue the investigation. I need to return to the Fortress of the Sun... I have an important mission." Ardashir protested, shouting that Ashkbos shouldn't leave them in this situation. But before Ardashir could finish, Ashkbos left the room and quickly made his way back to the inn by the docks.
Princess Sophia and Rana had packed their belongings, their faces fully covered. They quickly followed Ashkbos through the alleys of Daryashahr. Suddenly, someone called out from behind, "Hey... Commander! Finally, we found you!" Ashkbos turned around, his legs trembling. The voice was familiar. One of the commanders from the City of Zar, with whom he had fought side by side against the Faras army, stood there smiling. He approached and hugged Ashkbos. After exchanging greetings, his gaze fell on the girls beside him: "I see you're having a good time! Which brothel did you pick them from? I could have found you the best in the city. They look good... Take off your veils, let me see your faces!" Rana and Sophia were terrified. Ashkbos stepped forward and said, "We're in a hurry... We'll talk later!" The commander stepped closer, still smiling. "You're too eager, Ashkbos... I just want to make sure you've chosen well. Daryashahr is full of ugly prostitutes who hide themselves to cheat their customers..." He reached for Rana's veil, and Rana, who had prepared a knife in advance, raised her hand. The commander, quick on his feet, dodged, and the knife grazed his arm. He screamed and kicked Rana into the wall, delivering several more kicks to her side before turning back to Ashkbos. He froze for a moment, then dropped to his knees.
Ashkbos had driven his sword into the commander's left eye. He pushed harder, and blood gushed onto the ground. As the commander fell with the sword in his eye, the children who had been chatting in the alley fled. Sophia stood frozen in place. Just a short while ago, her biggest concern had been finding the most beautiful jewels, and now, in less than a few weeks, she had witnessed two horrific murders. She stared in horror at the blood pouring from the commander's eye. His body twitched occasionally, as if he were still dying. Ashkbos ran to Rana and helped her up. At that moment, Sophia, completely exhausted, collapsed next to the corpse. She tried to stop the bleeding with her hands and finally pulled the sword from his eye. The sound of shouting drew their attention to the other end of the alley. Several soldiers and commanders were rushing toward them. The children had spread the news of the murder.
Seeing the sword in Princess Sophia's hands, the soldiers assumed she was the murderer—a deranged commoner—and moved to arrest her. Ashkbos stepped forward, ready to reveal the truth about Sophia to save her, but Rana grabbed Sophia's hands, and they fled. Before Ashkbos could explain, the soldiers chased after them. In the maze of the city, the two girls managed to lose their pursuers and, in a corner, changed into their last set of clothes and veils to avoid being recognized.
Ashkbos could do nothing. He had lost them too. He knew that if he told anyone the truth, he might be arrested for hiding the king's daughter. So, he rejoined the army of the Fortress of the Sun and explained to Ardashir that he had postponed his mission and would stay for now. Night was falling. Ashkbos was worried about Sophia and searched everywhere, but there was no sign of the girls. At the request of one of the commanders of Daryashahr, a meeting was held by the docks to share findings between the armies of Daryashahr and the Fortress of the Sun. As Ashkbos was explaining, his gaze fell on the docks. Rana and Sophia, still veiled, were negotiating with the same captain from the day before. This time, there was nothing Ashkbos could do. Sophia's eyes met his. With deep sorrow, she waved at him and boarded the boat. Ashkbos was forced to watch as an innocent girl was sent to an unknown land. He had done everything he could, but fate had other plans. As he continued the meeting, his gaze kept drifting to the gulf, watching the boat grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared from sight.
Meanwhile, in the west of the Azharian Realm, King Bahram's palace was completely silent. The courtiers were asleep, and no one knew what had just happened. Princess Samin, King Bahram's daughter, woke up in terror. Instead of her colorful room, everything was dark and terrifying. She found herself in an unknown forest. Paralyzed with fear, she couldn't stand. The last thing she remembered was her mother's kisses and falling asleep in her own bed. She heard footsteps. Behind the bushes to her right, several glowing green eyes stared at her. The footsteps grew closer from the other side. When she turned, she saw the same strange creature she had seen several times outside her window. It was so tall that she could only see its legs. When she looked up, she saw its upper body—human-like but without a head or neck. Its eyes were on its torso, and its mouth stretched several meters wide. Though it wasn't bulky or muscular, its height rivaled the trees. Despite its strangeness, Samin felt no fear. It was as if she trusted it. Even when she felt it beside her, all her fear of the forest and the creatures behind the bushes vanished.
Moments later, a woman appeared from behind the creature. Samin stared at her. In all her years, she had never seen anyone so beautiful. When the woman stood before her, it was as if the grass around her came back to life. Her strange eyes, glowing green, were mesmerizing. She wore a long black dress, her hair reaching the ground. When she spoke, everything fell silent.
"It seems you're not responding to my friends' requests... How many times must they come to you for help? Believe me, if there were another way, I would never trouble a sweet girl like you."
Samin swallowed hard. She stood up and spoke softly, "Who... who are you? Where is this?" The woman stroked Samin's hair, smiled, and replied, "You can call me Mother... Mother of these creatures... Mother of the entire forest. If you'd like to call me by name, I am Setayesh!" Samin felt a strange mix of fear and calm. She still couldn't process what was happening when Setayesh spoke again: "Samin... I know this is hard for you. But you have been chosen... You are our only link to the people now... I know it's hard to believe, and others may not believe you. But the situation is critical. All my people near Mount Bidar have been destroyed. None of us can return alive from there, so we don't know what's happening... But the darkness is spreading moment by moment. If I can't protect the land of the forest folk, we will all perish. Do you know how many thousands of years they've entrusted their lives to me? After all this time, for the first time, I am asking for help from you humans... Even hundreds of years ago, when the war between the demons began and Belis, the leader of one of their tribes, rose against humans, the darkness never reached us. It's as if everything is being destroyed... We must find out what threatens us so we can fight back..."
Setayesh, the Mother of Nature, squeezed Samin's hands. With tears in her eyes, she said, "Please, Samin... We have little time... Do your best... You could be the savior of us all..." Before Samin could respond, everything blurred, and she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was lying in front of the palace gates. The courtiers, including Tahmaseb the Elder, were calling her name. No one knew what had happened. But Samin, more determined than ever, stood up. She had to find the answer, no matter what... even if Tahmaseb couldn't help her!
