Near the centre of the desert Ayla became rebellious towards her captors. She vowed that she would escape as soon as she discovered she was to be forced to marry the king and be one of his wives. She would not allow herself to give in to this ‘evil king’
Zinna had always been the more gentle and less harsh thinking of the two of them, she insisted to her sister that he could be a good man. She slowly began to make friends with the soldiers, allowing them more freedoms. One night, Ayla was given the chance to escape. She stole a horse dark as night and rations to survive the desert. She came for her sister, expecting Zinna to be glad for the chance of escape.
But Zinna had learned to like the soldiers and their culture, however different from her own. And against her elder sisters will, she stayed. Ayla left in anger, disowning Zinna to be a mindless servant, and rode away in mourning for the loss of her sister.
Zinna continued to the city beyond the desert and married the king…