Two motorcars drove away leaving the last one to wait for the occupant who had not yet arrived. When Korban finally appeared, she stepped forward to witness his departure. As if sensing her interest, he turned and caught her gaze, holding it until she pulled away, breathless and shaken. Not until the sound of his motorcar abated in the distance, could she look again into the empty yard. Korban was gone, but even now another motorcar moved to take its place. This one was meant for her. It seemed she was poised on the edge of a cliff and the only way down was to jump. She smoothed the silken folds of her shimmering dress. Korban made sure she would be returned to the king dressed in the finery he would expect. The blue-black color was the king’s favorite and suited her feeling of doom. To his credit, Korban dazzled her with his efforts. Tiny black feathers were incorporated subtly into the material of the cloth, giving the effect of an exotic bird.
