Heroine Of The Slaves - Tumblr Posts

Heroine of the slaves - Song of fire and sand "in the meadow of hope many fools graze"

Warning:

Mention of death and blood

Hope does not always have to be an individual's conviction that something will turn out well. Rather, it seems to be the certainty that everything makes some kind of sense. But sometimes people are also afraid to hope and for Kayra, after Atropathene, hope is like a strong pull that holds her tight and does not want to let her go. A grip against which she tries to fight with all her might. But perhaps it is hope that keeps her fighting for a better future, and some dawns can bring surprising insights and visitors. 

The smell of blood and burnt wood was in the air, the screams of the villagers echoed across the small market place in the middle of the village. No one had heard the bandits coming. Silently they had crept up to the village, under the cover of the forest. Women and children screamed, the men tried to defend themselves with what they had against the intruders. But the bandits were more experienced, better equipped and more brutal.

The farmers' shovels, hooks and pitchforks were made for working in the fields, not for defending themselves. One by one, they were cut down by the arrows and sword strokes of the attackers. The crying of the children and the pleading of the women increased. Some of them were taken into the forest, others were slaughtered in their homes or burnt alive. The acrid stench of death hung over the entire village. Why the bandits attacked this remote village, close to the mountain range, no one knew. The villagers were peaceful people and had barely enough to make ends meet. None of them were rich and even the jewellery some of the women wore was not worth attacking this village. 

Kayra did not know why all this was happening and she did not know what to do. She only knew that she was going to die, just like her parents had just died. Her father had sent her and her mother into the house and ordered them to hide in the small cellar under the house floor in the living room. But before he could lock the door, the bandits had already entered their house. Kayra had wondered how the bandits had managed to get to her house so quickly. Although the village was not large, her family's house was at the other end of the village. But before Kayra could finish that thought, a sword blade flashed and severed her father's jugular. Her mother's scream went right to Kayra's bones, and her father stood frozen before he grabbed his neck in horror and fell to the ground with a gasp. The loud thud as he hit the wooden floor was something Kayra would never forget in her life. Her father's form twitched briefly before he lay motionless. 

Kayra felt her body go rigid, her thoughts racing, but she couldn't get hold of any of them. She wanted to run away but her legs would not obey her. 

Her mother's scream made her flinch again. She rushed at the bandits, the knife that had been on the dining table a few moments ago was now pointed at the three bandits at the door. "Murderer!" her mother cried, reaching out with her hand to plunge the knife into the first man's chest. Deep down Kayra knew that this was futile, but for a moment hope flared in her to get out alive and escape this massacre. 

But her hope was shattered, like a mirror falling to the floor and shattering into a thousand tiny shards. 

With a single movement of his hand, the man repelled her mother's attack and pushed her away. Her body crashed against the stone hearth and before she had regained her composure, the man standing next to Kayra's father's body plunged his sword into her abdomen. 

Kayra's mother made a strangled sound, her eyes moving over to where her daughter stood. Her gaze was full of fear and desperation "run" was all that came from her lips before the man pulled the sword from her abdomen. With a loud smacking sound, the sword slid from the wound, her mother's gaze where still on Kayra. With trembling legs and one hand on her wound, she moved towards her "run" she spoke again, but quieter this time. Her voice was barely more than a breath "can we finally end this?" Asked the third man, who until now had only stood by the door and watched the goings-on. With a few steps he had reached Kayra's mother, with a quick movement he rammed his sword into her back. Kayra could only watch as her mother let out a strangled scream. Blood came out of her mouth and her eyes rolled back before her body fell limply to the ground. 

"So little one" the man spoke "you will come with us." Before Kayra knew what was happening to her the man grabbed her hair and pulled her towards the door "set the house on fire" he ordered the other two and pushed Kayra through the door in front of him. 

"Fight back" she whispered "fight back. Take the knife that lies on the floor." But it was to no avail, Kayra could only watch as the men took her nine-year-old self out of the house and to the horses. Here gaze dropped down to her feet where a pool of blood had formed. The blood of her parents. She could still see herself looking back, helpless, frightened, and full of fear. She still saw her mother, with the last of her strength, pronounce her name one last time before her brown eyes became dark and lifeless. 

She could do nothing, not then and not now. Just as then, she was condemned to simply stand by and do nothing. If she had known then what future awaited her, would she have acted differently? If she had known that she was the only survivor and that slavery would be sold, would she have run?

Pars era 320, 100 farsangs east of Ecbatana, near the great continental route and 20 farsangs west of Gurgan.

Startled, Kayra roused from her sleep. She felt her breathing rapid and irregular and her clothes sticking uncomfortably to her body. That dream again, she thought in frustration, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. She felt herself shivering and cold sweat standing on her forehead. She had dreamt again of the day her parents had been murdered and again she had been a silent spectator, unable to do or change anything. 

But could she change anything? Her parents were dead and even if in the dream she had the power to change something, to resist or even to run away, in the end even that would only be a dream and when she woke up her parents would still be dead. 

The cry of an owl made her flinch. Her heart still racing wildly, she took three deep breaths and then let the breath out slowly through her mouth. Slowly her mind and her heart gradually calmed down. 

Kayra looked around, the fire in the centre of the little cave had burnt down a little, yet it would still hold until daybreak. She didn't seem to have woken any of the others. 

Her gaze wandered to the other side of the cave where Prince Arslan slept. His features looked relaxed, and his chest rose and fell evenly. A little away from him, Narsus and Elam slept, Farangis lay a little away from herself, to her left, she too seemed to continue sleeping. Kayra looked towards the entrance of the cave, where on the right side Gieve was leaning against the stone rock, snoring a little. 

Kayra raised her eyebrows sceptically - a womaniser who snored, she would definitely point that out to him, the next time he tried to flirt. 

Kayra exhaled in relief, thankfully she hadn't woken anyone with her nightmare. She looked out of the cave and up at the sky, it wouldn't be long before the sun rose, sleep was out of the question. Slowly and as silently as possible, Kayra pushed her blanket aside and stood up, a little fresh air would do her good now.

Quietly she crept out of the cave, the air was cooler here and there was a light breeze, coming from the east. Kayra brushed her hair back and enjoyed the silence and the pleasant wind on her skin for a brief moment. 

The moon still shone brightly in the sky and the stars shone clearly in the dark night sky. On the distant horizon Kayra could faintly make out the dawn, but it would be some time before the new light of day pushed aside the black of night and life awoke again. 

"It's still a little early, isn't it? We didn't plan another changing of the guard, did we?" Daryun's deep voice brought Kayra back from her thoughts, she turned slowly to face the Marzban. The black knight saws leaning against a tree a little away from the entrance. At his back stretched the high rock wall, to his right lay the entrance to the cave. From this position, Daryun could easily observe the small plateau, the plain in front of him and the path that led past the cave. He himself, however, seemed to merge with the shadows and any attacker would only have noticed him when it was already too late. 

Kayra smiled slightly, though Daryun could not see this, in the darkness of the night and at the distance. "I couldn't sleep anymore and thought a little fresh air would do me good." She replied, stepping closer to him "may I join you?" She asked as she stood in front of him. 

Daryun nodded slightly and slid a little to the side on the boulder he was sitting at. For a while they both just sat in silence next to each other, enjoying the silence of the dark. The crickets chirped softly in this late summer night, now and then an owl could be heard in the thicket of trees. 

It was quiet and peaceful and although summer was already over and autumn had arrived, held, south of the Damavand Mountains the nights were still not too cold and offered a pleasant cooling to the still quite warm days. 

"Did Gieve's snoring wake you?" Daryun asked suddenly and Kayra opened her eyes in surprise, which she had closed for a brief moment. "So you heard it too?" "Yes it couldn't really be overheard," growled the Marzban and Kayra had to stifle a laugh. "If the women knew what they were getting into, they probably wouldn't be so at his feet" "probably that's why he never stays more than one night" Kayra said grinning widely.

Daryun let out a laugh "it would be nice if it was just his snoring but unfortunately that wasn't why I couldn't sleep anymore" she added. "A bad dream?" Kayra just nodded in confirmation and looked up at the starry sky again "do you want to talk about it?" Daryun asked, not looking at the young woman beside him. Kayra continued to look up at the starry sky, for a moment she closed her eyes again before she began to speak. "Do you really want to hear it?" "I wouldn't ask if I didn't" the black-haired man replied. 

Daryun sounded slightly offended, and Kayra could understand it in a way. They had been travelling together for some time now and even though Daryun had distrusted her in the beginning, when they had met on the battlefield of Atropathene. Especially the last fights against Lord Karlan's men and Lusitanian soldiers had built up a trusting, almost friendly basis between them. 

Kayra knew that Daryun was loyal and Daryun saw her as his equal. 

Kayra rubbed her temples to clear away her thoughts and the headache that was coming on "I'm sorry" she spoke "I didn't mean to offend you it's just" she interrupted herself and looked at the man beside her. 

"It's been a long time since anyone wanted to know how I was. I'm not used to travelling in company anymore it seems." She said and a slight smile played around her fine lips, causing a small dimple to appear on her right cheek.

Daryun returned her smile, leaning back against the tree trunk with a sigh. "Don't worry" he then said "you don't have to tell me. But I can assure you that I do care about my comrades. Besides, we're going to be travelling together for a long time now, you'd better get used to the company." He added with a twinkle in his eye and Kayra had to laugh at his comment. 

When she calmed down again, she also leaned back against the tree trunk. In the east, the rising sun could already be seen, and the black night sky slowly changed to a dark blue and purple. The stars began to fade, and the first birds could be heard chirping. Soon the others would awaken, and they would continue their journey to Peshawar Citadel.

"My parents" Kayra whispered softly and Daryun looked at her. When he said nothing, she continued "sometimes, ...I dream of them. About the day the bandits came to our village and burned everything down. I dream about them murdering my parents and taking me away. I stand there and can do nothing. I watch as my mother lies on the ground and bleeds to death. She tells me to run away, but I can't even do that. Instead, I stand there petrified."

She wiped her face briefly with her sleeve, not wanting to cry. She had never really had the chance to mourn her parents, as a young girl, but now was not the time. 

Maybe when this was all over, she would be able to return and finally mourn her parents properly after all these years. Maybe she would even ask Farangis to say a prayer for the village so that their souls could finally find peace. But now was not the time to look back, right now she had to help Prince Arslan free Pars from the Lusitanians and help him make this land a better one than it was before.  

"You could have done nothing then," Daryun's voice broke the rising silence between them. "You were a child, nothing you could have done could have prevented the death of your parents or the villagers." He looked at her seriously and Kayra returned his gaze.

He was serious yet full of compassion, she knew he meant what he said and even though deep down she knew he was right she felt helpless. 

"It feels wrong" she sighed and turned her gaze away from the Marzban and onto the narrow path in front of her which wound its way past the rocks and to the cave. 

"It feels wrong to be the only survivor and believe me when I tell you I have asked myself more than once why me." She ran a hand through her hair, playing with one of her red strands. Daryun hummed in agreement. "I can understand why you feel that way but look at it from this side, you are the one who remembers these people. Their names, their history. You are the one who keeps these people alive by talking about them, by remembering them. Nothing happens for no reason, does it? I believe there is always a greater whole, perhaps you should not die on this day yet, perhaps we should meet to fight together for Prince Arslan to make Pars a better place."

"Perhaps you are right" sighed Kayra "perhaps there is a greater purpose to all of this, even if I haven´t see it yet." "You have already suffered much in your life Kayra. So much that it would probably be enough for most people to live two lives, but you are strong. You've come so far; it seems you just have to keep fighting a little longer." 

Daryun smiled at Kayra, and she returned it "yes" she said "probably I just need to fight a little bit more." She was silent for a moment before continuing "I'm sorry to have bothered you with this. I don't know why I'm getting so sentimental all of a sudden" "We are very close to Gurgan and the Damavand mountains, you have lived here for a long time, haven't you? You know the area, probably this brings back old memories." 

The young woman bit her lips, yes old memories that was probably the right expression.

How many years had she lived here near Gurgan, in the fortress of Bash Kulla? So many beautiful memories and so many painful ones connected her to this place. 

Her gaze fell to the inside of the cave, to her sleeping place. There, next to her blanket and her travel bag, close to her spear, lay the packed bundle. A helmet, a helmet she had found covered in blood on the battlefield of Atropathene. Where the army of Pars had lost to Lusitania. Where she had been betrayed by one of her own and where Kayra had felt that strong and dark magic. A helmet she knew only too well. But she had only found this one. 

Guilt welled up in her again. Shapur was dead, there was no doubt about it, no one had been able to escape this massacre. Involuntarily she asked herself if he had thought of her.

How long had it been now, nine years? Had he perhaps hoped in his last moments to meet her again in the afterlife? And if so, was he disappointed not to find her there or was he relieved that she was still here on the other side? Or had he perhaps not thought of her at all? She could not even have blamed him. Maybe he had already married, and his last thoughts were of his family. His wife, his children? 

Kayra's stomach tightened painfully at the thought. She still carried the ring Shapur had given her. A ring as a sign that he would take her as his wife. Kayra had never forgotten this promise, but what was about Shapur? 

After all, he had to assume that she was dead. Had he mourned her? Did he still miss her sometimes? And what about Isfan? He had been just thirteen years old and now? Now he was a grown man, would he ever be able to forgive her for abandoning him? 

Daryun followed Kayra's gaze, which was fixed on the small pouch. He knew that Lord Shapur's helmet was in it. Kayra had told her story to him, Narsus, Prince Arslan and Elam and even if the young woman next to him did not show it openly. 

He had heard rumors then as a young soldier and Marzban. 

Rumors that Lord Shapur had had a relationship with a slave girl. He himself had never spoken to him about it, but Karlan and Sam had confirmed these rumors to him. 

Kayra was grieving for a loved one, Daryun knew how she felt. He too had lost his uncle in the last battle. Grief could be an overpowering emotion.

"We do not know if Lord Shapur fell in Atropathene" he began to speak softly. Kayra did not move, yet he continued to speak. "We know from Gieve that he was not among the Marzban lined up at the gates of Ecbatana. Lord Kubard was not among them either, perhaps they both escaped." 

Kayra took her eyes off the helmet and looked skeptically at Daryun "Shapur trained me" he continued unperturbed "when I joined the army I rose very quickly. Most people thought it was because of my uncle's influence, but Lord Shapur was the only one who thought otherwise. He trained me and taught me how to use the lance. Through him I also learnt that it is not always strength that counts, you also must know your opponent and study him. So, until I receive word that Lord Shapur has fallen, I believe he is still alive and so should you." 

Kayra smiled slightly at his words, but then shook her head "Hope is the meadow where many fools graze" she then spoke and looked at him seriously. 

“I learned long ago that hope is something that slows us down and only holds us back." "Then what has kept you going all these years?" Daryun asked, his smile widening as he noticed Kayra's astonished expression. 

In the meantime, the sun had appeared on the eastern horizon, bathing Kayra's hair in a sea of red flames. Her eyes were brightly lit by the sun and shimmered as darkly as the forest, with its many conifers, before them. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it again, Daryun enjoying her stunned look. He was about to speak again when a rustling sound caught their attention. 

Kayra and Daryun jumped up directly from their position and looked towards the path. Both had drawn their swords. 

They had never expected the sight that lay before them. A young girl, hardly older than ten, stepped out of the bushes onto the path. She stood frozen when she saw the two adults in front of her. Her clothes were only rags, and her face was scratched by the branches and twigs. She was missing a shoe and her small hands were full of dried blood. Her brown curly hair was matted, her brown eyes darting back and forth between Kayra and Daryun. 

Kayra slid her short sword back into the sword sheath and nodded to Daryun, there seemed to be no danger from the girl. But Daryun would remain vigilant for now. 

Slowly they approached the girl who was swaying towards them.

Her right knee was scraped, and her foot was bleeding, apparently, she had cut herself somewhere on a sharp stone. 

The girl turned her eyes on Kayra, "It's you," she croaked and stopped. Tears came to her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. 

Puzzled Kayra stopped and looked at Daryun, she continued to walk towards the girl until she stood in front of her and knelt down. 

"What do you mean?" She asked gently "you are,…aren't you? You're Kayra" "how do you know my name?" Kayra was confused, she had never seen this girl before. Or had she? There was such a vague feeling spreading through her body.

"Mummy" was all that came from the girl, "you're the one from Mummy's stories". 

Mummy´s stories? Kayra was now finally confused; she was looking up at Daryun for help. But the former Marzban didn't seem to know who or what the girl was talking about either. 

"The heroine" the girl now seemed to be completely distraught "Kayra, the heroine of the slaves. I've been looking for you" she sobbed, wiping her face with her dirty sleeve. "You have to save us all, just like mum always tells us, you have to come back. You have to marry him after all" "who do I have to save?" Kayra asked, grabbing the girl by the arm "who do I have to marry?" "You do have to save us from the Lusitanians" a hiccup ran through the little girl's body, but she could not be dissuaded from continuing to speak.

"You must save us. You have to save Mum and Dad and Lord Isfan and Lord Shapur, or they will hurt them all. You must come back to Bash Kulla. You have to save Lord Shapur or you two won't be able to get married like Mum told me." 

Kayra looked at the little girl in shock, had she just heard it right? The Lusitanians were in Bash Kulla and Shapur was still alive? Was this girl perhaps Amala's daughter? The daughter of her former friend, who had also been a slave in Shapur's household? Is that why she looked so familiar to her? But before Kayra could ask the girl any more questions, she fainted and fell straight into her arms. 

Kayra was startled for a moment and involuntarily felt for the girl's pulse. 

She breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at Daryun "she seems very exhausted" "no wonder" he nodded in agreement and now put his sword back in its sheath as well. "Bash Kulla is at least a two day march away, who knows how long she has been travelling." He bent down to Kayra and grabbed the child from her, gently he took her in his arms and lifted her up "she seems a brave little thing if she escaped the Lusitanians and made it this far on her own." He walked towards the cave from where the first voices of the others were already coming to them "heroine of the slaves?" He asked in surprise and turned to Kayra, but she just shrugged her shoulders in perplexity.

"Nevertheless," replied the Marzban, "I have a feeling that Peshawar will have to wait a little longer for us." 

Kayra sighed and followed Daryun back to the others without comment. Hope. How much she had suppressed this feeling all these years and now it was fighting its way back to the surface with all its might. 

Should she really dare to hope? Maybe that was the reason Daryun had spoken of earlier, maybe she just had to keep fighting a little longer. Maybe everything would turn out all right somehow.

Smiling, she shook her head. Heroine of the slaves, what a stupid title that was.

FUCKING FINALLY I DREW AYUNNEN AND KASHI. Featuring Kayra aka the unfinished one in red. My surface pro's battery died (thank fuck I was able to save this in the first place before it went “nope” 😅) Kayra is @marchdancer 's OC, from their fic series Heroine of the Slaves!

The one in dark cyan is Ayunnen, an OC of mine and the biological father of AU!Arslan. And an adoptive father of AU!Gieve. The woman in armor is Kashi, Ayunnen's wife, Arslan and Gieve's mother, though of course one of them she picked up like a stray. Kashi is also Kazai's older sister, which would make her Shapur's sister-in-law 😂

FUCK I forgot to add the earrings and marriage bands. Eh I'll add it later. Can't do it now anyways... I'm not quite satisfied with Kayra's hair situation yet either. Gotta fix that.

Here are some close-ups!

I'll colour Kazai I promise

Oh my good my heart…..am I crying? No you are crying!!

You awake my inner fangirl and I absolutely love your interpretation of Kayra.

I love the earring idea….it was only a little thought in my mind with the necklace, brooch etc but the earring idea is absolutely amazing and I love the fact that Shapur would wear the other one.

The look in her eyes/on her face….I love it. The first thing that came into my mind that this is Shapur point of view and he tells her that he still loves her or Arslan PoV when he tells her that she is like a sister/mother figure for him and that her past didn’t matter to him.

And I like how good the color of her hair and eyes worked out together and can I say that I am in love with her hairstyle?

That sketch definitely made my day!!!!

@marchdancer I drew a Kayra! This time, actually clothed, with colour! Wow! (I'm so sorry for the unfinished one from before hhhh) I decided to adjust her design a little bit... for reasons (Saam-related reasons, though I'm not sure how successful I was in that regard). I had, like, a Vision™, of someone making this expression and I went, “this is just vibes but this would suit Kayra so well”, this sort of melancholic, longing energy in her eyes that made me think of her missing Shapur on her travels perhaps. I had to adjust the brooch/necklace idea into an earring though, as the way I composed this sketch left me with no space for either. Maybe Shapur has the other earring of this set.

So somehow the whole story got a bit out of hand. After I reworked Kayra a bit with Picrew(I based myself on the beautiful picture of @tired-reader-writer and changed her eyes and hair and why is her hair so difficult???a bit to make her earring stand out better. I also changed the design of this one again.) I decided to make another OC or to finally give them a face (I will probably rework them again but for now I am very happy).

https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1855819%23google_vignette

The first one is Amalia. She is also a slave in Shapur's household and Kayra's best friend since childhood. She was born into slavery and knows no other life outside of slavery. She is a rather quiet person and carries out her tasks conscientiously and properly. She can become very strict if tasks are left undone or not completed immediately. Over the years she has worked her way up to the position of housekeeper (is that what you call it?) and is now basically the boss of all the slaves. She married another slave from Shapur's household and together they have a daughter.

The next one is Nasha, Amalias daughter and nine years old. She is a complete tomboy and is always giving her mother a headache because she rarely behaves like a young girl and certainly not like a slave. She loves her mother's stories about Kayra and idolizes her (so it's no wonder she's temperamental). Even though she doesn't know Kayra personally, she is her biggest fan and hopes to be able to travel with her someday. She loves Shapur and Isfan and keeps trying to persuade them to take her hunting (after all, she made Shapur promise that she could go with her when she turns 13). She will play an important role in the story.

The next one is Ashina (the name means the she-wolve). In my AU she is Isfans mother and for Kayra like a substitute mother after she lost her own. I tried to give her a few characteristics of Isfan, like the color of her eyes and hair. I have to say that I'm pretty happy with how Ashina turned out. I think she radiates something simple and yet beautiful and motherly, just like I imagined Isfan's mother would be. Of course, that's my idea and everyone can have their own and implement it. That's the great thing about fictional characters.

The next one in the list is Yamin. His name means the just. Unfortunately, he will play a tragic role in the story and will encounter betrayal. Even if, from his perspective, it is justice. I don't want to give too much away here, just that he is also a slave in Shapur's household and is two years older than Kayra and was or still is in love with her. Just like Amalia, he was born into slavery and worked his way up under Shapur and now holds a high position within the household, which has also allowed him to ally himself with the Lusitanians. But as I said, I don't want to give too much away.

The next one is Lady Ziva! Dhe is Shapurs mother and I try to make her a little bit dark and I think she has something witchy about her. She looks beautiful but I try to put a lot of jewelry on her to show that she is more the material type and I think when I look at her and then at Ashina I think they are two sides of a medal.

Both beautiful women but Ashina is more natural, she has more lightness. Ziva on the other hand has some dark aura around her something heavy. (Don’t know if this makes sense).

I am not quite sure with her eye color. For now I decided to gave her the eye color similar to Shapur.

So the next one is Shapurs grandmother Halima. Her name means the gentle/the friendly one and that was her nature too. She was the exact opposite of her daughter-in-law and her youngest son. In my AU, Shapur inherited most of his traits from his grandmother, in addition to some of his uncle's characteristics. He also had the closest relationship with her. She was his confidante and advisor. She was the good soul of the house and was also friendly and respectful towards the slaves. She immediately took Kayra into her heart and immediately recognized that she was different from the others and made sure that she received a good education.

And the Last one is Lord Mert and he is Shapurs and Isfans uncle and the older brother of Lord Shapurs father. He was an commander under King Osroes and also Shapurs and Kunards teacher. Sadly he died really early when Misr try to invade Pars. He was a very good and cheerful person but also very cheeky. He didn’t get the chance to meet Isfan but he loves Shapur as if it was his own son. He never married and so after his and his brothers death Shapur became the new heir of the family. Also Shapur never really got over his uncle's death, probably because he was closer to him than to his own father and his uncle took better and more loving care of him.

So I think expect of Shapurs father I desgin hks whole family holy shit 😂

That escalated quickly……..but it was so much fun.

I even have three more characters but I think this would be much of a spoiler (so let me know if you like to see them aswell)

And for the last one…..her is the new design of Kayra. As I said before there are not so many differences about the new design but I was thinking I share it with you guys anyway.

So somehow the whole story got a bit out of hand. After I reworked Kayra a bit with Picrew (I based myself on the beautiful picture of @tired-reader-writer and changed her eyes and hair and why is her hair so difficult???a bit to make her earring stand out better. I also changed the design of this one again.) I decided to make another OC or to finally give them a face (I will probably rework them again but for now I am very happy).

The first one is Amalia. She is also a slave in Shapur's household and Kayra's best friend since childhood. She was born into slavery and knows no other life outside of slavery. She is a rather quiet person and carries out her tasks conscientiously and properly. She can become very strict if tasks are left undone or not completed immediately. Over the years she has worked her way up to the position of housekeeper (is that what you call it?) and is now basically the boss of all the slaves. She married another slave from Shapur's household and together they have a daughter.

The next one is Nasha, Amalias daughter and nine years old. She is a complete tomboy and is always giving her mother a headache because she rarely behaves like a young girl and certainly not like a slave. She loves her mother's stories about Kayra and idolizes her (so it's no wonder she's temperamental). Even though she doesn't know Kayra personally, she is her biggest fan and hopes to be able to travel with her someday. She loves Shapur and Isfan and keeps trying to persuade them to take her hunting (after all, she made Shapur promise that she could go with her when she turns 13). She will play an important role in the story.

The next one is Ashina (the name means the she-wolve). In my AU she is Isfans mother and for Kayra like a substitute mother after she lost her own. I tried to give her a few characteristics of Isfan, like the color of her eyes and hair. I have to say that I'm pretty happy with how Ashina turned out. I think she radiates something simple and yet beautiful and motherly, just like I imagined Isfan's mother would be. Of course, that's my idea and everyone can have their own and implement it. That's the great thing about fictional characters.

The next one in the list is Yamin. His name means the just. Unfortunately, he will play a tragic role in the story and will encounter betrayal. Even if, from his perspective, it is justice. I don't want to give too much away here, just that he is also a slave in Shapur's household and is two years older than Kayra and was or still is in love with her. Just like Amalia, he was born into slavery and worked his way up under Shapur and now holds a high position within the household, which has also allowed him to ally himself with the Lusitanians. But as I said, I don't want to give too much away.

The next one is Lady Ziva! Dhe is Shapurs mother and I try to make her a little bit dark and I think she has something witchy about her. She looks beautiful but I try to put a lot of jewelry on her to show that she is more the material type and I think when I look at her and then at Ashina I think they are two sides of a medal.

Both beautiful women but Ashina is more natural, she has more lightness. Ziva on the other hand has some dark aura around her something heavy. (Don’t know if this makes sense).

I am not quite sure with her eye color. For now I decided to gave her the eye color similar to Shapur.

So the next one is Shapurs grandmother Halima. Her name means the gentle/the friendly one and that was her nature too. She was the exact opposite of her daughter-in-law and her youngest son. In my AU, Shapur inherited most of his traits from his grandmother, in addition to some of his uncle's characteristics. He also had the closest relationship with her. She was his confidante and advisor. She was the good soul of the house and was also friendly and respectful towards the slaves. She immediately took Kayra into her heart and immediately recognized that she was different from the others and made sure that she received a good education.

And the Last one is Lord Mert and he is Shapurs and Isfans uncle and the older brother of Lord Shapurs father. He was an commander under King Osroes and also Shapurs and Kunards teacher. Sadly he died really early when Misr try to invade Pars. He was a very good and cheerful person but also very cheeky. He didn’t get the chance to meet Isfan but he loves Shapur as if it was his own son. He never married and so after his and his brothers death Shapur became the new heir of the family. Also Shapur never really got over his uncle's death, probably because he was closer to him than to his own father and his uncle took better and more loving care of him.