Sohrab had discovered a new instrument. It was in actuality a stone that he was striking on the floor, moving effortlessly between a surprisingly impressive rhythm and chaos, but he played with such delight in his own cleverness, there was no doubt he fancied himself quite the musician. Tahmineh buried her face under the pile of pillows, attempting to dull the noise so she could take a nap to make up for the hours of sleep she had lost the night before feeding her ravenous son. She discovered she could not move, for the cat had settled on her back.
The young woman fought back tears. Earlier in the day, she had had another argument with her father. She'd walked out to the garden where he was playing with her child, and overheard him telling Sohrab that one day, the boy would help him rule Persia as well. After running over and yanking her son away, she spun on her father.
"I will not have you using my child as a weapon!"
"He is Rostam's child as well. It is inevitable."
This was an unending refrain with the king. Each day it became more evident that she needed to find a way to protect Sohrab from his own grandfather. He doted on the child more than his own sons, who themselves were spoiled and encouraged to be arrogant. He lavished gifts on the toddler, laughed at his tantrums, and indulged his every whim. The boy adored the king.
One fleeting moment when Sohrab was still an infant, Tahmineh thought there was hope her father might develop true affection for him. He was holding the boy and smiling down at him, and whispered, "Yutab."
At that, Tahmineh's heart ached with the same beautiful sadness she recognized in the king's demeanor. There was none who knew her mother and her quiet dignity who did not love and miss her. Sohrab's enormity alone was inherited from Rostam, but the green of his eyes were the same striking color of his grandmother's. That her father had invoked his late wife's name while gazing upon his grandchild told Tahmineh that he saw her mother in her son. But then, she watched as his expression changed from tenderness to greed, as he went on to say, "You have her wisdom. You will make an excellent general."
The cat stood and stretched on Tahmineh's back, then leapt off. As she pushed herself up, Sohrab waddled over to her, stone outstretched as a gift. Upon thanking him, he waited expectantly, and she handed it back to him. His face brightened as he accepted it, and then he generously handed it back to his mother. This exchange happened several more times, and Tahmineh felt her sorrow being crowded out by the intense love she had for this boy.
"Leeder fet ack," Sohrab stated matter-of-factly.
"You think so? I rather enjoyed the music myself. But your ear for it is so much sharper than my own."
"Veel my nobba. Nobba wes do!"
"Well, now, I cannot argue with your logic, my love."
The boy sagely replied, "Monna muh monna. Ma."
"Then it's settled. Off to Zuman we shall go!"
Suddenly, Tahmineh's fears and the constant sensation of being trapped by her father's whims were replaced by steely resolve. Why had she not realized before that this was the only solution? Her father was never going to change, and his lust for power obtained through her child was only increasing as Sohrab continued to grow. And grow. Her mother's uncle was the vizier in Zuman! She would send word ahead that she was coming for a visit, and once she was there with Sohrab, she would beg for great-uncle's permanent protection. Yutab was a favored niece, and Alexan held no affection for Tahmineh's father.
Apprehension seized her, but did not overpower her resolution. She scooped up her child and hugged him tightly. This was the only way to protect her son from her father. She would pack only what they absolutely needed. She had never ventured out without a full escort and servants, but she did not want to risk any of them telling her father what was happening, nor did she want to be slowed down by a large caravan. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew the king would come after her, so she wanted to get to Zuman as quickly as she could. And they were going to leave that very night.
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