Soraya's POV
The market was alive in ways I'd never imagined—colors, scents, and sounds blending together into something wild and beautiful. Asha and I weaved through the crowd, our arms filled with small bags of fruits and trinkets, laughter spilling out of us like we hadn't a care in the world.
We stopped at a street vendor selling roasted meat. The smell alone made my stomach twist with hunger. I bought a skewer, then another, and we took turns biting from it as we walked.
"This is so good," I said through a mouthful, savoring the smoky flavor.
Asha laughed. "You've never had street food before, have you, my lady?"
"Not like this," I admitted, licking my fingers. "It's better than anything they serve in the palace and even back at the city."
She smiled, and for a moment, there was no line between us—just two girls enjoying a stolen day of freedom.
