the quest for the golden cobra , or over the hills and into the mist

even numbered chapters by nooshin azadi
odd numbered chapters by rhoda penmarq

illustrated by rhoda penmarq

to begin at the beginning, click here

chapter 2 : through the window . the faraway mountains were as eager as ever the shore as inviting as a smile the rippling sea was yawning with anticipation the seabirds ripping apart a dreary dream princess atusa was blind to all this the only thing her eagle eyes could see was the peacock movement of a demure figure along the dancing line of the shore: a sister she had never seen in person a princess whose presence was her absence a dark cloud overcasting her entire life a free being whose first cry of fear turned into a prison atop a castle a cell replacing the womb of a mother who never dared to hold her to embrace her to feed her to look into her eyes she turned her back to the dusty window  to face the tall mirror across from it she gazed at the reflection of her feet in the mirror  feet as heavy as the hollow heavens above her dress was long enough to hide the fetters  her eyes traveled deliberately up her    dress  ornamented with her cascading hair hair as dark as her fate a little ball was vibrating in her neck she could see it vividly she always saw it  she always watched it vibrating that was the last thing she could see of herself in the mirror her mirror was not tall enough to show her face no mirror was courageous enough to show the reflection of her face and no eye sighted enough to watch it her face was a fence separating her  from the rest of the world a world she wished to burn down to ashes .

chapter 3