The flames spread over the haystack until every ounce of it was burning. From head to toe, the hay had blackened and the makeshift crown no longer rested at the top.
Karim's eyes were filled with a burning rage, his teeth harshly pressing against one another as his breathing intensified. In contrast, Amin looked on with a face of annoyance, but one far calmer than Karim. It was almost as if Amin had accepted what they were doing, and understood why this was happening. Hamid, too, was angry, but the fear that trickled through his body overtook him.
And so did the disbelief that began to blur the rationality of his thoughts.
"Why? Why are they doing this?" Hamid asked as he gazed at the fire, shocked to his core.
People from the crowd didn't stop cheering, and nor did the select few who were holding torches near the bottom of the haystack. Though the image of the boys' father had almost entirely vanished into ashes, it didn't stop them from feeding the flames. This all became too much for Karim to bear, and he couldn't stand watching any longer.
He marched forward and shouted wildly, "Hey! What do you think you're do—"
Amin and Hamid pounced onto Karim, holding him back but struggling to contain him. Amin covered his mouth like he did Hamid's earlier.
"Let it go, Karim. What did I say to Hamid just a moment ago?"
"Karim, don't let it get to you. This really isn't the time."
Karim wrangled his mouth free from Amin's clutches as he shook his head, responding to the other two with what breath he had. "Can't you see what they're doing? It's disrespectful to our father. And that means it's disrespectful to us!"
Karim's strength was becoming too much for the other two to handle. While Amin was undoubtedly the better fighter and utilised his abilities more intelligently and skilfully, even he would never deny the fact that Karim was superior in terms of size and strength.
"Dammit, he's too strong, Amin!"
"Don't worry, I'm not letting him go anywhere!"
Karim slowly lifted his foot and took a step closer to the haystack.
"Just let go…of…me!"
"No!"
"Just let it go!"
Despite being quite a reasonable distance from the people he wished to confront, Karim tried to get their attention as he wrestled his left arm from underneath Hamid and stuck it out, waving his hand before pointing directly at them.
Suddenly, Karim squirmed and fell backwards, taking Amin and Hamid to the floor with him. Amin and Hamid were quick to jump to their feet, feeling a strong sense of distaste and unease upon meeting the dirty ground. Karim clutched his throat, his anger defeating his immediate care for cleanliness.
A familiar and confrontational voice prompted them to turn around.
"What do you think you are doing?" Fazere appeared from the crowd, a disappointed look hanging on his face.
"We told him to stop! He was trying to pick a fight with those people over there," Hamid answered.
"But we made sure he didn't reveal who we are," Amin said, hoping to reassure Fazere that nothing dangerously undesirable had occurred.
Karim rose to his feet and stuck his face right in front of Fazere's, spitting in his face as he spoke. A redness formed on his neck where Fazere's walking stick had just struck him, pulling him to the ground. "They were burning a haystack that looked like our father, the King! I will not look past that disrespect! They deserve to be punished for such offensive acts!"
Fazere remained still and chose to endure Karim's onslaught without interrupting. However, he refused to back down. "Who are you to judge that these acts are not justified?" Karim backed off slightly, seemingly confused and thinking about how to counter. He caught his breath before finally saying something, anything he could think of.
"I'm the prince…I–What–What do you mean?"
Amin listened carefully, intrigued to hear what Fazere had to say. Hamid's denial kept him confused, leading him to strongly back up Karim's remarks. "What could father possibly have done to deserve something like this? No one could ever have a reason to want to do that to him."
Karim laughed, still trying to make sense of the situation. "Maybe it was you who put them up to this. If that's the case, then I'm sure father would like to hear about this."
"Look around you!" Fazere said scornfully. He began to bite his lower lip, teeth marks forming as he pulled away.
Amin did so without hesitation, while the other two took some time to comply with Fazere's request. They reluctantly looked around, panning their focus throughout the crowd, as well as onto the people who were still throwing lit torches at the already-disintegrated haystack.
"Do the faces of these people…the cracks in their walls…the air that they breathe…does all of that not answer your question? Do you really believe people like them chose to live here?"
Karim's tongue pushed against the top of his mouth as he looked to the floor, confusion now taking over his settling anger. "I don't know. They must live here because they are weak. They probably can't help our father, so they live here to stay out of the way."
Hamid added to Karim's weak justification. "Karim is right. They must be here because the Inner Capital is too dangerous for them. If they hide outside, father can fight off danger within the Inner Capital and protect these people."
Fazere squinted and turned to Amin. "What about you, Amin? What do you think of this?"
Amin crossed his arms, his tone not having changed at all. "It doesn't matter. I understand your point. Let's just get out of here before anyone figures out who we are."
More willing to follow Amin's lead now, the other two let him lead the way back to the city.
At first, the walk back was awkward. Nobody said a word, but everyone's breathing and occasional scoffs reinforced that something was wrong. Nevertheless, as usual with the triplets, they couldn't stand being near each other for too long without starting a conversation.
"Stop thinking you're so cool by acting all calm!" Karim grudgingly announced as he shoved Amin lightly by the arm.
"Why don't you seem to care, Amin?" Hamid asked.
"I do care. I'm just trying to process it all. But, wouldn't you say that this revelation isn't all that surprising?"
Fazere listened closely, but didn't bother looking at the triplets. He knew he could eavesdrop if he stayed close and interjecting would only ignite another argument.
"I mean, father isn't exactly the nicest person, is he? He's always been so harsh on people. Especially you, Hamid. Why are you so surprised about this?"
"I thought he was only harsh on me because he wants me to become better. I thought…his intentions were always good. I'm sure that's what he's doing with them as well."
Amin huffed before replying. "While that may be true for you, I doubt it is for them."
"So what are you saying?" Karim asked pointedly.
"That, maybe, father isn't—"
"Boys! We're almost arriving back at the capital. Why don't we talk about something else now?" Fazere's attempt to hide his trembling failed miserably. The triplets looked concerned for him as he began to plead. "Just promise me one thing. Can I trust you…not to tell your father about what happened here today? I'm not sure what he'll do to me if he does."
Though neither of them were too happy with him, they knew telling on him would prove worthless. And, besides, they all, deep down, appreciated what they had seen today. It had opened their eyes and provided them with an experience they never knew they'd ever get to have.
"Oi, Karim! You should be concerned about what happened back there. Eight minutes isn't bad, you know." Amin raised his voice rather comically. "But five is far more impressive. You need to do something about that, otherwise you'll always be in my shadow."
"So long as I'm not left in the mud like Hamid, I'll always be on your tail. Until the day I catch you, make sure to always watch your back!"
Hamid frowned, having been insulted for no reason once again as Fazere smiled and nodded his head at the triplets as a sign of gratitude.
And so back to the capital they returned, now wielding knowledge that changed their view on the foundations and meanings of their lives altogether.