Kara didn't have a chance of trying to run. Kaseem moved so fast, and then pain exploded in her cheek. She raised her hand to her stinging cheek. She'd never been struck before, and the sudden violence of it shocked her into immobility. Kara cringed when he grabbed her face, but she could not break his hold. His kiss made her want to gag, and when his tongue invaded her mouth, she thought she truly might.<br/><br/>The taste of blood filled her mouth, and Kara wanted to spit it in his face, but Kaseem shoved her to the ground and she involuntarily swallowed it. Her show of spirit only lasted until the guards had picked her up and taken her from the room.<br/><br/>As they guided her down various hallways, Kara began to tremble. She could not escape. How could she hope to get away from people that were so inhumanely fast. Hallbjorn was not coming for her. She was shaking so much that soon the guards hold on her was not so much dragging her, but supporting her.<br/><br/>Her lower lip trembled and tears filled her eyes when they came to another room. Kara didn't know if she could handle anymore cruelty. It took all her might to keep those tears from spilling. But what she saw inside of the plain room was a  kind looking woman. Perhaps Kara should have been suspicious, but it seemed what she had endured had not fully destroyed her belief that most people were good. And she so desperately needed kindness in that moment.<br/><br/>The guard's words about why he did not take her to the dungeons had her turning her attention to him. Kara began to see more then the fearsome  strength and hard countenance. Perhaps not everyone here was her enemy.<br/><br/>She touched her stinging cheek when the woman noticed it, and offered no fight when she led Kara to sit. Amina's kindness helped to ease most of Kara's trembling. The woman's kind touch as she took Kara's hands in her own had Kara giving her a watery smile. She winced immediately, because even a smile hurt her throbbing cheek.<br/><br/>The tears she held back finally fell when Amina spoke of her parents. Kara sniffed loudly, then whispered to the woman, “Its very nice to meet you, Amina.” It seemed nothing could rid her of her manners, and she blushed at her inane words.<br/><br/>Kara looked on with wonder as she watched Amina heat the water. Tarek had used his powers to make them travel, but she had been too upset to pay attention. Kara expected the touch to her cheek to hurt, but it was gentle and soothing, and soon her tears stopped falling.<br/><br/>“Thank you for your kindness, Amina.” Kara closed her eyes and sighed softly as her immediate fear washed away. When she opened them again, she hesitantly asked the woman. “Has Janna always been like this? Was my father a ruler like Kaseem? How did he die?”