Chapter Nine—Vizier Shai’na

Sitting behind her massive lacquered desk, her chair rising to a pace above where her head rested, Shai’na regarded Ali and Shiro as they sat, waiting for her reply.

“I haven’t known you for very long, Ali.”

Shiro glanced at him as he nodded.

“What?” he said, his voice rising in surprise. “What do you mean? If you want your revenge against Darius, now may be your only chance.”

She looked at them with narrowed yellow eyes. Like the fushi from his own part of the world, Shai’na was, for the most part, human looking, other than the fox fur on her head—and of course, her large ears and flicking tails.

She wore red and gold robes and gold ornaments dangled from her ears.

Crossing her hands together, Shiro could see the apprehension in her countenance, but also that she was considering their offer.

It is fraught with risk, though.

“What if you should fail finishing your task?”

Ali glanced at Shiro, then back to Shai’na, but when he made to speak, Shiro interrupted. “Then we—and everyone we care about—pay the price.”

“Death,” she said plainly.

Shiro nodded. “We cannot fail.”

Looking thoughtful, she said. “Normally the palace would have fifty battle mages. But Darius’ war in the south with those mysterious invaders (see The House of Gates) is costing him heavily. He’s throwing everything he has at that conflict, and still he’s losing.”

“Really?” Ali asked, eyes wide. “I mean, I knew he was conquering new lands, but I didn’t know how dire the conflict in the south was.”

“No,” Shai’na said with a smile. “And you wouldn’t. It’s keep mostly secret, and anything that gets out is discredited by the sultan’s criers. It’s bad morale to know your empire is slowly losing a massive war.”

“So then why all this conquering in other regions? Why continue to expand the empire?”

Shai’na shrugged. “I don’t have access to the official information. Few do. Only those in Darius’ inner circles know the answers to that. But the word is that the reason is twofold. The one reason being that his victories in these other wars are providing distraction against what is really happening.”

“And the other?” Shiro asked, genuinely curious about what was happening to the Abassir Empire. This was the first he or Ali had heard of these things.

“The second reason,” Shai’na said, “is that since we’re losing this war, expansion is the only option to change the course of this conflict. The sultan has an ever increasing need to replenish his armies—to add mages and sorcerers to his ranks. Once he conquers these regions, he is able to send new recruits down south.”

“I understand,” Ali said. “Then this is more the reason to attack him at the palace now, yes? While he lacks a proper guard.”

Shai’na smiled, and Shiro caught motion behind her chair as her tailes fluttered about. He wondered if the chair had an open back.

“He may not be protected as well as is normal,” she said. “But he does have the most elite Scorpion Guard members at his beck and call.”

“The Blades,” Ali said, his countenance whitening.

“Yes.”

“Is that all?” Shiro asked. “Who are these Blades?”

“Scorpion Blades, man!”

Shai’na nodded again. “They are to be feared as warriors are concerned. But they are just warrior. Worse, the sultan also has his most loyal battle mage in the palace. And I recently heard talk of the Hajja sorcerers having taken up residence as well.”

“Hajja sorcerers?” Ali asked.

Shai’na waved a dismissive hand. “An ancient cult of sorcerers.”

“We have two powerful top-tier adventurers,” Shiro said. “And…”—he hesitated, wondering if he should tell her, but he continued—“and a jinni.”

“A jinni?” Shai’na asked, her ears fluttering up as if she had just caught wind of something over a hill.

Ali jerked his head at Shiro, but said nothing.

“Hai,” Shiro said. “She has been taken from me. But once we get into the palace and find her, she will aid us.”

“I thought Darius had a jinni companion?”

“You did?” Ali said.

“There’s always been the rumors.”

“He does,” Shiro confirmed. “She was kept as his prisoner in the dungeon Akarilion. I—we”—he gestured to Ali—“saved her from her imprisonment.”

Shai’na’s eyes widened. “You mean to say his jinni is no longer making him stronger?”

Shiro nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier? But you must understand—Darius is a powerful man. Even before finding his jinni, he was well known as a legend among adventurers.”

“Truly?” Shiro asked.

“Yes.”

“We can take him,” Ali said. “Trust me.”

“Hmph!” she huffed.

“Why are we even having this conversation if you are unwilling to take risks?” Shiro asked. “There will never be a more opportune moment to remove Darius. Is your family line not in a position to take up leadership?”

Smiling broadly, she said, “While technically I would be in line, the truth is, all of the blood descendants of the previous sultan were killed—including my husband. I have no true claim by blood.”

“But you do have a claim by association!” Ali said. “Darius is a tyrant. Once we defeat him, his underlings will fall in line.”

“Or they will recall their sorcerers and adventurers from the front in the south to destroy us all.”

“Would they truly?” Shiro asked. “Would that not be a certain doom for the empire?”

“Oh it would,” she said with an emphatic nod. “But they may just do it out of stupidity or spite.”

“Perhaps,” Ali said. “Or perhaps they will see you as a stronger leader—one who can turn the tides of this losing war in the south you speak of. This is how cowards are. They will align themselves with whatever side is stronger—the side that has the greater likelihood to provide them with safety and prosperity.”

“You seem to know it well,” Shai’na said.

“It is the way of the world,” Ali said.

“Hmm,” she noised thoughtfully. “You make a good point, Ali al Bashir.”

“Thank you,” he said, his smile a winning one that hardly bespoke of his swashbuckler’s nature.

“So, a mid-tier adventurer whose made it big in Darshuun and a strange foreigner the likes of which I’ve never seen. These would be my allies?”

“And don’t forget Razul al Bashir,” Ali said, “a well-known top-tier adventurer!”

“And the Black Cobra of Mar’a Thul, a legend in his own right,” Shiro added. “Vizier Shai’na. We can do this. Jessamine is on our side. We have but to free her and kill Darius and the rest of the pieces will fall into line.”

She put her hand over her chin and tapped her desk with a forefinger.

After a long time she said, “Well, I have received an invitation to the festivities. I could accept, come with a large procession.”

“Yes!” Ali said. “We are your loyal servants.”

“And how will we find you the weapons you need?”

“Debaku will sneak into the palace,” Shiro said.

Shai’na raised an eyebrow. “Do you think he can do it?”

Nodding, Shiro said. “I know he can. I have seen his skills in this regard.”

“We both have,” Ali said. “I remember how he disappeared”—he snapped a finger—“like that.”

Shiro nodded. “Mm.”

“Yes, perhaps that would be best,” Shai’na said. “Not that it wouldn’t be necessarily out of place, but your friend, the Black Cobra, is a recognizable legend within the adventuring world. I wouldn’t be surprised if Darius himself has met the man.”

“So, do we have a plan?”

She glanced at them, then a smile lit up her face as she put out her hand. “We do have a plan,” she said.

They shook her hand in turn.

“But we have far more to discuss about the particulars before we do this!”

They nodded.

“I will send a courier to Darius’ staff and accept his invitation to attend his ‘grand festivities.’ Ugh! The empire doesn’t have the money for this. The coin would be better spent contracting mercenary companies to fight in the south.”

“Funds you will no doubt divert as soon as you have control of the capital,” Ali said happily.

Shiro saw what he was doing. He was reinforcing her confidence, her want for change. Very manipulative.

“Yes, well,” Shai’na said. “I do not wish to do this in a half-sharpened manner. I will need time to prepare—say, two days at least.”

“Two days?” Shiro asked.

“Indeed! I must make arrangements, and I have half a mind to have some of my own men aid you in this… assassination.”

“Very well,” Ali said. “We will return to my manor and prepare.”

“Good,” she said. “Now go. I do not want you coming here again. At least not until this is all over and Darius is gone.”

Ali nodded as Shiro got up from his chair. Pressing his hands together, he bowed formally to Shai’na.

“Why, thank you!” she said, surprised.

As they stepped out of her office and out onto the streets, Ali looked at Shiro and made a triumphant fist. “We did it! I’m starting to feel confident about this, Shiro.”

“We still need to be careful,” Shiro said. “Overconfidence has been the downfall of many.”

“What, are you going to get philosophical on me, man?”

“No.”

“All right,” he said. “So we go back and tell the others what is happening.”

“Hai,” Shiro said, a feeling of success filling up his core. There was fear there as well. As they had told the vizier, if they failed, everyone they knew would pay the price.

We must not fail.