Chapter Twenty-One—A Spreading of Hands

Ali glanced about, searching. Searching for any sign of Shiro.

Where is that godsforsaken infidel?

He wandered about, finally finding the throne room where Shai’na was at, but before entering, he realized the men loitering out in the corridor were in fact, bodyguards—though none of them being palace guards—they were not armed.

“Greetings!” Ali said with a smile. “Good men, have you seen a slender man in house dress quite like my own? He has a… funny look in his eyes.”

One man—for they were all men without any demihuman present—shook his head.

Waiting for a reply, Ali was distracted by a sudden gong from within the throne chamber. He leaned in toward the doors which were open slightly. It was busy, with many nobles, satraps, viziers and princesses alike. From out in the hall he could see them intermingling, drinking and watching displays that made Ali jealous.

“Gods…” he muttered.

But he would only draw attention to himself if he strode into that sea of people who all knew each other—some of which even knew him by sight.

No, he had to look elsewhere.

Turning around, he began to make his way back up the stairs.

“Hey, you!”

Ali turned.

“Your man—the strange one you speak of. Last I saw, he was heading in the same direction you are now.”

With a smile, Ali nodded. “My thanks, friend.”

Heading up the stairs, the festive sounds of the heavy drums, lutes and flutes from the throne chamber followed after him. The Abassir adventurer thought that Shiro must have returned to Shai’na’s chambers while he was out searching.

If it weren’t for the fact that they were sneaking about with aims to both steal from the sultan and kill him, Ali thought that this party would have been quite the event—something he would want to be a part of.

After a time, walking fast and swiveling his head about, Ali finally made it back to the north-east wing of the palace where some of the guest apartments were. He opened the door to Shai’na’s chambers and entered.

Glancing about, he found neither Shiro, nor his brother.

A hotness flushed into his face.

Ali, spreading his hands and blinking furiously, muttered, “Where in the hells…?”

What was happening?

Where was Razul?! And what was he doing right now? Ali had told him to stay in these chambers before he left.

I suppose I should not be surprised that he chose not to listen to me!

He glanced out the window and across the gardens. There was no sign of Debaku either, and thinking back to his brother, he thought, damned camel lover.