Chapter Eleven—A Vizier and Her Servants

It was somewhat past midday when they had arrived at vizier Shai’na’s estate. They were welcomed amicably by the servants and lead into a large drawing room where they were told to wait.

They sat in silence for a time, peering about the sumptuous space, at the rugs, the tapestries and the sandal wood important from far off lands. But eventually their patience and curiosity at the richness of the vizier’s manor began to wane.

“How long will she keep us waiting?” Ali asked of no in in particular.

In such a sumptuous drawing room of lacquered wood furniture of white leather and lion fur rugs, the group of adventurers was extremely out of place in their pantaloons and low neck tunics.

But it was their scimitars most of all.

The tall double doors opened as a servant pushed his way though. Behind him, came Shai’na in her blue and golden robes shat shimmered with the light, behind her the tails—nine of them—that accompanied many fushi—wagged along softly.

Looking up, Shiro saw her and stood. Ali glanced at him and did the same, along with Dabaku, Razul and Daro. They must have looked like a group of cutthroats ready to do the bidding of their exquisitely dressed mistress.

“Ah,” she said, clasping her hands together. “It is good to see you all have come.”

“Hai!” Shiro said loudly as he nodded.

She looked at him and smiled.

Then her eyes roved about the entire group. Her servant, a slender human with oiled hair pulled back into a tight tail and dressed all in black except the white band at his cuffs and ankles, also regarded them critically.

“Well, Kanu?” Shai’na asked.

After a moment of continuously looking at them like a bird of prey preparing to devour rodents, he said, “Yes, madam. They will do.”

Shiro thought he sensed something about this man.

He was a sorcerer?

Shiro hadn’t realized he could sense others before. Had something changed in him, or was this man different? He couldn’t sense the auras of the other men in his party.

“Very good,” Shai’na said with a smile. “Gentlemen,” she said, clasping her hands together again. “Welcome to my estate. As you know, we will prepare for our ingress into Darius’ palace tonight for his celebrations. I need say no more on that matter, as my man Kanu here, will be the one working with you. You will follow his direction as if it were my own.”

Shiro narrowed his eyes.

“I’ve never seen this man before,” Ali said skeptically.

“Don’t worry, Ali al Bashir,” Shai’na said. “He is a trusted servant of my household—and has been for many years. You can trust him as you trust me.”

Shifting uneasily, Ali said. “All right.”

Seeming to make the decision for all of them, Shiro sighed and differed, as did Debaku and Razul. This was Ali’s part of the plan. And besides, if Shai’na wanted to betray them, doing it this way would be far from logical or effective. She was not lying or leading them astray. If she trusted this man, then they could also trust him.

Shai’na smiled, then bowed her head. “Then I will take my leave.” She turned and strode out of the drawing room.

Kanu looked at them all. “Are you all ready for what is to come?” he asked.

“I am,” Shiro said quickly.

“Me too,” Ali added.

“I’m always ready,” Razul said lazily.

Debaku said nothing, only nodded.

“Excellent,” he said. “I am Kanu, Shai’na’s right hand, as she said. Anything of note, of important, comes through me first. I handle all of my lady’s security and any other dealings that might be considered untoward. And I know I need not say that I am an ex adventurer myself.”

“Oh good,” Razul said. “I feel much safer now.”

Kanu did not rise to Razul’s little bait.

“What are your plans?” Shiro asked.

“Yes,” Ali said crossing his arms. “We have some ideas of our own that we wish to run by you for your input.”

Kanu nodded. “Her ladyship will attend Darius’ party tonight. You, will accompany her by disguising yourselves within her troupe of servants and slaves.”

“Oh,” Razul said cheerily. “That sounds wonderful. I could buy half of Darshuun and I get to pretend to be a servant. I’ve always wanted to do that.”

“Do not complain,” Ali said. “Once we are inside, we will start searching for Jessamine.”

“Yes,” Shiro added. “When we find her, then we kill Darius.”

Clearing his throat, Kanu said, “Yes, well, about that. Her ladyship does not want you to do anything overly… reckless. The festivities are due to begin tonight and will go on for an extended period. We will have plenty of time to plan out our moves.”

“Like a game of Kings and Slaves!” Razul said with a smile.

“Precisely,” Kanu said. “Now, what did you have in mind?” He glanced at Ali.

“If we are planning to do any fighting—and to kill Darius, I assume we are—“

“Hells yes we are,” Razul said as he jumped off his couch and strode over to the luxurious lacquered table containing three wines and some glasses atop a silver platter. “Otherwise, there would be no need for us.” He poured himself a drink.

“Anyway,” Ali said, interrupting his brother. “We need to get our weapons into the palace.”

“Ah,” Kanu said. “Yes, that makes sense. Do you have a plan for that?”

“We do,” Shiro said. “Our friend, Bebaku will swim up the irrigation channel with our swords.”

Raising an eyebrow, Kanu glanced over at the Black Cobra. “And can you make that swim with… how many swords?”

“Just four,” Ali said.

“No,” Kanu said with a shake of his head.

“What? Why not, man?”

“You do not understand. Her ladyship is prepared to bet her entire livelihood on this… quest of yours. Her other slaves and servants have all been hand chosen by myself. They are the best warriors in all of her ranks.”

“Can we trust them?” Debaku asked.

“Of course,” Kanu said. “As I have said, I have chosen all of them myself.” He smiled, seemingly self-satisfied.

“All right,” Ali said. “So how many is that, then?”

“For myself,” Kanu said, “that is one. But there are nine more as well.”

Shiro glanced over at Debaku as he sat in the chair, his feet spread and his hands clasping the ornamental arm rests.

Had he been partaking of the alcohol as Razul was, Shiro thought Ali would have probably snorted half his glass up. “Does he look like a river boat to do, man?” The question came out impatiently as Ali gestured to Debaku with jerky movement of his hand. “How is he supposed to swim with that many swords?!”

But Kanu only glanced at Ali for a moment before he turned to the Black Cobra of Mar’a Thul. “Can you do it?” he asked expectantly.

The large black man nodded. “Easily.”

Grinning, Kanu said, “I am impressed—but then, you are the Black Cobra of Mar’a Thul, are you not?”

“I am.”

“Ha!” Ali scoffed.

“Do you not think I can do it, Abassir?”

Looking at him, Ali blurted, “That many swords? We will see!” There was a happy cheerfulness to his tone, though. One of challenge—just like his brother. “I can’t say I am not concerned, though.”

“Do not worry, little brother,” Razul said as he took a sip of his drink. “If he fails, that only means we will have to take weapons from the guards, yes? And besides, my newly acquired blade will help him swim the channel.”

“I will not need it,” Debaku said, his face hiding a smile.

“But if you do—“

“I will not.”

“Hmph.”

“Well,” Kanu said, “now that we know how this will happen.... You three will accompany Shai’na’s baggage train into the palace as obedient slaves and servants. You will have free access to her quarters and that of the servant’s quarters. Anything else, I am afraid, will bring suspicion upon you—so be careful.”

“Don’t worry,” Razul said with a wave of his glass. “We have all done this before. We are professionals. Ali, even you and Shiro have similar experience, yes?”

Ali nodded, and Shiro said, “Hai.”

“Exactly,” Razul said. “Get us into the palace, and leave the rest to us. When we are inside, you do what we”—he gestured to Shiro and Ali—“what we say, okay man?”

Kanu smiled. “But Shai’na wants to know when you are about to make your move.”

“Why is that?” Shiro asked.

“She wants to be prepared. Is that so much to ask?”

Shiro shrugged. “I suppose it is not.”

“And we will inform you,” Razul said lightly, “assuming that we can.”

“What?” Kanu asked.

“Yes, Razul,” Ali asked and turned his head while his half-brother strode around his chair. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean, is that if the perfect opportunity for us to… execute our quest…” He laughed. “No puns intended.”

Ali rolled his eyes.

Shiro felt like doing the same, but he made no outward move to react to Razul’s ‘airy personality’—the same personality of Ali, and the words chosen were putting it nicely.

“If the perfect opportunity should present itself,” Razul went on, “then we must take it. We may not have time to ask the vizier’s permission like little school childten, yes?”

Kanu seemed to think about that for a moment. “I see your point,” he said. “And I will inform her ladyship of this and let you know what she says.”

Razul raised a brow, his lips quirking up into a wry smile.

Shiro’s sense was that Razul would do whatever he well pleased and the gods and anyone else be damned.

I do hope he does not ruin this.

“Now,” Kanu said, rising from his chair. “It is time to prepare.” He turned to Debaku. “Black Cobra. I assume you will need our weapons so you can prepare your part of this plan?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Oh,” Ali said. “I forgot to mention!”

“Yes?”

“Shai’na should ask that her quarters be facing the north-east.”

“Ah,” Kanu said. “To make your friend’s delivery easier? Yes, it will be done. Now onto the other matter. The rest of you must be disguised. You will leave your garments here, and you will wear the house liveries of her ladyship. Some of you will present yourself as servants. Others… as slaves.”

“Who gets to be the lucky slave?” Naro asked in his raspy voice.

Shiro turned his head, reacting the cat eye’s voice for the first time in this meeting.

“Yet to be decided,” Kanu said. “Come—this way!” He turned and strode through a side door.

Ali looked at Shiro. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Shiro said. “More ready than I have ever been.”

“Good,” Debaku said. “We will only have one chance at this.”

“Speak for yourself,” Razul said as he sat his wine glass down. “If this goes to the camel shit—I’m out across the roofs and into the hills. They won’t even know I got out. Hells almighty! They won’t even know the great adventurer Razul was even there!”

Ali turned to his brother. “We are working together, Razul. No more roguish behavior. We do this to save Jessamine and ensure our lives in Darshuun don’t come to an abrupt end by Darius’ headsmen.”

“Yes, yes,” Razul said, brushing him off.

As he strode ahead of them, Shiro turned to Ali and Debaku. “I am worried about him.”

Ali sighed.

“We will keep an eye on him,” Debaku said.

“Two eyes on him,” Ali added.

“Two snake eyes,” Shiro said.

Debaku looked at him, and Shiro was slightly taken aback, wondering if what he said had been a mistake.

But then Debaku chuckled and Ali started laughing. Shiro joined in, thankful that the moment was broken with levity, but not just the moment of his possible overstep in commenting on Debaku’s eyes.

He was quite nervous about what was to come.

Kami-sama, aid me in my quest.