Ayaz gazed up at the walls of Qamda and grinned. Harsh desert was shunned at the base of the first wall, a thick white structure that stretched around the entire circumference of the city. After the first wall was the aptly named second wall, a slightly taller structure of striking black obsidian that stood several kilometres further into the city. Ayaz knew that even further into the city stood the third and final wall of red stone, but it was not visible from where he was.

He sat calmly on the mule and waited for it to take him to the gate where, as expected, an honorary welcoming ceremony was waiting. Just inside the city, a temporary pavilion held the nobility and priesthood, and a tremendous crowd filled the streets and balconies and roofs of the Third Ring. Citizens from the other rings of the city largely avoided crossing into any that were below them, but the prospect of seeing the great Wahami following at the behest of a Lord Protector was too good an occasion to pass up.

“Come on, little one,” Ayaz whispered gently to his mule and urged it on for the final stretch. He was almost at the gate.

A lone rider left the crowd and stopped Ayaz before he could enter.

“Hold!” The rider was dressed in the tasteful black and white leather uniform of a Third Ring guard. A golden sun on his lapel marked him as an area commander. “Who are you? Where is the delegation…” his voice tapered off as he saw the golden chain hanging around Ayaz’s neck. “You…aren’t.”

“Move your horse, sir, or I will move it for you,” Ayaz said flatly.

The rider swallowed and hurried back through the gate, although it seemed a pain for him to tear his eyes away from the bright red gem attached to the chain.

Ayaz rode casually through the gate, and silence followed. He was not what the crowd had been waiting for, far from it. After the initial shock, a hiss of confused and panicked murmurs filled the space.

Ignoring all of it, Ayaz dismounted before the pavilion and strode up to the Sultan and his dignitaries. Ayaz stood in front of the Sultan and bowed briefly before speaking. “Good day, Sultan Zoeb Hamoon XV, my name is Ayaz.”

The Sultan stared at Ayaz coldly from his throne for several moments. He was beyond his middle years, though his hair – at least the little enough that was shown – was not completely white. His dark face was long, sharp, and deeply lined. He wore ornate robes of red silk studded with jewels and wore a simple crown. The crown itself was a wide golden band lined with small silver swords standing vertically along its entire length.

He spoke in a refined voice, carefully measured and controlled, “Who are you Ayaz, and where is the delegation?”

“I am the new Lord Protector, and the members of the delegation are all dead.”

The Sultan pursed his lips briefly and gestured to one of his dignitaries. The man who stepped out was tall and thin. A chain similar to Ayaz’s rested on top of his dark silk clothing, except a polished green emerald sat in the loop instead of a red.

The man went to the Sultan and whispered in his ear for several moments. A baby began to cry somewhere in the crowd. The Sultan nodded briefly once the man had finished and focused back on Ayaz.

“What happened to them?”

“They were killed by Wahami. Wahami's reasoning was that you had not followed his wishes of allowing commoners to supplicate him.”

The Sultan sighed, “That was a risk, but we thought it to be small.”

“Your Majesty!” A man stepped out of the crowd of nobles in the pavilion. He had a golden chain like the other men, which marked him as the third and final Lord Protector. In his loop was a sparkling blue gem. Ayaz noticed that it perfectly matched his eyes. He was short and wide where the other man was tall and thin, but his deep voice carried much the same arrogance. “Sultan, you speak to him as if he was an advisor. He is a stranger and a thief!”

“I agree with Nabhan your Majesty, this… Ayaz, cannot yet be trusted,” The tall man said.

“Before Sandam died, he granted me the chain and thus his position,” Ayaz spoke loud enough for everyone in the pavilion, and even some outside, to hear. “By sacred law, that act is irreversible until the time of my death.”

Nabhan sneered at Ayaz, “Why were you with him in the first place?”

“I am a family friend of Jarak.”

“But you wear the clothes of a commoner!”

“They made me wear these clothes so as to not draw attention away from them when they met with Wahami.”

Nabhan shook his head and looked towards the tall man. “Haritek, what say you?”

Haritek sighed and crossed his arms, “Where are your original clothes? Surely you would have left them in the packhorse. But by the questionable nature of your story, I guess not.”

“There was not enough space to store them. Jarak promised that he would give me some of his clothes.”

Nabhan scoffed and stalked towards Ayaz, “Jarak was quite fat and short. You, Ayaz, are neither.” While Nabhan was speaking Haritek moved to stand beside him and loom over Ayaz.

“Enough!” The Sultan shouted impatiently, “We can question him later. I must address the crowd and then we will go back to the palace. I cannot bear this dust any longer.” The Sultan got up from his throne and adjusted his crown before stepping outside of the pavilion. At a hand signal, the criers situated amongst the crowd shouted for silence.

“Greetings to the great people of Qamda! Unfortunately, I have just learned that Lord Protector Sandam Saraf II is dead, alongside his travelling companions.”

At this, the crowd began to stir.

“And, at Sandam’s dying request, a successor to him has been appointed.” The crowd was abuzz with confusion and disappointment.

As the Sultan continued his speech, a woman sidled next to Ayaz. She was around a hand taller than him, with a slender appearance that would be appealing to most men. Her intelligent grey eyes contrasted with her dark skin.

“They all seem to be disappointed with you.” She said conversationally. “I think that you seem interesting.”

“Why?”

“You lie, but I feel it is for an honorable purpose.”

“How would you know that?”

“I am not sure. Maybe… you remind me of someone I knew.”

Ayaz smiled and laughed softly, “Now I want to get to know you, to tell you all of my secrets. Maybe I will even shed a tear after you betray me.”

The woman grinned with him, “I would never let you find out, so you wouldn’t have to cry.”

“You haven’t told me your name.”

“Imani Hamoon, first of my name.”

“A nice name, Imani. It has been a pleasure.” Ayaz shook her hand and began walking away from the pavilion.

Haritek and Nabhan both moved to stop him but stopped short. Although they could have likely restrained him together, it would be have been a struggle, and not something to be witnessed by a crowd of any size.

Ayaz turned to the two men and spoke calmly. “Do not worry, I will be at the palace in several hours.”

He took a running jump that took him well over the crowd and into the city beyond. Wind buffeted his body as he flew through the air. He soared past several blocks before slowly descending down towards a cluster of makeshift buildings. With the force of a falling boulder, he smashed through a roof of rotting timber and thatch.

Ayaz had landed in a cramped room at the back of a small apothecary. The walls of the room were lined with bookcases filled with jars of neatly organised materials. Before Ayaz, a cowering man prayed frantically from behind a desk piled with papers and small sacks of gold. Ayaz stepped around the desk and pulled the man up by his collar.

“Oh, by the divine light of the Mother please have mercy on me.” The man grovelled; his eyes squeezed shut in fear.

“It’s ok. I won’t harm you.”

The man paused and cautiously opened an eye to assess the seriousness of Ayaz’s claim. When he realised that Ayaz would not hurt him he stood up by himself and straightened his stained clothes, which were drab.

With a renewed confidence the man spoke haughtily to Ayaz. “Sir, it seems that you have fallen from one of the surrounding buildings. This would have been fine if not for the damage that you have done to my…” The man trailed off as his eyes fell on the chain that Ayaz was wearing. “Oh, never mind then Lord Protector, how can I be of service?”

“I have several commissions for your laboratory. Each formula will have ingredients that will be difficult to procure. Difficult in the extreme.”

“With the right coin that will be no issue, Lord Protector. I have contacts all over the Coalition, and beyond!”

“I know. Now listen closely.”

Ayaz gave the apothecary his instructions and then walked out of the building via the door, much to the man’s relief. Ayaz then made several more – highly public – leaps to the Second Ring, where he employed the services of two more shop owners.

Firstly, he visited a tailor who specialised in noble attire. He fitted himself for a stark uniform of dark red and black. It buttoned up to one side and had a silver lining along its hem and sleeves.

Next, he visited a goldsmith and made a simple request for him to replicate his Lord Protector’s chain. Although it was against the law to replicate one, he was forced to make an exception for Ayaz, who expected it within a week.

After this, Ayaz leaped one more time into the First Ring. He landed in front of the palace and walked purposefully past the guards guarding the way. Through massive marble arches and echoing rooms, he marched alone until he reached the throne room. Silence followed him yet again as he walked past the crowd of courtiers and stood before the throne. The three important men that he had met previously were all there, each appearing frustrated due to their need to wait for him. In Boran, official court proceedings could not legally take place without the presence of all three Lord Protectors.

The Sultan straightened in his grand golden throne and gestured for Nabhan and Haritek to take their places. Three small pedestals of equal height were placed in front of the throne equidistant from each other. The pedestals to the left and right of the throne were placed closer than the one directly facing it. This was to ensure none felt more advantageous than another.

Ayaz stepped on the middle pedestal and waited calmly for the Sultan to begin.

“I call before me the three Lord Protectors of the sovereign nation of Boran. May their wisdom and strength guide the proceedings of this court for the good of Boran and its people,” the Sultan said impatiently. “Firstly, I will request from Lord Protector Ayaz a full report of exactly what occurred before, during, and after the diplomatic visit to Wahami performed by Sandam Saraf II, Jarak Kallidin IV, and Adnan Traftan I.”

“Yes, leave out no detail,” Haritek said eagerly.

Ayaz nodded and spoke clearly, “Several days before the journey began, Jarak introduced me to Sandam. From him, I was simply asked to learn from them and perform all of the menial tasks that they requested. I became acquainted with the group, and so was able to accompany them on their journey to Wahami. On that journey, I was gifted two things; my chain, and this blade.”

Ayaz pulled a sheathed dagger out of his uniform. Its hilt of gem incrusted gold reflected the light that came from the windows high above.

Courtiers gasped and the men standing in front of him stared at the dagger incredulously.

Nabhan whispered. “No... that's-”

“This,” Ayaz unsheathed the dagger and held it up for all to see, “is Sandam’s personal dagger, which he bestowed to me in good faith.”

Its bare blade was slightly curved and depicted a swooping hawk.

Haritek scoffed, “This proves nothing. He could have just pilfered the dagger off of Sandam’s corpse.”

“Let him finish his tale,” the Sultan said dismissively.

Ayaz nodded and sheathed the dagger. He did not put it back into his coat. “I was gifted the chain as Sandam laid dying, and the dagger soon after. He told me to carry on his-“

Haritek held up his hand to interject. “Tell us the events that led up to his death. You skirt around that information quite willingly, it seems.”

“I apologise, Haritek. I will explain.” Ayaz replied graciously. “Firstly, we headed out of the city almost three days ago, stocked with provisions. We journeyed the desert for probably ten hours before we reached Wahami’s dwelling. We camped for the night at the base of his mountain and slept without issue. As soon as we were ready the next morning we journeyed up the mountain, which took us perhaps three quarters of the time it took us to travel to the mountain. On the way up Jarak sprained his ankle, which had little effect on the journey except to put everyone’s nerves on edge with his constant complaining.”

“I doubt you were much fazed Ayaz,” Nabhan interrupted, “I very much doubt you were affected at all by poor Jarak’s suffering.”

“That is not for you to say,” Ayaz replied coldly. “Anyway, once we reached the entrance to Wahami’s lair, I was made to wait outside. I waited with the mule for several minutes before hearing shouts from inside. I, of course, ran in to see if I could help. What I saw was this. Jarak and Adnan had been executed, and Sandam was laying injured and immobile on the ground. I did not see Wahami once.”

“Of course!” Haritek scoffed.

“Be quiet, let him finish.” the Sultan said.

“I went to Sandam to see if I could help him, but the damage he took was irreversible. While he was dying he told me-“

“What were his injuries,” Haritek asked calmly.

Ayaz paused, taken aback, “Excuse me?”

“You heard him clearly.” Nabhan said.

“Ahh, his…” Ayaz furrowed his brow momentarily. “It appeared to me that the damage was mostly internal. He was scratched mildly but he coughed blood. I did not inspect him closely.” Ayaz looked towards the Sultan, “May I continue, your Majesty?”

“Yes, please do.”

“Sandam told me to take care of his family and to make sure his dagger and chain were not allowed to slip into nefarious hands. He believed that I was truly deserving of his gifts.”

“A stranger he had known for, what, 4 days? It is hard for me to believe he would trust you so.” Haritek said.

“I can only tell you what he said. And I speak the truth, I swear it.” Ayaz said humbly. “After that, I descended the mountain atop the mule, and rode here.”

“You did not bury them?” Nabhan said, affronted. “You left them to rot, and you say that you were their friend? How dare you!”

“I couldn’t hav-“

“We all know you could have carried-“

“Enough!” Ayaz roared.

There was silence in the cavernous room. Haritek and Nabhan both looked a mixture between humoured and startled, whilst the Sultan appeared confused.

Ayaz composed himself and continued. “I intended to bury them, but I was prevented. After Sandam had died in my arms, I went outside to organise the mule and… cry for a short time. After I was finished I went back into the room and the bodies were gone. There was nothing for me to do except leave.”

There was silence in the grand hall.

The Sultan stood. “Ayaz, welcome to my court. You will be an integral part of it for the foreseeable future. I believe that there is nothing more to be said.” He regarded Ayaz respectfully and left the throne room through a side door. Haritek sighed and Nabhan shouted, “You are all dismissed! Walk in the grace of the Mother.” With that command both men left the same way as the Sultan, avoiding Ayaz’s gaze.

After them, the crowd of courtiers and nobles broke up into a sea of whispers and swiftly moving bodies. Ayaz could have drawn parallels to them and the crowd of peasants he saw earlier.

Some moved towards him, yet more moved purposefully in the opposite direction. He ignored everybody except for one.

“What do you think Imani, was I telling the truth?” Ayaz smiled at her.

“Maybe, maybe not. There is little anyone can do about it either way.”

“That is true, though I welcome any constructive criticism.”

“Hmm,” Imani looked at Ayaz quizzically, “you seem quite experienced already Ayaz. I can’t help but wonder exactly who you are.”

Ayaz’s smile broadened slightly, “Don’t we all do that sometimes?”