Noon time, in Al-Basra City.
Taz and Daghir reached the city's bridge. It had a small shack beside its entrance where three young men sat. It was the same one she visited when she was a member of Al Mutahirun.
She disembarked her horse, pulled it by its leash and approached the men. She asked them about their father, as he was not present with them.
One stood up and told her he had passed away due to illness. She asked them if they still worked in their father's place as the horses needed a place to feed and rest.
They responded to her by saying the family's trade was still running, and they took the horses away after taking a fee from Taz and Daghir.
The pair walked into the city, yet Daghir noticed Taz looked uneasy.
He walked closer to her and said, "What's wrong?"
"Things didn't end well last time I was here," Taz replied.
Daghir chuckled and said, "I read about that night in your record. They called it the red night."
Taz looked at him and said, "We may encounter troubles in our stay here."
"What those guards did was punishable by death; hindering an arrow from his duties is a grave crime," Daghir said.
"It's not the guards I'm worried about. Let's hope they were mere drunks," Taz replied.
The pair delved deeper into the eastern section of the city.
They arrived at the wooden platform where the city's poets dueled. There was a large crowd surrounding it.
Taz thought it was another battle between poets and approached it hoping to see the poet of liquor once again. Yet she didn't find any poets nor a crazed man holding a bottle of wine as he delivered perfect verses.
Only a guard held a large, signed paper. He stood before the crowd and told them to listen as he declared a public statement.
The crowd went silent, yet inaudible chatter was heard.
The guard cleared his throat and told them about an execution that would take place in three days. He stated that the criminal was found guilty of crimes that were too horrendous to mention in public. He told the masses about the one crime he could say to them, which was the crime of speaking ill against the city's prince.
Then he finally mentioned the criminal's name. The criminal's name was Abu Nawas, also known as the poet of liquor.
Taz's covered her mouth as her jaw dropped. She was too stunned to speak.
Daghir looked at her and asked, "Do you know him?"
Taz looked at him and said worriedly, "We can't let him die."
Daghir furrowed his eyebrows and said, "What?"
Taz turned to him, saying, "We can't let that man die! He's a jewel for poets."
"We could talk to the prince about it. My father knows him well," Daghir said.
They pair hurried to the royal palace of the city.
While later, in Al-Basra's royal court.
The prince sat in his chair and sighed.
He was a young man with a thick beard. He wore a white turban and a white robe. He had a sandy-brown skin tone and small round brown eyes. He had a calm complexion yet a fierce expression.
He stared at Abu Nawas, who sat on his knees before him as he was cuffed in chains. A guard approached the prince and said, "A pair of arrows wish to meet you, your majesty."
He nodded in approval, and the guard went to fetch Taz and Daghir.
The pair walked in. Abu Nawas saw Taz and stood up with a bright smile. Taz looked at Abu Nawas and smiled as she saw him alive and well.
They stood before the prince, and the prince stared at them, bored.
Daghir cleared his throat and said, "I hope your days have been well, your majesty."
"What brought you here, tiger?" The prince said.
Daghir stepped forward and said, "My partner wished to have a word with you. Her name is―"
The prince leaned forward and said, "I know who she is."
Daghir nodded and stepped back.
Taz took a step forward.
"Tanaz Al Hayja, or is it Luna-wolf now?" The prince asked.
"I prefer my name," Taz replied.
"Well, what brings you here, Tanaz?" The prince asked.
Taz pointed at Abu Nawas and said, "I seek this man's salvation, your majesty. I heard he was talking ill about you, but please find it in your heart to spare him."
The prince leaned back, chuckled and said, "You must've heard it from the public speaker." He looked at Abu Nawas and said, "His true crime was hidden at his request. The accusation about him talking ill about me was a false one."
Taz approached slowly with a confused look and said, "What can be so foul that it made talking ill about the prince sound like a better idea?"
The prince looked at Abu Nawas and said, "Should I tell your admirer, or would you tell her?"
Abu Nawas stared away from Taz.
Taz approached Abu Nawas and asked softly, "What did you do?"
Abu Nawas kept his eyes away from Taz.
"Let me make it clear for your admirer by quoting your poetry, 'I penetrated a maiden from the front, and a boy penetrated me from the back. I felt pleasure from the front and back.' That's the end of his verse," The prince informed.
Taz stepped away from Abu Nawas, shocked and disgusted. She glared at him and growled, "You fucking abomination!"
Abu Nawas looked at Taz and said, "Please understand, Taz. I was―"
He couldn't finish his sentence as Taz slapped him hard. "Don't you dare look at me, you fruity bastard!" Taz scolded.
Daghir approached them and said, "Tanaz, if you were a true admirer, you would know that perverted sexual acts are a specialty of Abu Nawas."
Taz looked at him and said, "His books never mentioned it."
Abu Nawas looked at Taz and said, "I told you before that my books aren't welcome in Babilim."
The prince signaled his men to take Abu Nawas back to his cell. While dragged away, he called for Taz and begged her to save him.
The prince looked at Taz and said, "The poet isn't the only one who waits for his punishment, Tanaz. You as well have committed a grave crime in my city."
Taz looked at him and said, "I acted within my authority as an arrow."
The prince stood up and approached Taz. She almost forgot that everyone from the royal family was abnormally large and tall.
The prince looked down at her and said, "Your right as an arrow is to eliminate whoever hinders you from accomplishing your tasks. What happened in the red night was an act of slaughter against the guards."
Taz glared at him and said, "Your guards are corrupt, Prince Thabit."
Thabit couldn't hold his anger and slapped Taz harshly. She stepped back, dazed, and her lips busted. She knew well that she couldn't hit the prince. If she did, that'd result in certain death.
"The guards' punishment is my responsibility, not yours! I should have you executed for your insolence," Thabit growled.
Daghir stepped between them and said, "Your majesty, there's no need for extreme measures. I'm sure she'll do her best to gain your forgiveness."
Prince Thabit looked at Daghir and said, "Now that you mentioned it, there's something."
He sat back in his chair and said, "If you could solve that problem for me, Daghir. I'll spare that Hayja woman."
Daghir approached him and said, "I will do my best, your majesty."
Taz wiped the blood off her lips and said, "I won't accept unless you spare Abu Nawas as well."
"You're in no position to bargain, woman," Prince Thabit snarled.
Taz approached him and said, "In fact, I am. Not only was I raised among influential people, but I'm also a member of a powerful tribe. Killing me will make all of them your enemies."
The prince glared at Taz, rubbed his beard and sighed.
"Fine, the queer poet will be spared as well. On the condition that you rid me of my problem for good," Prince Thabit replied.
The prince went on with his demands.
He explained that a gang resides within the city, and though the existence of criminal groups was natural for Al-Basra, those people were different.
The gang was led by a woman, Sakina.
The gang controls critical pillars of the city's economy. One was the transport of goods. The second was the importation of drugs. The third was providing whores to the masses of the night. Yet what made them truly dangerous was their control of higher-ranked guards.
After Daghir heard the prince's explanation, he rubbed his chin and nodded.
He told the prince that the gang's operations seemed planned, as everything they held gave them an advantage.
By transport control, they had power over the merchants and shop owners. By the importation of drugs, they had control over the people. By the supply of whores they provided, they controlled both information trading and the minds of ordinary men.
If anything, the gang almost had complete control of Al-Basra.
The prince looked at Daghir and said, "By now, you know there's no room for failure. You have my permission to kill them if the need arises. Should you bring her to me alive, I'll give you an extra reward."
Taz crossed her arms and said, "I also want a reward. My life alone isn't motivating for me."
"Name it, and I'll consider it," Prince Thabit replied.
"I heard of the existence of enchanted swords and daggers. Any information about them is valuable to me," Taz said.
"Those weapons are more of a myth than a legend. Only one exists in Mesopotamia and belongs to the king," Prince Thabit said.
"You gave me the reward before finishing the task," Taz said.
"That's not the reward since everyone knows what I told you. You'll hear the valuable information once the task is done," Prince Thabit said.
Daghir left, and Taz followed him, displeased with a newfound hatred for the prince.
Daghir took Taz to a place he frequented whenever he stayed at Al-Basra.
He took her to the north side of the city, a district where only the wealthiest reside. They went into a palace that served as a hub for the nobles.
It had a large courtyard layered with smooth beige stone and lush gardens. It was heavily guarded and gave off the aura of wealth and class when a person stepped inside.
They found a clerk sitting behind the desk who wore white and gold clothes.
The pair approached him and asked for a room to stay in. The clerk told them about an available rooftop lodging and notified them about its hefty fee.
"I assume you'll offer us extra services for that price," Taz said.
"Of course, if it's within the boundaries of the law," The clerk replied.
Though the clerk didn't realize Taz was asking about food and drinks.
Daghir agreed and told the clerk to charge the fee from his family's treasury as his relatives were known clients of the establishment.
They climbed the stairs and went to their new lodging accompanied by a female staff member.
Their lodging had a large living room and three bedrooms.
The living room was square-shaped. It had leather couches next to the wall and a round table.
They walked to the balcony, which had a river view and was shaded by white covers. It had benches outside with a rectangular table.
They sat there and told the woman who accompanied them to bring plenty of food and drinks.
Taz looked at the view from her seat and exhaled deeply as it was relaxing.
Daghir looked at Taz and said, "You like the place?"
Taz looked at him and said, "It's more spacious than my small home."
"Where do you live?" Daghir asked.
"Western district, the good parts," Taz replied.
"Near the temple?" Daghir asked.
"It's a short walk, but the alleyways are horrible," Taz replied.
The woman brought the food and drinks to them on a wooden trolly framed with gold.
She placed food, two bottles of rum and wine, and then a large clay urn filled with rose water.
Taz pulled out her money pouch, gave the woman fifty dinars, and told her to give them privacy.
The woman left with a bright smile on her face.
Daghir looked at Taz and said, "Didn't know you're a generous tipper."
"Nobles often ignore that workers are humans," Taz said.
Daghir poured rum into his mug and gave it to Taz, then poured it into a glass for himself.
Taz grabbed the mug and said, "Abu Nawas truly let me down. I even grew a preference for wine to become like him."
Daghir drank from his mug and asked, "I'm still wondering how you didn't realize he's perverted?"
Taz drank from her mug and said, "Didn't have the time to read his entire works."
Daghir sipped his drink and said, "Because of Safira, I suppose?"
"Yes," Taz replied.
Taz lay on the bench and sighed as she looked at the clear afternoon sky.
Daghir ate a piece of grapefruit and said, "Something wrong?"
"How long will this partnership last, Daghir?" Taz asked calmly.
"Until one of us dies or decides to leave," Daghir said.
"I don't mind being your permanent partner, but―" Taz sat up, looked at Daghir and said, "Can I fully trust you?"
"I can ask the same," Daghir said.
"Even if I wanted to prove it to you, I can't," Taz replied.
Daghir laughed and said, "You're truly a rookie!"
Taz looked at him in confusion and said, "What did I say wrong?"
Daghir pulled out his medallion and said, "This is no mere accessory."
"I already know it's connected to our souls and shields our minds from charms," Taz replied.
"It can do much more if you're willing to commit to it," Daghir said.
"Well, tell me then!" Taz said.
"The medallion's true potential shows when two souls become one, at the cost of knowing each other's memories and deepest desires," Daghir said.
"What will it do when souls bind together?" Taz asked.
"We'll be able to share our combined knowledge, communicate without speaking and much more," Daghir said.
"The benefits outweigh the cost; there must be something more to it," Taz wondered.
Daghir filled his mug with alcohol, sipped it and said, "I heard a rumor about an additional cost, but it sounded more poetic than factual."
"What?" Taz asked.
"When two souls combine. Their hearts will be tied almost like siblings or lovers. They'll only know peace and comfort in each other's company. If they're separated, they will weep like a mother who lost her child," Daghir said.
"The good side is we'll get a strategic advantage, and the bad side is we'll become emotionally unstable," Taz replied.
Daghir leaned back, crossed his legs widely and said, "Nothing is ever simple in our line of work."
Taz drank from her mug and said, "I'm more concerned about the emotional part."
"Take your time to decide, for now. Let's enjoy our afternoon," Daghir replied.
They spent their afternoon on the roof and barely talked as both were occupied with their thoughts. Daghir kept thinking about a plan to take down the gang, and Taz pondered the idea of uniting her soul with a man she barely knew.
Daghir seemed a bit out of character for his title and reputation. He's an approachable man and a great talker.
He was known for her vicious nature and brutal methods, but he could perfectly read Taz's emotions.
The red tiger was a mysterious man. Publicly ruthless and privately gentle.
That's what made Taz warry of him and cautious.
Daghir and Taz discussed their approach to their task when the sun started setting, and he told her he thought of three ways they could take down the gang.
The first idea Daghir had was to infiltrate the gang by proxy.
Daghir explained to Taz that they could bribe one of their members in exchange for information and map locations.
To which Taz refused because it's expensive and time-consuming.
Daghir then proposed the second idea.
Taz herself would infiltrate the gang, posing as an outlaw and a reject from the Mesopotamian military.
Her story would be after the red night. She was expelled and exiled from Babilim. With nowhere to go, she sought a life of crime to afford a living.
Taz liked the idea. With her being a mole, she could find information faster and capture the gang's leader. But she wanted to hear the last Idea that Daghir had.
Daghir's last idea was that they both try to get themselves targeted by the gang as potential victims.
They would pose as a newlywed couple and buy expensive jewelry from the areas the gang operates in, increasing the chances of one being kidnapped to their lair.
Taz rejected the idea. She told Daghir that the bandits would know she was no mere woman due to her muscular physique and the scars on her body.
"So, you prefer to become a criminal, Tanaz?" Daghir asked.
"It's the better choice, although I never once stole anything or lied," Taz said.
"If you can't lie properly, we can't advance," Daghir said.
"My uncle taught me a trick when I lie. 'Always mix the truth with lies, but never the opposite,' he told me," Taz informed.
"If the man known as the king's snake told you that, then I can't doubt his words," Daghir said.
"How will we communicate?" Taz asked.
"If your ears start to ring, know I am watching over you. If you have anything to tell, whisper it, and I'll hear you," Daghir informed.
Though Taz didn't know what he meant, she could only trust his words.
The world is full of oddities, with Daghir's unknown talents and skills. The word of the crazed smith held its place in Taz's head.
The End