In the afternoon.
Ahmad visited the palace of Daghir's family.
It was expansive and colored dark red. It had high beige-colored walls with drawings of tigers, bears and sirens. The palace had three separate villas inside, each serving to house a family. One housed the tiger's family, the siren's family, and the last housed the bear's family.
Yet the palace itself only served as a temporary residence for them. Their main landing was in Baghdad.
Ahmad reached the door and was welcomed by the family's dean—an old man renowned for wealth and trade.
Ahmad shook hands, hugged the old man and chirped, "It's good to see you in good health, Akram."
Akram laughed, then said, "You as well, Prince Ahmad."
Ahmad stepped back, grabbed Akram's shoulder lightly and said, "I told you I'm not a prince anymore; Those days have passed."
Akram chuckled, grabbed Ahmad's shoulder and said, "For a man of your caliber, the title those scum gave doesn't befit you."
Ahmad giggled, then said, "Let them, Akram. Those people know I am the one who put them in their place."
Akram pointed with an open palm at the gate and said, "Welcome inside, Ahmad. I have the finest drinks prepared for you."
They went inside, and they continued to chat casually.
They entered a large dining hall decorated with flowers and paintings. It had blood-red walls, and the floor was wooden.
Ahmad was greeted by the trio Taz met in Al Basra.
Daghir wore fancy golden pink robes and a white turban. Caleb wore brown robes and a brown turban. Athir wore a blue dress and a blue head veil.
He first shook hands with Daghir, then Caleb and Athir. He looked at Akram and said, "What do you feed your men, Akram? They're giants!"
Akram, Daghir and Caleb laughed.
"We might be tall in height, but you're above us in kindness, advisor," Daghir chirped.
Ahmad stood beside Akram, grabbed his shoulder and said, "It's nothing compared to what Akram offers. The man might be a simple merchant." He pointed at his heart and said, "But truly has the heart of a benevolent king."
"You didn't drink the alcohol I offered, and you already flatter me, Ahmad," Akram chirped.
Ahmad went ahead and sat. He looked at Akram and said, "Since you insist, let's drink!"
The hosts sat facing Ahmad, and Athir began pouring the wine.
She handed the cup to Ahmad and said, "We've brought this wine from the best farm in Mesopotamia. I'm sure it will please your tongue."
Ahmad pointed to Akram and said, "Give it to Akram first; I insist."
Akram laughed, then said, "No, no, no. You take it first, Ahmad. You've shamed me for letting you come to my house, even though I should've been coming to yours."
Ahmad laughed, then said, "No one holds shame here, Akram. I've wanted to stretch my legs, so I insisted on visiting you."
"This humble home is blessed to have you here," Akram said.
Akram gestured to Ahmad to have the wine first.
Ahmad smiled and said, "Only because you're an old man." Then took the wine.
Akram chuckled and said, "You're not a young man yourself."
Ahmad and Akram laughed.
Athir then poured wine for the rest.
Ahmad and Akram drank together.
Ahmad gulped the wine, then said, "Is it permissible to smoke here, Akram?"
Akram smiled, then said, "You shouldn't even ask, Ahmad! This house is yours; smoke as much as you want."
Ahmad pulled out his pipe, then his tobacco pouch. He scooped tobacco into his pipe, and when he tried to bring out matches.
Daghir leaned closer and said, "Please, Advisor. Let me light your pipe for you."
He hovered his finger over the chamber, and his fingertip lit a small flame. Ahmad inhaled thrice, and the tobacco was lit.
Ahmad puffed and said, "If only I could conjure flames. I would've saved much money instead of buying matches."
Daghir smiled and said, "The flames have an advantage, only If I'm sober enough to use them."
Ahmad looked at Athir and said, "Did you buy this wine?"
Athir smiled and said, "Yes, Advisor."
Ahmad smiled and said, "You have excellent taste in picking them."
Athir smiled, nodded and said, "Your words honor me."
Ahmad looked at Akram and said, "I must ask, Akram. Did you hear about the recent incident?"
Akram drank the wine and said, "I've heard. It's tragic."
"I've heard the tragedies will only increase from now on," Ahmad said.
"How so?" Akram asked.
"I've received reports about two unsavory entities that will be involved." Ahmad looked at Daghir and said, "One of them you know very well."
Daghir smiled and said, "So I've heard, Advisor."
Caleb cleared his throat, leaned on the table and said, "We've already identified who's going to get involved."
Ahmad smoked his pipe and asked, "So how will your house respond?"
Caleb stroked his beard and said, "We will respond by showing how this family gained its reputation."
Ahmad laughed, looked at Akram and said, "I like this man." He smoked his pipe and said, "Now, shall we talk more directly?"
Athir smiled and said, "Of course."
Caleb brought out a letter and said, "Since we got the formalities out of the way." He handed the letter to Ahmad and said, "I believe the contents of this letter will interest you."
Ahmad read it and said, "This will prove valuable later."
Daghir drank wine and said, "We also believe that Tanaz might or already received one."
"I've instructed her to stay in my villa until this issue gets resolved," Ahmad said.
"Can we trust the royal forces, advisor?" Athir said.
Ahmad looked at her and said, "The royal forces are mobilized with the king's command or his right-hand man."
Akram leaned closer and said, "Haider is expelled from all of his positions and is currently imprisoned. A'saal is on the brink of death. Qutaibah is nowhere to be seen. Ahmad―the ones surrounding the king are no longer the people we trust."
Ahmad smoked his pipe and said, "I have a plan, Akram. But for it to be presentable, we must show the king solid proof of the royals' injustice."
"You must tell us, Advisor. You're the only trustworthy man left," Athir said.
Ahmad leaned on the table and said, "My tactic is simple. We'll proceed with the marriage."
"It would benefit us, but Tanaz refused our offer," Athir said.
Ahmad smiled and said, "She agreed. Only I can convince my niece to a marriage."
Athir grinned and said, "That's perfect! We have plenty of good men who're willing to marry her."
Ahmad smoked his pipe, leaned back and said, "She has her sights on one specific man."
"Who?" Athir excitedly asked.
Ahmad pointed at Athir and said, "Your little brother, Nash."
After the discussions with Ahmad.
Caleb and Daghir left the hall walking side by side in silence.
They stood in the spacious corridor with beige walls, wooden seatings and marble floors.
"So…" Caleb said as he held back his laughter.
Daghir looked at him and pressed his lips as he held back his laughter. He took a deep breath and said dryly, "I'm sure Nash can handle her."
"Yes―if he wasn't that girly," Caleb said.
They burst out in laughter as they hugged each other.
Athir walked in on them. She was fuming, and her eyebrows were furrowed.
They looked at her and laughed even more, as her expressions were priceless.
Athir threw a flowerpot at them, then punched their shoulders and said, "Why Are you laughing!?"
Daghir held Caleb's shoulder. His eyes teared from laughter, and he chirped, "We're happy for our little cousin!"
Caleb giggled, then said, "Yes, Daghir is correct. I'm sure Nash will be exactly the man a woman like Tanaz needs."
Athir hit them again and shouted, "She's a cannibal! A savage! And you fuckers agreed with Akram to Ahmad's demand."
Daghir laughed, then said, "Ohh, those are lies! Last I heard, Tanaz prefers to eat sissies."
Caleb laughed loudly.
"Are you calling my little brother a sissy!?" Athir snarled.
"No, not at all. He just looks like one," Daghir joked.
Athir pulled out a dagger, approached Daghir and snarled, "I will kill you, you fucking prick!"
Faced with a mad siren, the tiger and the bear scrambled hurriedly.
Meanwhile, with Taz and Siraj.
They headed toward Taz's home, and on their way, the pale giant pondered about the times when he used to look after Taz when she was younger.
Siraj looked at Taz and said, "It's been a while since we went out together, Lady Tanaz."
Taz looked at him, smiled and said, "Yes, I missed it."
"You know I'm still your guard? You can ask me to escort you whenever you want," Siraj said.
Taz chuckled, then said, "I know, but it will make me look incompetent as an arrow."
Siraj laughed, then said, "If Master allows it, I can wear other casual clothing."
Taz held his hand as if she was his younger sister and said, "What do you think about Yara?"
Siraj looked at her and said, "I'm surprised to find more of my people in these lands. Though I do question why did you enslave her?"
"She's a kind woman who helped me in Al Basra. It's not that I wanted to enslave her, but I want to give her a second chance in life," Taz said.
Siraj sighed, then said, "I guess Hajras told you about our status?"
"Yes, it's a shame that your people are used as accessories because of your unique features," Taz said.
"We're cursed, Tanaz. There's nothing to be done about it," Siraj said.
After a short walk, they finally reached the alleyway where Taz's house lies.
They stood behind a wall and monitored their surroundings.
Siraj looked at her and said, "I can give you my sword if you want to."
Taz looked at him and said, "I have magic and a silver blade, Siraj. It's more than enough."
"Come out, Qareen," Taz said.
The Qareen manifested beside Taz and said, "I've already swept your house and the alleyway."
Siraj looked at Qareen and said, "Are there any threats?"
"Plenty. They already know you're here," Qareen said.
"How many are there?" Taz asked.
"Ten, but only the ones inside your home carry weapons. From the scent, it seems they're poisoned," Qareen informed.
Taz looked at Siraj and said, "Kill the ones outside my home. I'll take care of the ones inside."
Siraj nodded and left.
Taz looked at Qareen and said, "Stay within my ear and alert me if we encounter one."
Qareen vanished.
Taz walked into the alleyway and acted casually.
As she walked, Qareen whispered into her ear, "A woman is observing from a window; shoot her."
Taz kept walking and saw the old woman. She used Nasya's technique and shot her head; it was the quietest lightning she could conjure.
Taz kept walking and muttered, "We'll need one to be alive so Uncle's plan will succeed."
"There's plenty inside your home," Qareen whispered.
She kept walking, and Qareen whispered again, "There's a street cleaner standing before your house; shoot him."
Taz approached the cleaner and used a new technique she had learned while training with Safira. She used it before in her fight against the underground ring champion.
The technique involved conjuring an invisible field of lightning, unseen by the human eye. Any who gets closer to her gets zapped instantly and without latency.
The cleaner saw Taz. He pulled out a small knife and lunged at her. Yet Taz's field proved effective, and the second he got in range, the cleaner got zapped and killed.
Taz stood before her door, and Qareen whispered, "The door is rigged. Open it and step aside instantly."
Taz activated her reinforcement magic, kicked the door open and immediately hid behind the wall. A spear flew by and impaled the wall.
"That's a trap for beasts!" Taz muttered.
"Two men are hiding behind the door, be careful," Qareen whispered.
Taz walked inside while keeping her invisible field activated. The moment the two men tried to sneak up on her, they were zapped.
Taz looked at them and muttered, "They look Mesopotamian?"
"They are," Qareen whispered.
Taz turned around and said, "Where are the rest?"
"Three of them are hiding in your room," Qareen whispered.
"We need one of them for interrogation," Taz muttered.
"I can distract them for a few seconds," Qareen whispered.
"Do that. I'll kill two and spare one," Taz muttered.
"Once you hear my scream, barge in," Qareen whispered.
Taz approached her room's door and hovered her hand above the handle.
Seconds later, she heard the demonic scream of her Qareen, followed by cries of the assassins.
Taz barged in and quickly shot two. She activated her reinforcement magic and punched the third assassin then he fell.
Taz stepped on his leg and electrocuted him more for safety measures. Till she noticed he was out cold.
She stripped him of his weapons and acted on the orders of Ahmad. She opened the assassin's slimy mouth and searched for fake teeth or hidden tools.
She retracted her wet fingers from his mouth and muttered, "All his teeth are firm, nothing under his tongue. Then there's only one place left…."
Qareen manifested beside her and said, "There's nothing under his clothes."
Taz smirked at Qareen and said, "Can you check his hole?"
Qareen pouted and said, "That's disgusting!"
"You're a Jinn. Those places should make you feel at home," Taz joked.
"You're a twisted cannibal and a child slayer. Shouldn't the pits of hell make you feel at home?" Qareen retorted.
Taz rolled the assassin on his stomach and said, "Stop acting like a little bitch and inspect his asshole."
Qareen looked away, groaned, then looked at Taz and said, "Fine! In return, let me possess your body again."
Taz exhaled audibly, then said, "Fine, but I choose when."
While Qareen was busy exploring anal pipes, Taz took the opportunity to change into her work clothing. She wore dark garments, wore her mask, strapped her two swords, hurriedly grabbed her shoulder bag, and loaded it with needed items.
Qareen appeared and informed, "There's nothing inside."
"Why did it take so long?" Taz asked.
"It was cleaner than I thought," Qareen replied.
Taz lifted the assassin, carried him on her shoulder and said, "We're done here. Go alert, Siraj."
Taz walked out of her house and stood outside. She looked around and heard the sounds of armed people coming her way.
She stood her ground and waited. She couldn't leave Siraj behind.
Moments later, the armed people turned out to be guards. They were shaken and drew their weapons.
Taz stared at them and said nothing.
One of the guards approached, kept his eyes away from her and shouted, "Drop your swords!"
Taz smiled under her mask, then said, "Why don't you repeat what you said―while looking at my face?"
"Comply!" The guard shouted.
Taz casually approached him, stood in his personal space, leaned closer, and whispered, "You know who I am. Why try acting strong before your comrades?"
Siraj appeared from the other side of the alleyway, covered head to toe in blood.
Taz noticed him, then said to the guard, "Tell Sergeant Nawar that the scorpions have infested Babilim." Then left.
Siraj caught up, walked beside her and asked, "Are you injured?"
"No, but luckily they didn't steal my belongings," Taz said.
Siraj sighed, then said, "I couldn't capture anyone. I tried to corner one of them, and he took his own life."
Taz looked at him and asked worriedly, "How did he do it?"
"He stabbed his thigh with a poisoned knife," Siraj replied.
Taz sighed in relief and said, "Good."
In the meantime, with Hajras in the royal palace.
He stepped into the palace with Afra by his side. As they walked to their destination, a casual conversation sprung up.
"I honestly thought you'd be excited to meet one of your people, Afra," Hajras said.
Afra kept her eyes forward and said, "I meet two of them daily, and I hate them."
Hajras laughed, then said, "Give Yara a chance; she seems like a nice woman."
"She's a whore! I have no respect for women of her profession," Afra said.
"Not everyone is gifted like you. Besides, I doubt she had a choice," Hajras said.
"It's the opposite, she had one, yet she ignored it," Afra said.
"What would that be, Afra?" Hajras asked.
"She could've slit her throat and saved herself a lifetime of humiliation," Afra said.
Hajras sighed, then muttered, "And I thought Taz was the twisted one."
They arrived at their destination, and it was the office of Prince Nadir.
Hajras knocked, then heard Nadir's voice telling him to come inside.
Hajras walked in along with Afra and was greeted by Nadir.
Nadir's office was a humble one. It was squared, with a desk on the right past the door. The walls were brown, and the floor was wooden.
Hajras approached the desk and asked, "Can I sit down, Prince Nadir?"
Nadir smiled and said, "Of course, please have a seat."
Hajras sat down while Afra stood by the door.
Nadir poured tea for Hajras and passed a cup.
Hajras took it and sipped it.
Nadir leaned on the desk, interlocked his fingers and said, "It's been some time since we last met."
Hajras placed the cup down, then said, "Your devotion prevented us from consorting."
Nadir chuckled, then said, "I apologize, Hajras. It seems we only meet when matters go astray."
Hajras chuckled, then said, "It's funnier to remember we met when my mother passed away."
Nadir sighed, then said, "It's a shame. She was like a mother to me."
Hajras sipped his tea and said, "As my father always says. No matter how prominent and powerful a person is. Death will always be there to humble them."
"Ra'ina didn't deserve to be cursed," Nadir said.
"She was a tyrant, Nadir," Hajras said.
"How could you say that about your mother!?" Nadir retorted.
Hajras drank the last of his tea, then said, "Do you think I take joy in talking about my mother like that? I don't! But her actions were vile and harmed me greatly."
"She was cursed!" Nadir retorted.
"She was abusive and manipulative. That curse was nothing but the result of her actions. You may have only seen her saintly side, but her son has seen nothing but being vilified, humiliated and harmed," Hajras retorted.
Nadir leaned back; his face was shocked.
"Why have you not confessed about her wrongdoings?" Nadir asked.
"Who would believe me? I was merely a child at that time, a child of a demonic tribe that everyone hated and rejected. But my mother? A princess, the king's granddaughter, a saint, a beloved amongst her peers. Nadir, you must realize how ridiculous the comparison is," Hajras said.
Nadir looked down, rubbed his jaw and sighed. He looked at Hajras and said, "I don't know what to say…."
Hajras leaned closer and said, "I see the light of righteousness in you. I know you're not the same as my mother."
Nadir leaned closer and said, "What are you asking of me, Hajras?"
Hajras placed his hand on the desk and said, "I want to know if you're truly the man I think you are." "The lions are conspiring against my cousin, which I love dearly. The golden lion has already sent a threat to her with Roshan's mouth."
Nadir stood up and shouted, "Are you telling the truth, Hajras!?"
Hajras stood up and shouted, "The scorpions already marked her! You know, and I know their services aren't cheap!"
Nadir punched a hole in his desk and shouted, "Those unworthy snakes!"
Hajras stared at Nadir.
Nadir pointed at Hajras and said, "Give me three days, then I'll visit you at your house."
Hajras nodded, then left his office.
On his way to the door, Afra matched his pace and said, "You could've kept her memory pure, Hajras."
Hajras looked at Afra and said, "Her hands already ruined her memory."
As he reached the entrance, he saw a towering man approaching.
The man had thick brown long hair and a thick beard. His skin tone was dark-beige, and his expressions were fierce. He had a large sword strapped to his hip with a golden sheathe.
Hajras noticed him and stopped. Afra quickly stood before him to protect him from harm.
The man stopped before them, looked at Hajras and said, "What are you doing here, son of Hayja?"
Hajras looked at him and said, "I believe that's none of your business, Asad. Or should I call you the golden lion?"
Asad bent down to look Hajras in the eyes and said, "I remember telling you not to step foot in here."
Hajras glared into his eyes and said, "And I remember telling you to fuck yourself."
Asad stood straight, chuckled, then said, "It amuses me to see the weak rebelling against the strong. Maybe I should send you back to your father in pieces, so you'll learn to respect your superiors."
"Last time a tyrant tried to subdue the Aegis tribes, he lost his life and kingdom. I advise you to learn from history, so the mistakes of the arrogant and ignorant can be avoided," Hajras said.
Asad gripped his sword's hilt and said, "We shall see―Send my greetings to the wolf and tell her that her time will soon end."
Hajras walked past, and Afra walked beside him as she glared at Asad.
Nighttime, with Ahmad and Noor.
Ahmad went to the royal prison to meet a particular poet.
He entered his cell and closed the door behind him while Noor watched outside.
The cell was small and squared. The interior was brown and rugged. It had a small barred window at the top.
Ahmad sat on the floor before Abu Nawas, who sat the same way.
Abu Nawas looked at Ahmad and said, "You don't look like a jailer, nor a guard."
Ahmad lit his pipe, smoked it and said, "Because I'm not. I came here to see you and talk."
"About what?" Abu Nawas asked.
"I'm interested in having a poetic battle," Ahmad joked.
Abu Nawas laughed, then said, "Even in jail, everyone wants to challenge my superiority."
Ahmad smiled and said, "You're one of the greatest. Shame you're a fruity man."
Abu Nawas smiled and asked, "Can I smoke your pipe?"
Ahmad handed him the pipe.
Abu Nawas smoked it, coughed and said, "This is potent!"
Ahmad laughed, then said, "You have weak lungs, O' poet of liquor."
Abu Nawas returned the pipe and said, "Not weak, but unaccustomed to pure tobacco."
Ahmad smoked his pipe and said, "You're talking to a politician here. We both know about the manipulation of words and meanings."
"Ahh, a man of speech! To whom do I owe the pleasure," Abu Nawas chirped.
Ahmad smoked his pipe and said, "Ahmad, son of Amir Al Hayja."
Abu Nawas furrowed his eyebrows, dumbfounded, leaned closer to Ahmad and said, "You're from that tribe? Do you know a woman called Tanaz Al Hayja?"
"What of her?" Ahmad asked.
"She's an arrow that came to absolve me from my capture in Al Basra, along with another man I don't know. I never got to thank her for what she did for me, but shame I went from one capture to another," Abu Nawas said.
"It's because she tried to free you. You went from being imprisoned in Al Basra to here," Ahmad replied.
"How did that even happen?" Abu Nawas asked.
Ahmad stood up, smoked his pipe and said, "Currently, I can't reveal this information for your safety, but I promise you that your redemption is near."
Abu Nawas looked up at Ahmad and said, "When politicians say near or soon, that means an intolerable amount of time."
Ahmad smiled at him and said, "Politicians and poets are truly the same, after all."
Abu Nawas and Ahmad laughed, and then he left his cell.
Noor matched Ahmad's pace and said, "It seems you enjoyed each other's company, Master."
Ahmad smiled and said, "I can see why Tanaz admired him. I think she'll be glad to know he's doing well."
The End