She woke to the sound of rattling metal, grinding against one another, her heart pounded against her ribs, wondering where the sound was coming from, a soft sigh escaped her lips and she moved over Solya, gently pulling away from the hands of her handmaiden, though she looked down at her for a moment, a young lady, beautiful Ebony skin, gorgeous hair, not blessed with children despite her love for them, the queen raised the pelts and set them around her back, nights were cold in Asaroth.

  She made her way to the curtains, though she did peek on her boys, seeing that they were sleeping calmly, she passed through the curtains and followed the sound, a candle in her hand and no guard of hers was in sight, not in the corridor or the rooms or the kitchen, all the way to the hall where the sound was the loudest, the metal was rubbing and scratching roughly, it pierced her ears as it echoed in the hall and soon enough she was in the marble hall, sitting across from her was Azar, alone, his bone sword in hand and a whetstone in the other, he was sitting in near darkness, a candle next to him and a jug of wine, a big one, he sharpened his bone sword but halted, the sound ceased after one last echo and he looked ahead towards the queen, his red feline eyes glowing in the dark, she could almost feel them stabbing into her chest, like a sand cat lunging down to his prey and placing his claws into them.

  "Your highness..." Said Azar, he was sitting on the steps near the throne but scooted further to the side as she made her way to him and climbed the steps.

  "What are you doing this late? Where are the guards?" She asked anxiously whilst she sat upon her throne and looked down towards him.

  "Outside the hall... Some outside the palace... Some went with Xao, he saw something in the wilderness outside the city, a light of a sort." He told her, the whetstone rubbing sharply against the edges of the bone sword. "I could not sleep... So I came here. "

  "Do you ever sleep? " She asked him jokingly.

  "I don't." He answered bluntly as he set the stone aside and ran his finger against the edge of the sword then poked the sharp end, cutting his thumb. "You know your highness, my sword and the king's are very old swords... Very special swords too, mine is named Envy, sharp, quick and light. His is Wrath, huge, strong and heavy. "

  "Oh." She hummed in response, the air hung heavy as he licked the blood off his thumb while she inquired about the commander. "Did Xao say what he saw? "

  "No." He replied coldly. "But I know what he saw, what will happen... Chieftain Farot fled the city after dark, you know? If I caught the cunt I would have hung him... There will be an attack, I can feel it, we should have never let Zor leave unharmed nor the sea brother."

  "If you had it your way, you would execute half the city." She reminded him as she stared down at him, his words only added to her worries, on one hand if they suffered an attack they would be doomed in a siege for they had a feast a few weeks ago and sent the caravan away, it was oddly well timed, and on the other hand was Azar, the man spoke far too normally of murder and slaughter and that did not bring her any comfort. "You would be wise to not use that sword again without my permission in a fit of rage... I will not protect you at all times just because you're the king's brother. "

  "Would you, your highness?... Do not forget, I only do what others are too afraid to do, including you and the king. " Azar announced, he struck a nerve of hers, not because of his insolence only but also because he was not wrong, she would be a liar if she said she did not want to see Talim's head split after all he had said yet nonetheless, that did mean he should do whatever he wishes.

  "And do not forget that I am your queen, I won't ask a second time... Stay in line, Azar." She warned her as she leaned down on her throne, he huffed and mumbled his obedience and she saw it to be enough for the moment and after a short while of silence she added. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

  "How can I? " He muttered sarcastically as his tone twisted and his sword rested at his shoulder. "So much is happening... So many choices are made, none very pleasing. "

  "If you have complaints then voice them. "

  "Sending your daughter into an imperial colony was a mistake, King Roegan going after the beasts alone with his youngest daughter is a bigger mistake." He confessed "King Roegan in a dangerous task with little to no help, all because of his obsession with the call of beasts slaying in our tribe's blood... And princess Yemna, she's surrounded by enemies and a hundred silent Tatar would do her no good if her wine is poisoned."

  "She is learning. " The queen defended. "Else how come we ever hope that she would rule Asaroth, she needs to understand imperials more, see new things and experience different people and their behaviors... Or would you rather go in her stead? I wonder if your sword would accidentally find its way to an imperial prince."

  "A pleasant accident... I will do anything for my family and my tribe... Anything... Anything. " He repeated as his face darkened. "If that includes my sword finding its way to a thousand imperial princes, so be it... I watched in the Gahrak war as most of my tribe was wiped out, lost many uncles and cousins and aunts and the such... What do we have now? Roegan and his daughters, a few cousins spread across the tribe land... And me, chieftain Azar, the man who cannot have children. "

  "You can have children." She lied to him as she bit her lip, she knew better, her words only scrambled trying to reassure him.

  "I have no problem with getting a wife with child... I have no issue making a wife happy either." He replied. "But they all face the same fate, time after time, death at birth, her and the child, three wives... Gods be damned, they are nothing but devils..."

  "Azar... Blasphemy. " She reminded him though smelling the wine from his breath, she knew it was in vain.

  "Of course." He mumbled.

  She had no wisdom to spare him, she could never understand his pain, she was blessed unlike him, even at her old age she was able to carry the king's seedlings again, a twin boys no less, it was seen as a miracle but to her it was a gift from the gods to her husband for what he had done for Asaroth in the Gahrak war, true enough that Azar had his part in the war but the sand gods had their favorites and in that there is no doubt.

  "Do you not fear the gods at all? " She questioned him, taking his attention elsewhere.

  "No, your highness, I do not fear the gods... What the common man should fear is the wrath of beasts and other men." He told her, his eyes drifting away. "When the king and myself cornered the last gathering of the Worok at the scythe field, hybrids of Gahrak and trolls, we lost a thousand men and wiped out the race of Worok... That day, I saw the line between beast and men blend, when they die, when my sword split through the last Worok bowels and pulled them out, their king, the last of a long bloodline of rapist monsters, you know what the beast did? You know how was the last moments of that mighty infamous monster king, Bohmoth? "

  "How was it?" She asked even though she knew.

  "It pissed itself and whimpered, same as every man of ours who died in that battle, same as every beast we killed, they all piss themselves at the end... They called it the battle of warlords because there all tribes united under Roegan rule, I call it the stench battle, it fucking smelled, if there are any gods I suppose I should thank them that my brother had the sanity of burning the bodies and the scythe field, else our land would've smelled all the way to Northliem. No, I am not afraid of gods, the wrath of man, be it mine or someone else's, keep me awake at night with a sword in hand and my face facing towards the door."

  Noticing that he ranted, he let out a deep sigh and added with a disregarding wave. "I should not burden you with this, your highness, only recently you began to eat and sleep well again, I will not let it go to waste." He exclaimed as he stood from his spot, the smell of wine filled her nostrils as he did, he made his way down the steps and sheathed his bone sword, the small skull on the hilt seemingly staring at her as he made his way to the carpet and added. "Stay strong your highness, and be careful, one choice could make all the difference."

  He left her speechless, she never heard the details of the battle from her husband, neither Xao, they never spoke of their battles and hearing this, she was not surprised, but she will still take his advice into account, praying that it was not too late, she glanced down the jug of wine and took it with the copper cup, she wiped the cup with the sleeve of her robe and poured herself a bit of it, she took in it's scent and was about to sip, until she heard the barging of the doors, she looked ahead and saw that Azar still hasn't left and it was her brother Qudor who barged inside.

  "Your highness! They're outside the city! Zor and his bannermen! All of them!" He yelled across the hall, it was enough to wake her up entirely, her and the rest of the hall maidens and her twin boys, even most of the city as the words spread like wildfire, they were here, right at gates of her city, they wanted blood, her blood, vengeance and retribution, even though she gave them a chance to leave the issue as it is, over and over again, but they still wanted it their way, stubborn fools, she told herself as she walked alongside Azar, her brother and the guards, lanterns in their hands as every home which was once silent woken from their slumber and lit their candles, torches or lanterns.

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  She reached the gate’s watchtower and began climbing up the ladder carefully, the night sky was covered in clouds and the twin moons had barely any light through the end of their month cycle, she took it one step at time whilst holding the light in one hand and finally she reached the top.

  "Your highness." Xao greeted her grimly.

  "By the sand gods and the all-creator..." She murmured, while it was dark in the city, outside it was full of light, for the span of a league or so were men in black robes and scarves holding their torches on the back of their hyenas, and at the front she could recognize two men, Zor and Farot, vow breakers, turn cloaks, her head felt heavy and her neck weak, she let out a short shaky breath, pondering on the chaos she was in, what would happen if her husband returns with the traitors army still at their gates or worse, her daughter returns first.

  "They tried to lure me and capture me with the light." Xao told her as he stood next to her. " But I made it away safely the moment I realized it's a trap, they used the light for their advantage but you cannot hide the tracks of a thousand hyenas. "

  "What do we do? " She asked him, almost helplessly and half hopelessly, she was not knowledgeable in the ways of war and battle and sieges, all she knew was if this was to be a siege, they did not have much rations, the feast have taken far too much of what they had and the caravans are gone, not to mention the red foxes, they were isolated, she wondered if she would be the first Asarothian queen who loses her city.

  "We wait and we talk... Let us see if Zor's elder brother Bakror and his wife Monya are still in the city, we will use them to bargain if we need to... Needless to say, we need to talk with them, one way or another. " Xao explained.

  The next morning they were called by the leaders of the gathering outside, prince Valerius was called as well, she had forgotten that he was still in the city for he never left the lounge he was at, another weight against her back, she did not wish to be in the midst of a political incident involving the prince, no matter what occurs, Valerius needs to come unharmed or they will suffer the wrath of the empire.

  Lotara dressed in golden silk gown with red spider silk scarfs around her arms and shoulders and dangling ruby earrings, she walked alongside Azar whom was cladded in his light bone armor and the unveiled bone helm, her presence brought comfort to her people as she walked through the streets alongside her guards, she wished she could offer them more and at the same time she wondered who would bring her comfort in her hour of need, her husband was far away and her daughters as well, she was all alone with a handful of men all itching for blood, some more than others.

  They met with Valerius at the gates, he was dressed in a doublet velvet of a purple color and to his chest was thorned red rose of house Maximus, behind his shoulders was his mercenary in black boiled leathers and worn bandages around his skin, Xao in his light padded cloth of green and white colors, and her brother Qudor in chain mail and a bone spear, out of them all he looked the most out of his space, like a scorpion taken out of its lair and thrown into a pit with a badger, she pitied him, he was attempting to hide his fear behind a facade, same as her.

  A little bit next to them was Bakror and his wife Monya, they were not chained nor were they abused but it was clear that they were prisoners, her brother told her of what occurred in the night, Azar took a handful of guards and went to their estate, they found them and their children with a handful of soldiers not large enough to begin a fight, and they were caught unaware as well, saying that they had no idea of Zor plans and that he had taken half of Bakror men to travel safely through Asaroth, she only believe half of what they said, and she would keep her eyes closely on them.

  Nevertheless, they made their way out of the city on their hyenas but still not too far off the range of the watchtowers, meeting halfway with the traitors whom army was camped far back behind them, they halted and stares were exchanged as the dusty wind came under their mounts and twisted the grains they stood upon, a cloudy day in a gloomy circumstance she took part of.

  "Say what you came here to say." The queen demanded as she eyed them.

  "Say? I didn't come here to speak to your highness, I came here with demands. " Zor answered.

  "Demands are spoken, you know. " The commander teased.

  Zor glared at the commander as his face twisted but Farot spoke up before it would escalate. "We only want one of two things, your highness: justice... Or a change of leadership. "

  "Change of leadership? You have some audacity to show your face again with those words, turn cloak." She dared him to repeat, her soft hands clenching firmly and roughly against the reins of her mount.

  "You hear what he said, queen." Zor exclaimed. "Give us the head of your brother in law or else we'll have his head and yours."

  Borkor was quick to the response whilst Azar remained awfully silent. "Brother, have you gone mad? Have you not seen what treachery and arrogance done to our father? This is all a senseless feud that will waste our men! Our tribe men! "

  "Why are you even here?" Zor barked at his brother. "Did they bring you for a bargain? You can keep the man-whore, for only a whore sway left and right with her loyalties, loyalty to your family no less! "

  "I have loyalty to the crown!" The elder brother yelled.

  "Fuck your crown and your king!" The younger brother shouted. "My loyalty is for my family and I will not stand by for the murder of my father! "

  "Loyalties or not, go home Zor and we'll forgive and forget." The commander suggested. "After all, do you really think you can take the city? The Shamans call it the rib trap, no way in, you cannot besiege its walls as it's surrounded with deep sand, and you cannot scale its bone walls for nothing can pierce through the bones of ancient beasts who were the fathers of beasts... What else can you do? Shoot arrows or throw rocks like idiots? Or perhaps charge the gates? Then your numbers will not matter and each silent Tatar will take a hundred of your men."

  "Attack your city? Do you take me for a fool?" Zor laughed.

  Farot sighed and exclaimed. "I know your supplies are low, your highness, the feast you had was quite the large one... The cattle you have in the city is not much to speak of, you could eat the mounts, for a few weeks at least, with the numbers you have and without the caravans, you have no hope of surviving long... And when you despair and come out, we will be waiting with full bellies, your highness."

  "We will send our crawlers when you least expect it, no man can capture a crawler and no bird of prey can be used to hunt it." Lotara bluffed. "Our messages will reach our loyalists and my husband and the such, and once he knows, death will be your least of concerns."

  Zor shook his head, murmured under his lips then spoke. "Do you take me for a fool? I know you have no way of relaying messages, you're isolated."

  She stared at him, her heart skipping a beat as she muttered loud enough for the gathering to hear. "How do you know that... "

  Zor was flustered at first, as if not expecting the question, his lips trembling for a second until his voice rose. "Because we heard nothing of your daughter and we saw no crawler leaving borders in the last week... Easy matter for the scholars I brought."

  "You brought scholars from the empire? You really prepared for this, tell me how long you've been preparing yourself for a revolution, don't worry I'm a secret keeper." Valerius joked and only the commander managed to laugh.

  "You prince Valerius... You can leave whenever you want, not only that, we will shelter you and feed you and escort you home." Zor promised him.

  "Kind men... But I grew fond of the bone city, I'll be staying for a while." Valerius replied.

  The traitors were confused at first but eventually Farot answered. "Well my prince, so long you know that we have no issue with you and can pass at any time you wish. "

  "The prince stays." Qudor shouted, she had wished he would stay silent, foolish boy.

  Zor laughed."By whom word? Yours? Do you understand what you are facing? You are trapped, we will either starve you or you will get desperate enough to make mistakes... And then, I swear by the gods that we will butcher every one of your people and you included, except for the imperials... And you Azar, I'll have your head... Oh yes, your head is the most important, more important to me than the queen's, or perhaps your city population will bring me your head after eating enough rat stew under the siege, now that would be a sight... They call you the ghost of sands in the empire, and I will see to it that you become one."

  "Here I am." Azar challenged him. "Go on, take it, you have your sword... Go on, take it, the first strike is yours."

  The mounts grew restless, especially Azar mount as he said the words, his crimson sharp feline eyes sharpening on its prey same as a desert lion would stalk a gazelle, her body shivered, as if needles were coming out of the man's eyes, she had to look away same as the others except for Xao and the mercenary accompanying the imperial prince.

  The meeting did not last long after, they parted their ways and she knew that it would be the last time they met with words, once inside it all downed on her, a heavy weight on her chest and back and shoulders, her commander was speaking but she did not know what to tell him, she knew nothing of the way of war, all she knew that they were stuck with enemies at every direction, and the fact he knew about the messages problem brought her even more concern.

  "Your highness?" Valerius snapped her back to reality as they slowly rode in the streets.

  "I am in no mood for your jokes." She warned him.

  "Do not worry, I will keep them at bay until we are out of harm's way... What I do have to say is that you will most likely not make it out of this situation without a plan, and if you haven't caught on it yet, there is... A spy. " He whispered the last words.

  "And I wager it is you." She accused him coldly.

  "Imperials don't do their own spying... I thought you knew better, " This time he mocked, he was not wrong though, if imperials were known for anything, not doing their own dirty work was one of them.

  She sighed and forced the words out of her mouth with disbelief. "What's your plan? "

  He took a deep breath and began explaining to her. "You need a card, something you can use against them… it could be easily Zor, once the twin moons are back to their full size, a long time will pass on the siege, dropping their defenses, and the twin moons will cast a shadow on the western hill... If one man can sneak around that hill and go into their camp, find Zor and take him... You will have your card, my only condition is that it stays between the two of us."

  The plan did not sound all too bad as far as she knew, loosing one man in a suicidal plan was better than to lose ten or a hundred, and considering their desperate situation, she was willing to take the chances, she will not cower away from making the choice, she had already made enough of them and here they led her, she cleared her throat and asked. "Who will go? You? "

  The imperial prince laughed for a long minute, almost in tears to the point where she resisted the urge to smack his head, once he calmed he shook his head and gestured for his mercenary, she looked at the man and all she saw was an empty soul, hollow black eyes under a layer of leathers and linen, perhaps not all was in vain for if she had known anything, it was if she was to trust a man with a task to kill or capture, she would turn to those who carried the most void in their eyes and moves and words, they had an endless will to kill, and they were the most useful when kept on a leash.