Coin of Kings (The Powers of Amur Book 2) by J.S. Bangs

Author:J.S. Bangs [Bangs, J.S.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2016-06-29T04:00:00+00:00

Sadja

“My lord and king!” the valet in Sadja’s anteroom shouted through the curtain.

“What is it?” Sadja called back, annoyed. Beside him, Nagiri lay languorously across several pillows, eating a slice of mango. Her sari lay rumpled around her waist, and Sadja had already taken her choli off. This was not the ideal moment for his valet to come calling.

Nagiri stuck out her lower lip and pouted at Sadja. “Do you need to answer him?” Little drops of mango juice fell off her chin and dripped between her little plum breasts. She was one of the better amusements he had brought into his chamber in the last few years. Aside from her flawless smile and irresistible thighs, she had the advantage of a very understanding father, a middling khadir who knew that a mistress was not for marrying, but could still bring favors to her family.

“If he thought it was important enough to interrupt me, then I probably do have to answer,” Sadja said. “What?”

“A messenger from Rajunda,” the valet answered. “He awaits you in the hall.”

Sadja’s annoyance dissipated. So the valet wasn’t an idiot after all. “I want to hear this,” he said, and rose from where he lay next to Nagiri. “Don’t go anywhere.”

Nagiri took the discarded end of her sari and draped it loosely across her shoulders. Just enough to hide herself from the soldier’s eyes.

The heavy curtain at the far end of the room parted, and a flushed, sweating soldier with grime-covered clothes walked into the chamber. He took in the scene with a glance, and for a moment forgot to bow, staring at the barely-clad Nagiri. Then he came to himself and dropped to his knees.

“Sadja-dar, my lord and king,” he said. “I have run the last half-day carrying this message from the spies in Rajunda.”

“I see,” Sadja said. “I hope it’s good news.”

The runner nodded and repeated his memorized message in a lilting sing-song. “Five days ago, when I left with this message, the Red Men had marched through the ruins of Old Rajunda. We provided them with supplies of food, water, rice, and silver as you instructed. They continued on the north road. When we asked them, they said that they were traveling to Majasravi in all haste.”

Sadja stroked his chin. The news of the Red Men’s delay in Jaitha had worried him at first. He wanted Chadram in Majasravi, not worrying about dynastic succession in the burnt husk of Jaitha. But if they had marched through Rajunda already, then his timeline was still intact. He reminded himself to send spies to Jaitha in order to determine what the Red Men had arranged there.

“What about their condition?” he asked. “Did they appear exhausted or starved?”

“They did not appear to be starving,” the runner said. “Their supply train was whole, and the soldiers we could see had their kit intact. They apparently supplied themselves well before leaving Jaitha. But they did demand a tribute from the village before they moved on.”

“Tribute? What did they receive?”

“We do not know the exact demand, as it was presented to the khadir.

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