The Twin Sorcerers by Der Nogard

Author:Der Nogard [Nogard, Der]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

“Who would dare charge me?” the emir asked of the Wazirs, Chamberlains, and other assembled people of the court of the Sultan of Marchande. “I have long served my lord and I would give my life for him. Who can the sultan trust if he cannot trust me?”

But the Grand Wazir of the Sultan of Marchande would hear none of it.

“You are accused of the grave crime of lese majeste. I would feed you to the wyms if I could, but as our city lay far from the sea, I shall have to dispatch your punishment by other means.” The Grand Wazir glanced at the sultan and received the confirmation that he was looking far. The official ordered the guards to arm their crossbows and to assassinate the unfortunate emir on the spot, in the sight of the sultan and his assembled courtiers. The women of the sultan’s court watched this all from the grated windows of the zenanah, above the throne hall, but Xenia, who had come to this land as a guest with Ghazan, was settled among the courtiers. She was the only woman in the court.

Xenia leaned toward Prince Ghazan and whispered in his ear. “We must leave this land,” she said. “It seems to be more barbaric even than your father’s.”

“You believe my father’s land to be one of barbarism?” the prince asked. “You never said the like before.”

“I do,” said the lady. “Come let us leave. We shall venture to other lands.”

Ghazan received an audience with the ruler later that evening to take his leave of him.

“I am sorry to see you go,” said the sultan.

They were serenaded to the sound of the flute and the desert guitar, and they were entertained by the sultry dances of the sultan’s slave girls. Xenia was waiting in a private chamber in the zenanah that had been set aside for her.

“I am sorry to go, but I am afraid that my life’s journey bids me elsewhere,” said the prince.

“You have the cunning of the desert fox,” said the sultan, but his eyes were fixed on the women who blessed his company. “The news of your battles with the dragon has reached our ears though we can scarcely believe it. A dragon has not been seen in these parts in a very long time. Oh, we see flying things in the sky that people take to be dragons, but who knows what they are. I shall not ask you whether this dragon business is true or not. I know it is important for men to have a reputation and this is an important part of yours.”

“Thank you, sire.”

“I do hope too that you can broker a reconciliation with your father even though he is an enemy of mine.” The sultan’s wazir, who joined them, gave the prince a look the young man did not understand.

“Only time will tell,” said Ghazan. “I am not hopeful. But I again thank you, sire.”

“And the woman, your wife?” asked the sultan. “I hope that you may one day sire one hundred sons with her.

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