Summary: Garsiv help Ayman's family. They find Dastan. Everything is good and then it all goes to pieces as the palace guards attack and people die.

Part 10
Confrontations

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In a little less than an hour the sky was ready for sun rise and the city was being to get busy. Everyone seemed to wake up about the same time. Jafar nudged Garsiv awake and pointed to Bahadur.

"I knew you'd find me soon enough."

"You are lucky I know this city so well, my Prince. It was unwise of you to come here alone. There are unsavoury elements here who would take advantage of your unguarded state."

"Well then I'm lucky you found me. Have you found Dastan?" Garsiv looked hopeful.

"I believe I may have, but I need confirmation before I will allow you out without protection."

Garsiv bristled. "I got here without protection; I'm sure I can walk a few streets away and see if we have the right place."

Bahadur frowned. "Your Father has ordered me to protect you with my life. I would not take the chance and you cannot override your father's wishes." Garsiv looked like a caged animal but didn't speak. Bahadur then smiled. "But since I know you'll just follow us anyway, may I ask that you at least stay close to me?"

Garsiv smiled and nodded. "I will, I promise."

"I will hold you to that, young prince. We must also take care to avoid the soldiers combing the city. They are like brutes and will not find him with force; we must be careful and observant."

As everyone got up for the morning they stared at the new arrival to their home. Bahadur nodded to the lady of the house and smiled at the curious expressions from the little girls. "I am Bahadur; I am here to protect Prince Garsiv." They all smiled and looked at Garsiv.

Jafar smirked as he walked over to Yasmina and looked at her mother. "May we borrow your daughter for a little while? Yasmina knows Bis and we need to be sure we have the right place. Will you help?"

Yasmina nodded but looked to her mother. Taraneh looked concerned and went to stand behind with her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Will she be in danger?"

The other girls looked as worried as their mother was Yasmina was fearless. Bahadur stepped up to get everyone's attention. "We will keep her safe and then we will bring her home where Jafar will guard you all until the princes are safely returned to the palace."

"I'll be alright, mother. I trust them and I can protect myself. Jafar is a good teacher."

Taraneh ruffled her daughter's hair. "You are more like your brother every day."

Minau looked up at Garsiv. "Why can't we live in the palace with Ayman? Then we could see him every day."

Taraneh shushed her youngest and looked nervously at the Prince. Garsiv smiled down at the little girl, but a flare of anger ran through him. If the family were willing to leave their home here why had they not been taken into the servants housing? "Let me talk to your mother for a moment." He waved Taraneh over to a vacant corner. "I don't see any reason why you couldn't come to stay with Ayman. If you want to leave here, you can come with us."

The woman put her hands to her face and nearly cried. "We stayed here first because this is where my husband grew up, but it is falling apart now. Ayman asked to have us moved to servant quarters but was turned down."

Garsiv's anger flared again. What other things did the royal family not know about their own city? Ayman was the servant of one of the princes; his family should be taken care of. His blood boiled to see such kind people living in such squalor. He pulled out a piece of parchment from his bag and a few seconds later gave it to Taraneh. "This note will ensure your passage. Pack whatever you wish to take and give this to the guards at the main gates. They will let you in or they will hear from me upon my return."

Taraneh melted in happiness and excitement and actually hugged Garsiv. "Oh thank you, Your Highness!" She went to her daughters and told them the news.

Jafar was smiling also as Garsiv walked over to him and Bahadur. "You made them very happy."

"You are welcome to join them. We could always use a strong hand in the stables or as a guard." He indicated Bahadur who just smiled and nodded.

"I'll keep it in mind. But we should be off. Yasmina will you still come with us?"

Lezlie nodded to her sister. "I'll pack your things, go and help them."

"I'm all yours." Yasmina smiled at the men. They quickly gathered their things and left hoping to get to the house before to many of the boys were up for the morning jobs.

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"Stay close, both of you." Jafar and Bahadur flanked both sides of Garsiv and Yasmina to keep them safe but also trying to look casual and not draw attention. They moved further into the market and saw the merchants arriving to uncover their carts but it was mostly still quiet. Some boys were already around to help. They quickened their pace until they were standing across the square from a building that appeared to be mostly in shambles but had a fair amount of activity around it.

Garsiv felt a boy move by him carrying bandages and ingredients for something. Bahadur saw it also and looked to Yasmina. "Is that one of the boys you know?"

The little nine year old shook her head then poked it out to get a better view. "I don't see anyone here I know."

Jafar had disappeared a few moments ago and now returned. "Something is wrong; they're gathering kids for some kind of offensive. Word around the market is we're about to be flooded with soldiers from the palace."

Bahadur shook his head then looked at Garsiv. "As I said, they are brutes who care nothing of property or life in these parts. They must have decided to search for the Prince by raiding every house and cart until they find him."

Garsiv remembered the bandages and that Dastan would have fever. "Yasmina do you or your sisters know how to treat an infection?"

"Yes, Mother taught Lezlie and she showed me. Minau gets sick a lot since we don't have much food and she was hurt last year in a riot."

Garsiv had a plan. "If they are trying to care for Dastan's fever, they likely have told people what's going on. I can take Yasmina over there saying we're here to help. I'm the right age and some of them already know her."

Bahadur, Garsiv and Jafar discussed the plan but a few moments later the little girl pulled on Garsiv's sleeve. "That's Zaki! He's one of Bis's friends."

They watched the boy discretely move around the house and then jumped onto an overturned barrel, skipped off it and caught a rope let down half way from a small crack opening in the wall. He disappeared a moment later.

"We are in the right place." Garsiv showed happiness at being part of the way there. Now he needed to get in, find Dastan and get him out.

Jafar nudged the other men. "That is Rahim; I've seen him working with Bis and Dastan before. If we're going to try your plan he'd be the way in."

Garsiv looked down at Yasmina and she smiled up at him. "Let's go."

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Inside the hideout the boys who had managed to get some sleep were waking up and getting ready for the day while some of the early raisers were already gone. Bis and the other boys helping Dastan were still in a circle around him. He looked just as flushed as last night but not much worse, which they assumed was good. Bis was still holding his friends hand as he touched his hand to Dastan's forehead.

"He's still very hot. I remember my mother telling me if someone stays too hot for too long it's very bad. Bring some more cool water over here."

Samir and Rahim were talking and came over to Bis. "We need someone who knows potions and healing. We need help, Bis. Zaki and some of the smaller ones are passing word to our supporters."

Bis looked concerned for a moment but nodded. "Alright, just be sure we can trust whoever answers. Make sure at least a few of us can vouch for them."

"Of course." Samir nodded and handed another container of water to Bis.

A commotion at the crack in the wall drew people's attention to Zaki returning. He quickly got to his feet and came right over to Bis. "We have a problem. The palace has sent the entire guard into the market. They were few in number yesterday and didn't find anything, so now they are sending everyone in force to search everywhere. We need to prepare."

Bis looked to Samir and Rahim and pointed to the plans on the wall at the far end of the room. "You know what to do. Follow the plan we worked out. Dastan approved them before he was taken, so it will work." Bis showed the others how to keep Dastan cool and waved Zaki over and the boy came down to his knees to be eye level with his leader. "Do we know why Dastan ran? He couldn't be held if he wanted out. So why did he stay so long just to run now? Something must have happened."

"All I know is things seemed fine for the last week and then yesterday morning something changed. One of our watchers saw him climb down the palace wall and run across the courtyard to the gates. The younger Prince came out of the palace and yelled something, followed by his brother and the King. The guards drew their swords and one slashed into Dastan's shoulder. He managed to run and kept away from the guards until later when he made his way back here."

"Garsiv…" Everyone looked down in surprise to see Dastan awake but the pain he was in was evident on his red face. Bis and Zaki leaned closer and he continued. "Garsiv and Tus… know… about Adil. Know you lead… now, Bis. Ran… to warn… you."

Another commotion at the crack drew some attention but almost everyone was intent on listening to Dastan's words.

Bis looked angry. "They brought you there just to get you to tell them about us?" Dastan nodded weakly but there was indecision in his eyes. "Did they order you harmed?"

He shrugged a shoulder to say he didn't know. "Don't know… what to believe. Thought they cared… don't know." Then he faded out again.

A shadow caused everyone look up to see a face they weren't familiar with but they knew the other. Bis saw Yasmina look at Dastan then started going through the herbs and supplies. Bis looked away from the new boy to the girl as she put some things on a table and started crushing them.

"Mina, is he with you?" Bis pointed to Garsiv.

"Yes, he helped me get here safely. I heard Dastan was hurt, I can help him. Lezlie taught me to make this to help Minau's arm when she fell last year. It should work for him too." Yasmina didn't look away from her work as she talked.

Bis looked to Garsiv and nodded. "Thank you, friend. Yasmina's family are good people. If you are a friend you are welcome here."

Garsiv nodded and knelt into the space the boys made for him beside Dastan. "He looks terrible. Has he said anything? Do you know what happened?"

Bis's eyes flashed with anger and his free hand clenched into a fist. Garsiv recognized the emotion well since he was so familiar with it. "We know enough. Dastan was betrayed by the royals. They pretended to care for him but were just using him to learn if Adil was a threat to them. They couldn't have held Dastan if he wanted out. He just learned the truth yesterday and they tried to kill him to keep him from warning us. Now the palace guards are about the storm the market searching for him to finish it."

All of the other boys drew small weapons and had determined looks on their faces. "But we will not let them have him. Dastan is our leader and our family, we will protect him. The princes will pay for their treachery if they dare come here. And the King is no better than those he fights to allow this."

This comment got Dastan's attention and he squeezed Bis's hand looking at his friend. "No… don't believe… King knew. He's a good… man, like my father… wouldn't allow it."

"So it was just the Princes who knew about us?" Bis asked trying to keep Dastan awake.

The tired boy shrugged again, he was getting a little stronger, it seemed. "Don't know. Tus was so kind before. He was welcoming and friendly, but… different that morning, as if he'd just learned of it."

"So it was the younger prince who ambushed you?" Rahim offered.

"Garsiv is troubled, like I was… remember Bis?" Bis nodded for him to continue. Dastan started but his face crumpled as a wave of pain hit him and a choked cry escaped his lips.

Garsiv looked to Dastan's face upon hearing his name. Then, like the boys, put a hand on Dastan's shoulder to help with the pain. Yasmina came over with a paste and Garsiv waved her down next to him placing a hand a protective hand on her shoulder and helping her lay out her work. He smiled to her in thanks and held back her hair while she looked at the wound.

Dastan recovered and looked over his friends in thanks before he tried again. "He suffered loss but didn't have you… to bring him back. I hoped I could… help him to trust again. He's not a bad person… his heart is there. He just forgot how to use it. Until now." Dastan looked at Garsiv's hand on Yasmina's shoulder with a smile.

Garsiv forgot his surroundings and spoke in answer. "You are wise beyond your years Dastan. Perhaps Father is correct and you are exactly what our family and the palace and the Empire needs. I'm sorry."

Dastan looked up at him waiting for more when several boys grabbed Garsiv from behind and hauled him up. Bis let go of Dastan's hand and stood drawing a dagger that he moved to Garsiv's throat. "YOU! You did this my brother!"

Garsiv's training took over and drew his own dagger deflecting the shot down away from him and pushing Bis back. He kept the weapon raised but stood still looking the other boy in the eyes. "I didn't mean to do anything to him. It was all a big misunderstanding and I'm sorry it went so far. He's my brother now too, Bis."

Dastan tried to sit up and get Bis's attention but wasn't strong enough so several boys helped him and Rahim let Dastan lean against him. "Bis, please! Let him talk. I left out of fear for you before I asked why."

"He won't tell you the truth! He's surrounded; he'll lie to save himself." Bis stepped forward again but Garsiv didn't move still having enough space to maneuver if he needed to.

"Bis, let him talk. I can tell if it's the truth. He's different now." Dastan seemed to look Garsiv over seeing something he hadn't before. He could see the scared look on Yasmina's face. Dastan realized when Garsiv jumped up he pulled the little girl behind him for protection.

Bis still was ready to gut the Prince if tried anything but trusted Dastan so he nodded for Garsiv to continue.

"Thank you, Dastan and Bis. You're right; I have seen things in the last day that have made me think. As you have made me think since you first came to us a week ago." He looked at Bis and the other boys still ready to strike and smiled.

"I know now why you protect each other so fiercely. I have seen the love you all share. I share it with my brother Tus and would do anything to protect him. I understand you've all known him longer, but we have come to care for Dastan too."

Samir spat as he stepped forward. "Then why did you betray him?"

Garsiv shook his head. "You're right that we couldn't keep him, not with how he climbs. He stayed because he wanted too, but he wasn't happy. I know it was largely my fault but since our first… incident I learned more about your life Dastan. I know Cora told you my story and when I heard yours I wondered if you could teach me to better like Bis helped you."

He looked at Bis now. "I thought if I could find his best friend and reunite you he would feel better. As I gathered information to find you, I learned of Adil and remembered reports my Father spoke of regarding you. I didn't know what to do so I asked Tus."

He looked back to Dastan. "He accidentally deceived me into asking you. He didn't mean to and he feels horrible about what happened, but that's his training. You know my temper and when you didn't answer… I don't know… things just changed."

"I remember you were shocked at Tus's actions. But I was scared for my friends so I reacted instead of letting you both explain."

"You didn't have any reason to trust us with something this important to you." Garsiv pointed at the group of boys Dastan protected and loved.

Rahim looked around Dastan to ask an obvious question. "Then why did you order your guards to attack Dastan. When he ran you could have just come here to explain yourself, like you are now."

"I called ahead for the guards to close the main gates but I didn't say to attack. The order changed as it passed through the men. When Tus and I got to the courtyard and saw Dastan surrounded by swords we ordered them to stop."

They all looked to Dastan who looked at the floor for a moment. "Yes, I remember that. You yelled and they stopped coming towards me."

"That's right, but one of them stumbled and you were hurt. When we heard you scream all Tus and I wanted was to run to you. But you were so fast. I'm truly sorry Dastan, please believe me."

The boys looked to Dastan but didn't seem convinced. Yasmina stepped out in front of Garsiv. He put an arm across her chest to push her back but she wiggled around it. "I can tell you he's been kind to my family. He stayed in our home last night and insisted on sleeping on a chair instead of our only bed. He was kind to us and played with Minau's cat. He even gave Mother a note to have us move into the palace so we can see Ayman every day. And not all the guards are mean; the one who stayed with us was nice."

Garsiv and Dastan were both pleased to see the boys were relaxing. But before they could finally decide whether to trust him a boy climbed through the crack and yelled. "Everyone scatter! The guards know we're here and they're coming with swords."

A second later several arrows flew through a large break in the wall and one landed only a hair away from Yasmina. Garsiv pulled her to his side and stepped against a wall but kept his dagger raised. Bis and several older boys turned to Garsiv as they raised their weapons again. "You lied! This was all just a distraction to give your guards time to move in on us."

"No, it's not true. I came here last night, as we told you. It is true the guards were sent to find Dastan but it's because we know he's wounded. We just want to take him back so the palace healers can help him. Let me talk to them."

Garsiv didn't wait for permission he went to the opening the arrows had come through and shouted. "Halt your attack! I am Prince Garsiv and I have found Prince Dastan. If you continue you will injure us. Stand down and release Bahadur; you are to follow his orders."

Down below, Bahadur pulled himself out of the grasp of several guards and glared at the captain who ordered the attack. "I told you the Princes were both in there. You could have killed them both. I order you to follow his instruction and lower your weapons. Your career will not be bettered like this, especially if you kill a Prince. Now see reason man!"

"I don't believe it." The man said to the other guard. He knew that rescuing the Princes would assure him a spot as a General in no time. "I demand to see the princes are safe or we fire again."

Garsiv turned and looked at Bis who nodded and pointed to the opening they came in and out of. "Go."

Garsiv saw several boys protectively encircle Yasmina next to the wall and ran to the crack. He grabbed a rope and climbed down. As he stepped out his eyes were filled with murder. "There are children in there; one is a nine year old girl!"

The captain waved to his men and they all lowered their weapons. Garsiv looked up and nodded. "It's alright, they're standing down. Send Yasmina down and we'll get Dastan the help he needs."

Some of the older boys came down first to see that it was safe. They saw the bows lowered and waved up to their friends. Slowly the smaller ones came down with Yasmina and the Bis helped Dastan to his feet and over to the ropes. They did the same move as before to get Dastan down since he couldn't use his arm. Once they were on the ground the last boy jumped to a rope and came down. But he hadn't put his dagger away very well and it fell to the ground right beside Garsiv and Dastan. A boy of five picked it up to pass it back when suddenly an arrow was launched hitting the boy in the chest. He fell against Dastan knocking him to the ground and then the archers were readying to fire again assuming their princes were in danger.

The captain again pushed Bahadur away and called. "Protect the Princes."

Bis and all the other boys drew their weapons again. Dastan and Garsiv both screamed at the same time. "NO!"

But it was too late. Garsiv instinctively stepped in front of Yasmina and Bis protected Dastan as the other boys created a circle around the important few in the center. Garsiv defended the children against his own palace guards who seemed to be out for blood no matter the cost. Arrows flew through the air and surprisingly the boys were able to deflect many of them but not all and some fell. Many other guards moved in with swords an attacked the older boys. Bis and his friends fought well and took up the swords dropped by the fallen guards.

Suddenly everyone heard a scream. "NO! Stop this!"

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*evil grin* Yes, I did it again, another EVIL NASTY cliffie. What did someone say about me not being evil? LOL

*does happy dance* WOOHOO chapter 10! This is a TV show making it to the 100th episode. *pats self on back and drinks a chocolate milkshake*

I would love to hear you theories on who screamed and why?

The next 2 days are going to be busy so IF I get to update it will be short, so this was nice and long to make up for it.

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And now to my wonderful, lovely reviews I love to hear from:

BellaCullen1789: yes we all know Garsiv CAN be nice he just don't like to. So now we got a little taste. Good to hear it all went well, safe trip home.

Pghj2005: well that's 1 vote for a trilogy. And did you say "wee" I'm sensing Scottish maybe?

Talk-ape: more drama is always exciting

Shadow: hehe I modeled the cat after my own, she's a total attention hog and she's even part Persian, so long orange fur EVERYWHERE! Of course they're friends, all story cats are friends. LOL So for the current guess: yes to part 1 but the next part got complicated, as you saw.

AtlantisGirl12: that's 2 votes for a trilogy

Ash: yes, he was nice because no one there knew him. Ayman's family is cute.

Beledi1113: welcome to the party. Thanks.

Shani8: welcome back girl. I missed you. YES, kitties are the cutest ever, I love mine. She even slept with me last night for the first time in days. She's figured out my room is the coolest.