Persian Nights – Chapter 14

"Dastan, look at this," Tamina held up the scroll for him to look at. He leaned over and his blue eyes gazed down at the words.

"What about it?" he said, scanning it, showing no understanding.

Tamina had to suppress the need to roll her eyes. He could be rather thick sometimes. "This mentions in more detail what the Hand of the Gods is. According to this, someone labeled with the appellation of Hand of the Gods is literally that; the Hand of the Gods."

He furrowed his brow. "I still don't understand, Tamina. Explain it to me."

She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to determine whether he was teasing her or not, before continuing. "The Hand of the Gods must submit themselves to the will of the gods in order for them to act as the gods' representative in our world. Somehow, when you were with the Sands of Time, you made contact with the gods and they with you… and they have chosen you to be their Hand."

"Because I'm noble and pure of heart, isn't that what you said they said?" Dastan asked, looking more worried than ever.

Tamina inclined her head. "Among other things, yes," she replied, blushing a little, remembering how the gods had said that she was to give Dastan a son. She wondered if she had already become with child. They had been together some many times since their wedding night that she would be surprised if she was not.

Dastan looked at her for a moment. "What are you hiding?" he asked. "I can tell your hiding something back. What is it?"

"Nothing," she looked away from, concerned that her eyes would betray her. She stood up and took the scroll with her. Dastan jumped up to follow. She walked through the library focusing on the scroll, ignoring Dastan's eyes, which she knew was on her back, and slowly drifting down to her hips. She rolled her eyes.

"You can forget about that, Dastan," she said, knowing what he was thinking. "You need to focus on preparing for the arrival of the Emperor's sister. She'll be here shortly." She looked back at him and gave him a glare.

He smiled boyishly and shrugged. "I don't know if I can focus with your around, Tamina…," he stepped closer, reaching out to entangle her waist with his arms. "Your beauty is enchanting."

Releasing a light laugh, Tamina gave him a playful slap on his chest, before relenting to a kiss.

"Ahem!"

They turned from their embrace to see Tus standing in the doorway. He smiled at them and raised his eyebrow. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but state business awaits," he said looking at Dastan. "Ambassador Aulus has informed us the that princess is arriving in the city.

Dastan took a deep breath and inclined his head. He looked down at Tamina. "Come, my princess," he said, offering his hand. "My father did advise me to heed your counsel, and there's no other place I'd rather have you then by my side."

Tamina smiled and accepted the offer of his hand as they walked out of the library to join Tus.

XXX

Aulus narrowed his eyes and suppressed his rage. He did not like this at all. He had sent his objections back to Constantinople, but the emperor had paid his protest little heed. And now Vigilantia was arriving. Her escort had just entered the city and were making their way through the streets.

The Ambassador had positioned himself outside the palace, to await her arrival and be the first to greet her to Alamut. His retinue stood around him, and his guard, dressed in the imperial standard, flanked him. He was in the middle of planning out how he would convince the lady to turn away when he spotted the fiend.

"Guards!" he shouted, pointing at the man.

The guards immediately went out and grabbed him and bringing him up to Aulus. The Ambassador smiled.

"Where's you knife thrower, Sheik?" he asked mockingly.

"Acquiring more knives, of course," Amar flashed his shining gold smile. "What's this about? I told you before, Roman, I will not pay your taxes."

"I don't care about taxes!" Aulus fumed, and ruffled through Amar's robes until he found what he was looking forward. Removing his hand, he held up the coin purse. "I think this will suffice. My money returned, plus the interest."

"Interest!" hooted Amar. "If anyone is owed interest it is me! You never did pay your tab for all that fermented goat's milk you drank."

"It gave me a stomach ache," snarled Aulus. "So I saw no need to pay."

"Fine," Amar smiled. "Keep it. Just don't expect a warm reception when you return to the Valley of the Slaves."

Aulus waved at his guards. "Get him out of here."

The guards were just taking the self-named Sheik away, when the emperor's sister arrived. The litter pulled up and Aulus gritted his teeth, quickly hiding his newly acquired coin purse in the folds of his toga. When the curtain parted, he gave her a big smile and welcomed her to Alamut.

XXX

Dastan watched, slightly amused, as Garsiv paced back and forth, his face set in a permanent frown. Tus stood off to the side, fiddling with his prayer beads, while Tamina causally sat in her chair next to his. Originally the Persians had just installed one regent's chair in the great hall, but Dastan had them set another one up right next to his at an equal height and distance. Tamina was, after all, every much his equal and partner.

"Why so worried, Garsiv?" Dastan asked, trying to hide his mirth at the sight of his brother's pacing. "I thought you said you didn't care what she looked like, nothing was going to change your mind."

Garsiv glared at him, yet said nothing. The chamberlain entered the room and presented Ambassador Aulus. The roman strolled in looking peeved and angry, scowling. He stepped over to Dastan and Tamina and bowed before them.

"Greetings Viceroy," he said, and turned to Tamina, bowing lower than he had for Dastan. "High Priestess." He then turned to back to the chamberlain and gave a gruff commanding nod. The chamberlain banged his staff against the marble floor to silence everyone, not that it was necessary, the only people in the room where Dastan, Tamina, and his brothers. Garsiv stopped his pacing and stood silently beside Tus.

Aulus narrowed his eyes and raised a hand. "Presenting her imperial majesty, sister to the Emperor of Byzantium and the Eastern Empire, Lady Vigilantia of Bederiana."

They all turned towards the archway to see their first glimpse of the roman princess.