"Prince Tessur is not like the others, Sultana. He will not hesitate to bring his armies upon us for this offense. For the sake of the kingdom, we advise that you send a peace offering and reconsider his proposal."
The fear in their eyes carried a nearly tangible putrid scent. She surveyed the room of her advisors, men who had cautioned reserve and timidity and all but abdication since she had assumed power.
"It is not a proposal," she said. "It is a threat. Threats do not warrant a peace offering or reconsideration of any crazed scheme for the conquest of Agrabah."
The man who had spoken shook his head. "He is not like the others," he repeated. "Recall the fate of Lasseri and Ucija. They refused to give their daughters to the sultan's harem, and neither kingdom still stands today. Prince Tessur is by all accounts worse than his father. The senile old man no longer has the reins to control his son and the eighty thousand Eriasans who fight for him. We fear that if you do not rescind your—"
"Ilande refused him, and Liri still stands. There is nothing to fear. Tessur is a mongrel delighting in the sound of his own bark."
"Your Highness, Agrabah is not Liri. Humayl and the forces of Sarupura are its shield, and the sultan's repute in battle goes before him. But Agrabah has no—"
"Agrabah has no sultan," she finished for him.
She watched each face school itself into noncommittal neutrality with seasoned practice, but the masks were still thin as paper.
"Agrabah has no sultan," she said again. "It needs no sultan to defend it, and no gluttonous foreign prince will threaten his way onto my throne. Should the fear of his bravado overwhelm you, I will gladly release you from my service. If you insinuate that I cannot defend this kingdom again, I will release you immediately."
Silence needled the air. They bowed as one, retreating before her command. Their wizened shoulders were still tense with unspoken protests, their breaths rife with fear of the wrong ruler. Her palm throbbed as she swept out of the room without another word. She realized belatedly that the wound had reopened and bled through the bandage.