It'll be safer to travel just before day break; the guard changes, people will begin to stir, I can be easily lost in a crowd… A light nudge brought me back to reality as one of the servants tightened the cord around my waist. Smoke drifted through the room, the air heavy with sweet scents, a calming agent for my "restless nerves" as Tus had called it. While true that my recall of Balthazar had rattled me moments before, an eerie calm had settled on my mind; a calm that came with having a plan. The certainty, and security, of moving with precision and calculating all things. Now, truly, now I was calm; the winds before a great tempest- building my strength and resolve.

The servants muttered amongst themselves in hushed voices behind their golden vales, hands darting back and forth as they expertly moved tools over the delicate clothe, or my hair. Vain attempts to usher it back to a more manageable state. Mindlessly I fiddled with the hem of the black cloth in my lap, waiting for the moment when the arrival of the Persian prince would been announced. Tus had left the room, but only to stand outside the room and talk about political affairs with a few fat diplomats that had wandered away from the party.

"…no, no. I assure you nothing of the sort-"

"It would be foolish to assume otherwise. Look at the troop movement, trade, and alliances being made. I'm telling you Scythia is up to something."

"Gentlemen." Tus' voice interjected as a diplomat had stopped to gather breathe. "Up until the moment anything happens, it is not our place to make judgements."

"Such hesitance like that will get you killed some day, you highness."

"Well then, it's a damned good thing my father still sits on that throne." Even from this side of the door, Tus' annoyance was evident both through his tone and the general feeling that he set into the air. The diplomat is right though… if Persia wasn't to act against obvious moves to war then when something did happen, they wouldn't be prepared. However the might of the Persian army is not to be over looked. "Now, if you gentlemen don't mind, I have other important matters to attend to."

The door shut promptly behind Tus as he entered the room with a soft click of the lock sliding into place. Turning in my seat I turned to study the wary prince. And indeed, what a wary prince he was. His usual bright self, seemed weighted down by some unseen force that dragged his broad shoulders down and darkened the dark circles below his eyes. His fingertips barely held onto the elegant goblet to which scarlet wine glistened. Tus brought his hand to his mouth and bit on his index finger, clearly deep in his own thought.

I raised my hand to indicate my wish to stop the servants from further fiddling with my clothing and stood up. Tus had been so lost in his own thoughts that he did not seem to notice the slow degradation of movement throughout the room. Folding my hands in front of myself, effortlessly I glided across the room to where he stood. So enveloped in his own thoughts, it wasn't until I stood just before him that he noticed my presence.

"Laleh-?" Before he could finish the thought, I snatched the goblet from his hand; not violently, but assertive enough to get my point across.

"Dear Tus," I threw back the remainder of the wine, the bitter sweet taste a welcoming to my palate. "I think when this is all over you deserve a well earned break." I smiled coyly at him as I handed him back the empty goblet. It only took the prince a moment to play through what had happened before he too broke out in a large smile.

"Ah, dear Laleh." He took the goblet from my hand, his hand lingering on mine for a moment. "Your gaze runs through me and my disguises." He is tired.

During this entire event, a week of parading and celebrations for Garsiv, that the true ruler of Persia had been away on diplomatic affairs, leaving Tus, the eldest, to run affairs in his absence. Truly the man standing before me was a shadow of the man I had met only six days ago. While Persian parties were known for their exuberance and flair, only a fool would believe that there was nothing going on behind the scenes. Celebrations like these were often the tools of political maneuvering and alliances guised for diplomats to drink wine and live outside of their many marriages. My former ties made me no fool to these realities; it was often after parties such as this contracts flooded in by the handful. "Messages to be sent" Zolm would say.

I flashed one more smile at Tus before I returned to my seat, fully aware that Tus' eyes were locked on my back. I stood tall as I strode back across the room, my chin proudly held out and my eyes gazing forward with a new determination. I wonder how I must look to these people. A strange girl, a commoner, walking through these halls with a haughtiness of any noble. I gathered my dress underneath me as I took my seat once again, allowing the women to return to their work in silence.

Moments later a small knock came from the door, echoing through the room like the pounding of a drum. Boom. Boom. Boom. Each thundered right after another filling every niche and cranny with sound. Anxiety swept across every nerve in my body, settling deep within the pit of my stomach. My fingertips began to tingle and ache with a familiar sense of foreboding. No one moved, uncertain about what to do now. Finally it was Tus who answered the door, his demeanor returning to the princely air from hours before. The gold door swung inward and it was a small boy dressed in fine clothing who stood at the doorway.

A small turban tucked away the black hair beneath it, only small bits jutted out from between the folds of the red material adorned with golden accents. His darkly tanned skin stood in contrast to the stark white vest he wore, also accented with gold thread and small bells. Dark green eyes peered through the room, studying everything with an uncertain awe, until they fell upon my gaze. He seemed so lost and confused, so innocent, I couldn't help but softly smile at the boy. A furious red crept across his cheeks and burned his ears as he blushed.

"Yes boy?" Tus pulled his attention back and the boy's eyes shot upward toward the prince, suddenly remembering why he was there. Inclining his head the boy studied the ground at Tus' feet.

"His royal highness, Prince Garsiv, is on his way and will be arriving at any moment."

"Well he certainly took his time." Tus muttered under his breath. "Tell me, was in Ambassador Thrain or Princess Artemisia that was occupying his time?" The names sounded familiar to me as I thought back to the former contracts that had been taken up during my time as a hassansin. Of course, Ambassador Thrain, notorious for knocking off merchants that challenge his own trade company; predictable and boring. Always looking to gain higher favor with the Persian family through trade of military equipment and whatever means he can get his hands on. And who could possibly forget Princess Artemisia? Several contracts made out to…darken the reputation of anyone who would challenge her. From a small kingdom just outside of the Persian kingdom, promised the hand of some general in the military, truly aims to snag a prince. She'll make things interesting.

The boy's mouth twitched as he forced himself not to smile. "Princess Artemisia, your highness." I internally snorted. Very interesting indeed.

"Poor girl." Tus whispered as he ran one of his hands through his golden hair. "Well thank you for the information, you are dismissed." With that the boy ran off down the hallway, but not before stealing another glance in my direction. I smiled once again as he vanished beyond my sight and the golden door closed once again. "Are you ready, Laleh?" The sound of my own name made me gaze upward to Tus' eyes. In his eyes I found a solace to calm my own soul.

"Yes, I think for once- I am."