Date : 01.06.2014
Title : The Hassansins' Secret
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 16 of ?
Rating : M
Pairings : Zolm/OC
Warnings : Some Sexual Content, Romance, Angst, Maybe Some Strong Language.
Spoilers : Possible references to Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time.
Disclaimer : I do not own anything to do with the Prince of Persia franchise. This plot and any O/C's are mine.
Summary : (AU) The Hassansins take on a mission that leads to the discovery of a secret from their past, one that could change their futures forever and Zolm finds out that maintaining emotional detachment isn't always quite that easy.
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Short update just to kick things off again, sorry for the delay in continuing with this story.
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Setam and Dasmine had just cleared the palace walls and were headed for the city gates when they heard the alarm being raised and they looked at one another, knowing that time had run out.
"We need a horse or there is no chance…" Setam stated, looking around and Dasmine pointed, "There…" and he looked to see a Blacksmiths, a horse just having had new shoes fitted and he nodded once and instinctively, Dasmine moved with him and made no objection when he all but threw her atop the animal and mounted behind her, taking off even as the Blacksmith reappeared and objected loudly and frantically at the fact that they were stealing a customers' horse in broad daylight.
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As the palace alarm bell sounded, Zolm looked up from where he had Hassad pinned to the ground, the sharp point of his scimitar pressed to the other man's throat and he narrowed his eyes as the Queen…Zarina…came running, breathless, into the courtyard.
He released Hassad and turned to Zarina, the other Hassansin getting to his feet even as the Queen breathed in a rush, "We have been betrayed…you have been betrayed by your own man and that…that…common servant girl…"
Zolm sheathed his scimitar, the name of the girl she spoke of hovering somewhere around the edges of his mind, but strangely he could not bring his tongue to form the word. He frowned as Zarina all but growled, "Setam and Dasmine have fled taking a large amount of gold from the palace vaults…"
Tamah, who rarely spoke, stepped forward and looked to Zolm.
"Setam would never…" he began, but was cut off by Zarina, "They have been seen having secret liaisons whilst you have been resting," she looked at Zolm, "I did not wish to tell you whilst you were…incapable…of doing something about it, but now I see no further reason to keep it from you."
Zolm's hands fisted at his sides, a part of him wanting to dismiss Zarina's accusations as ridiculous, but, somehow he felt compelled to believe her and he turned to glare at Tamah, silencing him with one look.
"Dasmine must have thought that you were no longer of any use to her, injured as you were…" Zarina looked at Zolm coyly from beneath her lashes as though she could not believe the servant girl's stupidity, "…and seduced Setam into helping her run away with my gold!"
Tamah and Hassad exchanged a look which thankfully neither Zolm nor Zarina saw…a look that said they did not believe one word of the Queen's outrageous story and then they looked on in astounded silence as Zarina moved closer to Zolm and ran her hands up his chest to rest at his shoulders.
"They must be punished for this…find them for me…for us…kill them both…"
Zolm's eyes glittered and for a moment he remained silent before he turned to his men and commanded, "Prepare to ride!" and Zarina smiled as, albeit reluctantly, the Hassansins moved to do as their leader bid.
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Setam and Dasmine rode deep into the desert, Setam explaining as best he could about what he had found in Zarina's bedchamber and how he believed that she had cast a spell upon Zolm and even though Dasmine was half blind with outrage it did not take long before it became apparent to her that they were headed back to the Lair.
"Won't this be the first place they search for us…?" Dasmine asked even though she already knew that it mattered not where they headed for the other Hassansins would track them down wherever they tried to go…and easily so…and Dasmine now knew what their many other targets must have felt like over the years. It was not a good feeling and she much preferred to be on their side.
Her heart panged as she thought on how Zolm had withdrew from her over the last few days and even though she knew now the cause, it had taken so long, in her mind, to win his affection, that to lose it again so soon was like a blow and it made her hate Zarina all the more.
"It will…" Setam answered her question, "…but one of the women may be able to help us produce an antidote to whatever potion Zarina has been giving Zolm and at least there…at home…we have a better chance of convincing him that it is the Queen who is the traitor…not us…"
Dasmine nodded and swallowed hard, hating the thought that Zolm could believe that she could ever betray him; could he really think so little of her? No…it wasn't him…the Queen had him under a spell, she had to remember that. His mind was not his own…
As they neared the Lair, Setam rode the horse in such a way that a miniature sand tornado blew up around them, a signal to the watch that it was one of their own that approached and the gates would be opened and a short time later they thundered into the courtyard with no time to waste.
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As they rode out, Zolm sensed unrest in his men not unlike that which he felt inside of himself and he had to keep reminding himself of the reason that he was chasing his Second in Command and the woman to whom he had given his heart deep into the desert.
They had been easy to track, but then, Setam would have known that and Zolm couldn't help but wonder why they would head to the Lair where they would be so easy to destroy.
He flinched at the thought of harming Dasmine. The thought did not sit well with him and yet the compulsion to do as the Queen had suggested surged hot and strong through his veins and he spurred his horse on as though eager to reach their destination.
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Back at the palace Zarina was almost giddy with joy at how well her plan was coming together. She had managed to act innocent enough that Azzam had thought he could be rid of her and in hiring the Hassansins to do just that he had brought them right to her without her even having to lift a finger. It had all worked out splendidly…aside from the fact that it looked like she actually was the daughter of Ashtad, Zolm's predecessor. That part had been a surprise even to her. Still, it mattered not…in fact it could even be a bonus…she could well have the right to rule them as well as Parthia…provided Zolm did as she wished.
She clapped her hands together in a child-like way and turned on her heel, her gown flowing out around her legs as she went to bathe and prepare for the Hassansins' return. Surely it would not take long to despatch one besotted servant girl and a traitorous second in command…
As she went she did not see one of her newly appointed 'advisors' watching from the shadows, a deep frown upon his face.
End of Chapter 16