Chapter 41


Day 10 of the Great Tree Moon, Year 1162 (Fódlan Calendar)


The throne room of the Qasr Al'asl was silent as death itself while its occupants awaited their guests. Emir Hamza sat slumped on his divan with the royal saif resting on his lap. Prince Dizhwar stood hunched at one side, while Agha Ridwan stood on the other. Unarmed soldiers and servants lined the room.

The shame threatened to suffocate them all until the doors finally opened and two people walked in. One was a young man that Ridwan recognized as Prince Ghalib. Ghalib wore practical armor, but he also made no effort to hide his identity as a prince. The person next to the prince of Elam was closer to the age of a boy than a man. His armor was nondescript, and he might have passed as a child wearing a costume if people did not know better. It was Nobilissimus Aurelian of Meteora. No one in Saba knew how someone so young had earned such a prominent role in the army, but they were terrified by thought.

Ghalib stood tall as he took each deliberate step across the hall. Annoyance briefly flashed across his face when he noticed that the crowd's attention was biased towards Aurelian, but he ultimately endured the embarrassment in silence.

Emir Hamza was sick, and he had hardly been able to speak a word in a month. When Ghalib and Aurelian reached the center of the room, the emir wheezed and motioned Ridwan to stand before him. He presented his sword to Ridwan, who took it and began the humiliating walk to the two conquerors.

"The emir sends his youngest general instead of his own son?" Ghalib asked with an offended frown. He stepped back and waved to Aurelian. "Then so does the king of Almyra. Aurelian… accept the sword on our behalf."

Ridwan and Aurelian both glanced at Ghalib with barely veiled annoyance, but they ultimately finished the transfer per the prince's instructions. As Ridwan stepped away, Aurelian passed the sword to Prince Ghalib.

Ghalib studied the opulent hilt and ran a hand over the blade. He then frowned. "This shamshir was forged by a once-great society. What happened to the Saba that conquered nations… the one that brought Almyra to heel? You thought it wise to stand against us, yet your armies surrendered again and again after the most uninspired clashes!"

Ridwan tried to hide his anger. "We call it a saif here. And the truth is that we never stood a chance against the combined might of Elam and Meteora. We were counting on internal discord to dismember your cause. When your unity prevailed, the war was already lost for us."

"So… you think you lost the war because my brother dealt with some petty nobles back home rather than me leading an army down the throat and into the heart of Saba?" Ghalib practically growled in a low voice that no one other than Ridwan and Aurelian heard.

Ghalib finally realized that his complaints had gone much too far. On command, his face softened as he addressed the host, "Forgive me for my impudence, as well as an ignorance of your language. It only pains me to see a great people brought to such a low. In truth, I do not think we are so different. We all performed our duties as honor compelled us. My honor required me to follow the commands of my father the king, and your honor bound you to fight for the ancient traditions of Almyra. In another time, I think we could have made great allies." Ghalib strode forward confidently and spread his arms wide. "And perhaps that day will come again! I honored the wishes of my father, but that does not mean that I approve of my brother Faruq's recklessness. With this terrible war behind us, I hope we can once again stand side by side to protect this land that we hold most dear! I promise that going forward, I will always do what is necessary to protect our identity, just as you swore to do."

There were murmurs of approval as those who understood him translated for the rest. Emir Hamza even nodded in agreement.

Ridwan, however, was not as impressed. He was close enough to examine every line of Ghalib's expression, and what emotion did he see? Nothing. The prince of Elam was speaking grand words, but none of that spirit reached his eyes. It was not clear what Ghalib truly believed, if anything.

Prince Ghalib walked to the emir and gently presented the royal saif.

"Your surrender is recognized, and the King of Almyra has mercy. You shall maintain your lordship over Saba, Emir Hamza. May our lands see peace once again."

The assembly clapped politely as Hamza retook his sword. Prince Dizhwar then announced a feast in honor of the dead and the restored goodwill. As the room emptied, Prince Ghalib began a discussion with Prince Dizhwar while Aurelian stood alone uneasily. Aurelian did not look particularly interested in conversing, but Ridwan took the opportunity to approach him anyways.

"I thought I was pretty young for a general, but you've made me feel like an old man, Aurelian," Ridwan chortled. "So… how does victory feel? I haven't been able to unearth any firsthand accounts from my friends."

"… It's fine."

The boy's lack of enthusiasm did not deter Ridwan. He directed his head towards the Elamite prince and asked under his breath, "Is Prince Ghalib always this vapid and self-important, or is he just having an off day?"

"… I was taught not to speak ill of others," Aurelian reluctantly answered.

"And your silence implies a lack of alternative descriptives for him?"

Aurelian mumbled, "Make of it what you will."

Ridwan nodded and patted Aurelian's shoulder after finally conceding that he would get nothing more out of the boy. "Well… take care of yourself, young warrior. And try to not let the fame go to your head, or you'll end up just like him."

Aurelian finally showed some life as he put his hand on his heart. "I will try. May heaven bless your path, General Ridwan."

Ridwan noticed for the first time that Aurelian's annunciation was somewhat irregular, but he did not point it out as the Meteoran immediately took the opportunity to escape. The throne room was almost vacated, but Prince Ghalib and Prince Dizhwar were still deep in conversation. The two laughed and shared stories like old friends. For some reason, the heir to Saba was utterly charmed by the same man who had affronted them just minutes earlier.

Ridwan sighed. Was this all that the future of Saba had in store?


Interlude: The Roots of Maddaban- Day 9 of the Harpstring Moon, Year 1187 (Fódlan Calendar)


Ridwan grunted as he knelt and poured out a cup of water under the shade of a gnarly olive tree. This tree stood at the center of the citadel in the heart of Maddaban. For at least a moment, he wanted to worry about something other than the relentless raiders from Sreng that had him caught in a pocket.

"Don't worry, it's only from my rations," Ridwan told the tree as he set down his empty cup. "You have a much longer future ahead of you than I do, so it's only fair. I'll be fine."

The tree had stood there since the founding of Maddaban some two thousand years ago. The legend stated that a poor shepherd living on the Nahr al-Masdar dreamed of seeing the sea, and the shadow of this tree led the way. It seemed a bit ridiculous, but there was no question that the olive tree was astonishingly old. It had witnessed the rise and fall of multiple great empires yet somehow found a way to outlast them all.

Ridwan glanced up when he heard someone approaching. It was a bald but handsome man around thirty years old.

"Are you going to tell me that was a bad idea, Kareem, or are you just going to stare in disappointment?" Ridwan asked him.

Kareem knelt down beside him, and Ridwan had to hide his jealousy when the other man's knees did not creak in protest. "Do you want my opinion?" Kareem asked. "I know this tree is supposed to be important, but it's honestly a bit of an eye sore."

Ridwan laughed. "I guess we'll see how you're doing when you reach the same age! I'd personally be willing to accept being flabby and warty if it meant I made it another couple thousand years."

Very few in the army besides Ridwan and Kareem could speak the common Meteoran tongue, so they had developed a habit of using it when they needed to shield bad news from the soldiers. Consequently, they had almost entirely resorted to their secret language in recent days. Bad news was all they had. Perhaps Kareem was enjoying it since he seemed to be the perfect pessimist.

Ridwan's smile faded as he sighed, "In truth, Kareem, that might be the last watering this tree gets in a long time. We're not going to last more than a week on our provisions, and if our enemies make a coordinated assault, I don't think we have the strength left to stop them."

"The invaders probably know about this tree. What are the odds they'll cut it down out of spite if the city falls?" Kareem asked.

"Have these savages ever shown respect for our culture?" Ridwan said with an uncharacteristic lack of humor. "I don't expect them to start now. So… what did you come here to tell me, Kareem?"

Kareem groaned, "The defenders at Tilal al-Bahr just sent word that the enemy is preparing for another advance on the hill. They think an attack will be launched within an hour. Based on the numbers I'm hearing, I think this might be the 'coordinated assault' you spoke of."

Ridwan closed his eyes in frustration and remained silent. Losing Tilal al-Bahr would be unacceptable. The hill was close and tall enough to the walls of Maddaban to permit launched projectiles to reach into the city. It would not cause an immediate collapse, but because food already running dangerously low, the occupants would be less willing to tolerant risking their lives every time they needed to step outside.

"They've been informed that the position cannot be surrendered, correct?" Ridwan asked.

"They have. Extra tenacity won't buy them more than a few minutes, though, general. They need reinforcements… reinforcements we don't have. So… what do we do?"

The commander shrugged. "What can we do, Kareem? This battle is lost. We're only prolonging the inevitable because our orders are as such. We're waiting for help that we know isn't coming. Maybe the emir granted us permission to surrender a week ago, but we'll never know with the skies closed."

The attention of both men lifted to the pegasi overhead. The Sreng pirates patrolled the skies on these emaciated flying horses to ensure that no lone wyverns tried to sneak supplies into the city. The pegasi had suddenly interrupted their patrol, however, and were now making a straight path towards Tilal al-Bahr. The attack had just begun. There was nothing Ridwan or Kareem could do other than grant the pegasi a few curses and obscene gestures as they left.

"The idiots…" Kareem muttered. "If it's our food and resources they want, they should have tried scaling the walls a few months ago when we still had some."

"They expect a lavish payment from the emir in exchange for the garrison's restitution. And when they don't get it, they count on the rest of Saba being ripe for the taking after they force our surrender. Unfortunately, their latter assumption is correct," Ridwan observed. He then grumbled, "Come on. We should at least be there to watch our fate be sealed. A commander of Saba should never hide his face, even as his army flounders."

Ridwan and Kareem jogged through the sun-scorched streets on their way from the main citadel to a fort built into the southwestern quadrant of the wall. Despite the impending doom, there was no panic in the city. Citizens lounging in the shade watched the commanders pass by with only modest curiosity. Ridwan wished he could attribute the prevailing calm to the patience and mettle of the Sabaean people, but he knew the populace was just too exhausted and hungry to pay any more thought.

The last defenders of the fort were all lined up on the ramparts, making despairing observations as they watched the battle unfold. Ridwan and Kareem dashed up to join them.

It was initially difficult to make out much of anything. The enemy army was assaulting from the opposite side, so the hill blocked most of the view. Even though there were very few obstacles in the barren, sandy landscape, all that could be seen were the pegasi that occasionally probed the status of the hill's defending archers. Ridwan prepared his own archers to take a shot if any of the pegasi came too close to the fort for their own good. One of them did, which provoked a flurry of arrows from the wall. The rest of the riders were far more cautious after that careless pegasus fell from the sky.

It was clear that the battle was beginning to turn after about ten minutes when Sreng soldiers finally started to crest the hill and come into sight. While no one fled outright, some defenders were forced to abandon the fortifications and slowly back away in an organized withdraw. Everyone watching began to recite prayers for their comrades at that time.

Perhaps God answered their prayer. Only a minute later, there was commotion within the Sreng forces. A large contingent suddenly abandoned their target and diverted around the rim of the siege line to the east. The Sabaean soldiers defending the fort all craved to see what was happening, but Ridwan immediately told them to hold their positions. He would investigate himself.

In hindsight, he should have sent the younger Kareem. Ridwan's back felt like it was being fused by a hot iron as he ran along the wall past confused sentries who all asked, "Hal 'anta bikhayr qa'id?" with concern until Ridwan motioned that he was going to be fine.

Ridwan eventually reached what he was looking for, though he was profoundly confused by the scene. Sreng's siege line had been broken from the outside by a division of Sabaean camel cavalry that stormed the enemy in an inexorable wave of swords, lances, and arrows. Sreng reinforcements were on their way to plug the hole, but it was too late. Most of Sreng's soldiers were already fleeing along the westward axis of the line. The Sabaeans in position to witness this were all cheering and signing praises for this miraculous rescue.

Ridwan knew that there was still a single camel division available, but he was shocked to see it deployed alone. It was a clever idea to break the lines while the enemy's focus was directed on the opposite side of the city, and besieged army could now hope for a temporary influx of food and other supplies. However, the division was simply too small to completely break the siege. Once the invaders regrouped, it was only a matter of time before the status quo was reestablished.

There were more questions than answers. Why did the cavalry come alone, and how was the timing of their arrival so fortuitous?

The surprises were not yet finished, however. Ridwan could no longer watch the battle for Tilal al-Bahr from his position, but he could still see the pegasi overhead. They were now darting towards the west where some were already engaged in combat with Sabaean wyverns. Ridwan was also aware of Saba's final wyvern corps, but he was counting too many wyverns in the sky for it to align with the corps' limited size. Three of the wyverns even bypassed the siege lines and were descending towards the fort that Kareem and the others still occupied.

Ridwan groaned as he now began to run back the way he came. By the time he arrived at the fort, grinning soldiers were already helping unload bags that were carried by the three newcomers. Two of them were obviously Sabaeans that were energetically conversing with Ridwan's subordinates. The third was a woman who stood at the center of the activity and appeared to be their leader. Ridwan descended the stairs and approached her.

"Man 'anti ya sadiqi?" Ridwan asked the woman. When she stared at him blankly, he tried again, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

"Oh, sorry," she replied with crossed arms. "My name is Satiah. Umm… Satiah bint Izemrasen I think is how you say it here?"

"You are not from Saba or Elam then, and you don't look Meteoran." Ridwan finally noticed the colors adorning her wyvern. "… You are Shomali?"

"That's right. As for why we're here, that would be because my commander asked us to come." She opened up one of the bags and revealed the contents to Ridwan. It was full of nuts. She explained, "These rations should provide you with another few weeks, but we'd rather end the siege now. The Sabaean camel division is striking from the east while our wyverns try to throw their command into disorder. Tell your soldiers to sally forth and help push the invaders back to their ships."

Ridwan had no idea who this woman was or if she had any authority to give him orders, but she was the only person with a clear vision at the moment. He commanded the remaining soldiers up top to descend and prepare for a sortie.

"There's two other forts along this wall. Send your companions to tell the defenders to also engage. Tell them that Agha Ridwan gave the order," he told Satiah as the remaining bags were unloaded.

Satiah's companions took off as commanded, and Satiah took back to the air once the soldiers were ready to open the gate.

"I'll be with you all the way to provide cover," she told them.

Ridwan nodded his thanks as Kareem translated for the others. When everyone was ready, the general raised his sword and shouted, "Taftahuu al-bawaba!"

The gate opened upon his command, and the soldiers let out a shout as they exited the city. All had been pained to do nothing as Maddaban crumbled and their allies were assailed, so this new opportunity lifted morale to such heights that everyone felt practically invincible.

The assault on Tilal al-Bahr had fizzled due to the surprise counterattack, so the defenders had already recaptured their original fortifications and stabilized the lines by the time Ridwan arrived. Even so, their aid was greatly welcomed. With their added strength, as well as the strength of the rapidly approaching camel division, the forces of Sreng started to withdraw to the east. Several of them blew on horns as they retreated. The Sabaeans had no idea what the noise was supposed to indicate until the ships blockading the harbor of Maddaban began to drop numerous skiffs into the water. These smaller craft were rapidly rowing towards the west of the city where Sreng raiders were waiting for rescue.

The prospect of a full capitulation of Sreng's forces boosted optimism that much more. In fact, it was beginning to reach dangerous levels. As they neared the sea, some of Ridwan's youngest and fastest soldiers barreled down the hill into an obvious trap. Ridwan yelled at them to stop, but it would have been too late had a group of wyverns not strafed the raiders with arrows just before the ambushers could initiate their plan. Ridwan raised a hand to the wyverns in thanks, prompting one of them gesture back in recognition.

Ridwan only sullied his blade twice during the attack- the first time against a soldier who tripped while descending the hill and decided to fight alone instead of surrender, and a second time when a woman actively targeted Ridwan after recognizing him as the Sabaean commander. Both were terrible mistakes on the part of the raiders.

A total victory was ultimately just out of reach. Belongings were abandoned as the raiders hastily leapt onto the skiffs, and the pegasi had transitioned away an offensive role to instead ferry people to the primary ships. As the main body of raiders approached the shore, they reorganized into a well-designed perimeter at a preprepared palisade that covered their withdraw. Ridwan had to shout until his voice was hoarse to keep his soldiers from trying to penetrate the defenses. Despite the enthusiasm and reinforcements, it would have been a foolhardy endeavor.

There was an informal truce as both sides declined to launch any more projectiles at each other. Instead, they simply observed each other cautiously as the boats were filled. For the first time, Ridwan appreciated just how hard life in Sreng must have been. These soldiers were not simply hungry- they were thin and sick, and they had aged beyond their years. And despite their retreat, they seemed insistent on not giving up any more ground. The lives of their companions meant that much. Ridwan was beginning to regret referring to them as brutes.

There was nothing more to learn, though, as the last of the Sreng raiders withdrew to the skiffs and rowed deeper to sea and out of Almyra's grasp.

"Don't forget to take your ugly horses with you!" Ridwan yelled after them. When the surviving pegasi retreated alongside their boats, he mused mirthfully, "I guess I should have tried reasoning with them in the Meteoran tongue earlier. Maybe this was only a tragic misunderstanding."

"They'll just regroup and come back," Kareem muttered as he stood beside Ridwan.

"I wouldn't count on it," a woman said from behind as she dismounted her wyvern. "We found a scholar in Al-Amal with enough knowledge of their language to write up a proclamation. We dumped multiple copies over their headquarters. It stated that the civil war in Almyra is ending, and that Almyran warships will soon return to patrol the northern coast. It's an exaggeration of the facts, of course, but our arrival will act as evidence of its truth. I think they'll soon be on their way home after reading that."

Realizing that this was the commander Satiah mentioned, Ridwan joked, "That was quite the show you put on out there! You arrived at just the right time to maximize the spectacle."

The general answered seriously, "I didn't care about spectacle. We arrived in the area last night and ran scouts just before dawn. When we saw them gathering for a massive assault, we timed our attack to exploit their vulnerability."

Ridwan smiled. This woman was not the best at recognizing a jest. Though… he could certainly respect someone who cared more about doing the right thing than putting on a show.

"Your wyvern bears the colors of Elam. Did King Faruq send you?" he asked.

"Not exactly. I came on my own authority as acting commander of the Mobile Guard," she said as she finally removed her helmet.

Though it was not exactly relevant to the situation, Ridwan was quite astonished by her beauty. He was not sure what kind of person he was expecting for their leader, but she definitely did not fit the mold. At least… not in appearance. She had an imposing aura, no doubt.

"Acting commander of the Mobile Guard?" Ridwan put a hand on his chin and then snapped. "Don't tell me… Suad bint Satam? Why, you've aged rather well for someone pushing seventy! Who dragged you out of retirement?"

Instead of joining in on the joke, the younger woman replied, "My name is Nousha… Nousha bint Nader, daughter of the late grand agha."

Ridwan's smile immediately dissolved. "… My condolences. We had not received the news… or any other news for the past few weeks, for that matter. I'm fortunate to have avoided facing your father on the battlefield all those years ago, or I wouldn't be standing here today. Nader somehow managed to be both larger than life and down to earth… but I'm sure you already know that."

"Yes… yes he was," Nousha murmured. Rather than linger on the subject, she withdrew a piece of folded parchment and handed it to Ridwan. "This is a letter from the emir and emira. I know nothing about the contents."

Ridwan nodded and accepted the offering. A grin slowly grew over his lips as he made his way across the page.

Agha Ridwan,

Peace be upon you.

I trust that if this dispatch has reached you, the siege of Maddaban has been lifted by Nousha bint Nader of Elam. If not, please destroy this letter, as its contents are of no consequence.

Nousha approached me with a plan to come to your aid, and even after being informed that Saba had nothing to offer in return, she risked her own life and standing within King Faruq's court in order to liberate our lands. I can think of no higher act of honor yet taken during the terrible war that has befallen our brethren to the west.

Emir Dizhwar and I agreed upon Nousha's pronouncement that she deserves the allegiance of Saba as this war draws to a close. You are under no obligation to take any action should you find the circumstances unsuitable, but should Nousha have the support of both you and your army, I pray that you will demonstrate that support in a befitting manner.

I am certain that some people will insist that a deal was struck with Elam as a prerequisite for the aid of the Mobile Guard and that the entire affair is staged. I assure you that the contents of this letter are true, however, and I am counting on your influence to minimize the attention such detractors receive. When Nousha learns of our response, her reaction will be entirely genuine. She is many things, but I surmise that you will quickly ascertain that a convincing actor is not one of them.

فی امان اﷲ

Maysun bint Bardiya, Emira of Saba, Princess of Elam

The letter was also stamped by Emir Dizhwar's personal seal, confirming his endorsement of the contents. Ridwan laughed so hard he began to cough as he refolded the parchment. Rather than explain himself, he put a hand around Kareem and quietly asked him, "Could you give our army a short celebration speech? The slow withdraw sucked all the excitement out of the moment. I'll make another one later, but our soldiers should be enjoying their victory, not cluelessly watching while I discuss matters with our new friend."

Kareem agreed to this, so Ridwan led Nousha further away so they could talk in private. After doing so, he dropped to one knee before her.

"General Ridwan… what… what are you doing?" Nousha stuttered.

"Both obeying orders and following my heart. You came to our rescue when no one else would and demonstrated a sincere desire to do the right thing. And thus… I would happily follow you into battle."

"That's… not going to be allowed. My future lies in battle in Meteora and the Tabarzin. Your home remains neutral in that conflict."

Ridwan playfully held up the letter between his fingers for her to take. "Are you sure about that?" he asked her.

Ridwan stood and watched as Nousha's eyes surveyed the contents. She muttered, "But… Emira Maysun said Saba would never agree to join the war, even if I came to help you."

"She has been known to exaggerate for effect from time to time, much like your proclamation to the raiders."

"… It was a test, or at least an opportunity for growth," Nousha finally realized. "She wanted to know if I was willing to come even if Elam earned nothing in return."

Ridwan agreed, "She wanted to know if you were worthy of our support. Telling you the full truth would have denied her of that opportunity."

"But it also meant she risked me not agreeing to help and jeopardizing Maddaban's liberation," Nousha pointed out.

"The emira must have read you like a book and knew you'd agree. And if you didn't, maybe she would have come back with more context before you left Saba."

Nousha snorted and shook her head as she returned the letter to Ridwan. "It was a well-staged trick; I'll grant her that much."

"I wouldn't say it was just a trick. It's true that our people have been reluctant to pick a side. If you came only as part of a prearranged contract, I don't think most Sabaeans would be too impressed." Ridwan smiled as the army cheered in unison. "… But I'd say opinion is quickly changing."

As Kareem finished his speech, several of the soldiers gingerly approached the two generals with hopeful smiles. One of them put both hands on his heart and made a declaration to Nousha.

"What did he just say?" Nousha asked.

"Ha! He said that you're his favorite habibti today, and everyone else's habibti, too!" Ridwan explained.

"'Habibti'… isn't that like a lover or something?" Nousha recollected. She shook her head rapidly as she stammered, "Umm… no. No, tell them I'm not interested in anything like that!"

"Don't take it so literally! It's just a term of affection. Or a term someone uses when they really want to sell you something."

"Well… alright." Nousha awkwardly put her hands over her heart and then extended them towards the soldier. She told him, "You are all my habibis, too."

The language barrier did not inhibit the message, and the soldiers all laughed as they teased her further. Joy had been restored, and even though the Almyrans were deprived of a full surrender, many of the troops found an outlet for their energy by hacking away at the abandoned palisade.

The last immediate priority was to handle the dead. The commander of Saba's camel division, a woman named Engy, ultimately offered to take responsibility. The defenders of Maddaban deserved a chance to celebrate, and both Engy and Ridwan were insistent that Nousha's wyvern corps should be treated as honored guests.

With the issue settled, the exhausted defenders were free to return to the city. Ridwan called for an immediate gathering at the citadel upon their return. As they walked back, Ridwan asked Nousha, "Besides the passing of Grand Agha Nader, what is the latest news from the war?"

Nousha shrugged. "My father and the former commander of the Mobile Guard died in a defeat against the Meteorans, but I haven't heard anything that has happened since. I'm certain the wyvern corps is missed, and I'll probably be facing a demotion on my return. But… I'm also confident that their situation is not as dire as yours was."

Sensing an opportunity, Kareem leaned over and made a private comment to Ridwan. Nousha noticed this and appeared to correctly deduce that the remarks regarded her.

Ridwan cleared his throat, turned to Nousha, and explained, "Forgive my friend Kareem here; he's a little shy. He was just observing that the others are all still too euphoric to ask why you didn't begin your attack by razing their boats or cutting them off from the sea when you had the element of surprise. That way, we could have trapped and eliminated their entire expedition."

Kareem was embarrassed to be called out, but Nousha was entirely unbothered by the criticism. She answered, "Ignoring the fact that either option would be no small task, Sreng would have plenty more bodies to send afterwards. Maybe they'd be scared off if these raids were only a matter of pride, but this seems like an issue of desperation for them. Killing the whole expedition would just make their friends and family that more spiteful and dogged. It also would have meant sacrificing more of our own lives on an unnecessary battle. We are glad to have helped you, but we still have another war to finish."

Ridwan elbowed Kareem and joked, "See, that wasn't so scary to ask, was it? Though you should probably understand these kinds of things for yourself if you want a promotion someday."

News of the victory had already spread across the city, and the army was greeted with a parade upon their return. It was not clear how many of the inhabitants had received any of the new rations, but the same people who were stagnant and hopeless only hours prior had summoned their last reserves of energy for the occasion. Instruments were played, dances were performed, and every soldier had received at least one hug or kiss by the time they reached the citadel. Ridwan never officially invited them, but the residents of Maddaban followed the army into the yard of the stronghold to hear his speech. Old and young, rich and poor, man and woman… all came to listen.

Ridwan jumped up halfway up a set of stairs to the ramparts so he could be seen by everyone. It was decided that he would give his speech in the Meteoran tongue for the Elamite and Shomali guests to satisfy the standards of Sabaean hospitality, while Kareem would translate into the local dialect.

Ridwan began, "Friends, new and old… people of Maddaban… peace be upon you! For indeed, peace has come. It was hard earned by all that I see standing before me… Not just the soldiers who bled, but everyone who sacrificed their meals, time, and livelihoods to see to our survival.

"We were caught unprepared when the pirates last came, and this city paid the price for my failure. Before even that, when the armies of Ghalib and Aurelian marched upon us, the garrison of Maddaban quickly capitulated. The rest of Almyra began to whisper amongst themselves- had all strength abandoned Saba? To that question I answer with a resounding 'no'!"

He directed his hand to the olive tree at the center of the yard once the hollers of agreement settled down. "The tree that has forever been synonymous with this city… do you suppose it has not also had difficult times? Droughts, disease, neglect… in all of those centuries, it has seen it all. But the mere presence of tribulation did not make the tree weak. It does not demonstrate its strength by loud boasting or acts of wonder, but rather by its ability to survive, grow, and adapt. It is the same with us! We had a drought of food, a disease of enemy raiders, and neglect from the other lands of Almyra. Even so, you refused to be uprooted! Maddaban will soon be known not just for its resilient tree but for its resilient people!"

After more cheering, Ridwan's tone changed some. "But even the strongest roots cannot survive in weak soil. It must be said… Saba may have avoided the crisis to the west, but we have faced another one of our own- a crisis of identity. Where do our roots lie… what defines our people? How much should our branches bend in the winds of change without compromising the body? What causes are worth fighting for again? In truth… I did not know either. Like so many others, I was content to simply survive all while the soil that supported us eroded away. In spite of this city's incredible courage, all would have been lost."

He stretched his arm out to Nousha and the rest of her division. "But there was someone who refused to let happen. Nousha bint Nader of Elam and those loyal to her decisive leadership had no orders to rescue us. There were no expectations, no promises of reward… only the risk of death and loss of station. And yet… they came all the same.

"So… what is the identity of Saba? The legacy of the overturned conquests and harems? Our language or hospitality? Or perhaps our superior cuisine?" Ridwan paused as he chuckled at himself. "Well… if it was up to me to decide, I'd say it should be our fundamental desire to do good! We don't need to replicate the riches of Astane and the Dunya, the laws of Meteora, or the pride of the Tabarzin. But let it never be said again that Saba refuses to stand for what is right!"

Ridwan waved Nousha to join him, to which she hesitantly complied. He took her hand and raised it into the air. "And today we've seen the purest example of what that looks like! Almyra stands at the crossroads, and we will have no say in what the future holds if we refuse to choose a side. So I say… choose! Join me and fight alongside our deliverer Nousha! Let us fight!"

Ridwan beamed from ear to ear as the crowd roared in agreement. He finished, "Barakallahu feekum! And have a wonderful celebration!"

With the speech over, Ridwan shook hands with Nousha and Kareem while asking the latter, "I've been saving that metaphor for a month now. How was it?"

Kareem managed to smile. "I guess your visits to the tree amounted to more than wasted water after all."

Satiah approached from below while dragging a large sack that had been carried by one of their wyverns. She asked Ridwan over the noise, "It's not enough for everyone, but we've got some filled wineskins here. Will anybody be interested in having some?"

The news was quickly passed along the crowd before Ridwan could even answer. Satiah immediately lost track of the inventory as wineskins were rapidly tossed about the parched throng. One grateful soldier hoisted her onto his shoulders, earning applause and laughter from the rest.

"Really… I didn't do anything! This wasn't even loaded on my wyvern!" Satiah insisted before giving up and embracing the attention. Nousha smirked at Satiah's embarrassment before the swarm came for her, too. She was swiftly lifted before she could react and carried down to Satiah. The two women were given a wineskin to share.

Nousha was overwhelmed at first, but she permitted herself to smile by the time Ridwan was tossed a wineskin of his own. Nousha did not seem like the kind of person to often give a toothy grin, so Ridwan knew it was entirely authentic.

"To all my habibis!" she cheered as she took a swig of her wine.

"To all my habibis!" Ridwan repeated alongside the delighted crowd as he sat down on the stairs and drank.