Chapter 32: The Poison Wars: Part I
Estakhr, Persia
Xerxes wasn't sure what to expect when he received news that his mother was ill. He also didn't think he would be in Persia for over two months. Nousha exhibited an unknown illness that baffled multiple physicians. Since Xerxes' arrival, he sought out several physicians all over Estakhr and Babylon. None of them could determine what caused the mysterious illness.
Since he was suspicious of the nature of the illness, Xerxes requested to interview all the palace staff. His brother was not thrilled about that, but he allowed it. For weeks, the servants, chefs, seamstresses, secretaries, notaries, and scribes were questioned. They even received two, sometimes three, interviews. There was nothing suspicious to be found.
Each of Nousha's meals were carefully monitored and tasted prior to her eating. Whenever she tried to eat on her own, she would be overcome with exhaustion. Xerxes was always there, beside her, to aid her in finishing at least half the food. It was a never-ending cycle. He wondered when it was going to end.
On an unusual rainy evening, Khosrow invited his brother to eat with him. The meal consisted of a lot of wine, more than the two of them needed. Xerxes barely touched his food and the wine. Instead, he lingered by the balcony, watching the rain pelting the roof.
"It doesn't make any sense," Xerxes said.
"I agree. I've been playing chess by myself for over an hour and I'm losing." Khosrow laughed, knocking a piece off the board.
Xerxes simply rolled his eyes. He wondered when his brother started to drink so heavily. Khosrow was never one to allow himself to succumb to alcohol. Everyone had their vices, he supposed. Running an empire was incredibly stressful.
"I was talking about my mother. I can count on my hand how many times she's been ill all my life. Now, all of a sudden, she's so sick she can't even feed or bathe herself. It doesn't make sense!"
"Every physician has examined Nousha and found nothing," Khosrow dismissed the subject. "How about you come play chess with me? I'm tired of playing by myself."
Finding nothing was precisely the problem. There was something odd about his mother's illness that Xerxes couldn't figure out. He knew there was a piece missing to finding out what ailment his mother had. If none of the renowned Persian physicians could find the cause then perhaps, he needed to resort to other methods of medicine.
Xerxes sat on the floor, ready to play chess, which delighted his brother. He reset the board and began placing the pieces in their respected spots.
"There are a lot of healers from a clan in Pannonia. They could...come here and examine my mother."
Khosrow lowered the wine goblet from his mouth. "Are you suggesting that a shaman come here? You know that is forbidden."
"I don't know what else to do, Khosrow!"
"Don't make me speak to you as your Shah tonight. I am having a pleasant evening."
"My wife doesn't practice our religion and she is allowed here."
Khosrow narrowed his eyes. "Arielle is not a shaman. I'm sorry but I won't allow it."
"So, you'd rather see my mother suffer? She is dying!" He got onto his knees and looked his brother in the eye. "Please. As my brother, I am begging you for this one pardon."
He would have denied Xerxes' request if it weren't for the wine. In response to his brother's contest, the Shah waved his hand dismissively. Xerxes embraced him instantly, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow for his actions. Some may criticize him for allegedly steering the empire away from its traditional practices. These practices, which Nousha also followed strictly.
Despite his efforts, their father's attempts to improve the empire were unsuccessful. He was assassinated due to his leniency, and Khosrow was concerned he may face a similar fate. Khosrow placed his hand on the back of Xerxes' neck and drew him close.
"Nobody shall know about this," he pressed. "The court is breathing down my neck. I don't need them to find out I allowed a shaman into the empire."
Central Pannonia
The war preparations came swiftly as did Bayan's formal coronation of becoming commander. Xena remembered her ceremony like it happened yesterday. She remembered her ceremony and when she passed the role onto Arielle. She couldn't help but think of Anastasia's reign as commander for a short stint. Ana had been dealt a rough hand, being thrust into a marriage she didn't want and being burdened with the responsibilities of producing heirs and leading an army solo. Xena had hoped for a brighter future for her then, and her views remained unchanged.
Overall, Anastasia had a difficult life. Growing up with a commander for a mother, she couldn't do so many things that children in the tribe took for granted now. Xena knew she couldn't undo the past, but she made amends over the years and Anastasia always forgave her. She never made promises she couldn't keep.
This time, she could make no more promises. Anastasia was blind and there was nothing she could do to fix that.
Lingering in the hallway, she peered into her daughter's bed chambers. Navaz stood behind Anastasia, buttoning her leather corset. He undeniably loved Anastasia, which made Xena smile slightly. He would do anything for her. She would do anything for Ana.
Xena entered the room and came to Navaz's side. She put a finger to her lips and took his place, buttoning Anastasia's corset. Navaz smiled and gave the two of them space, making a speedy, yet silent, exit.
Ana sniffed the air and frowned. "Are you burning sage?" she asked, and felt a tug around her waist. "You know I prefer the second row of buttons."
"Any tighter and you'll disappear."
Anastasia raised her head and tensed her entire body, placing her hands on the chair's back and taking a deep breath. Her mother finished tightening her corset, and she hesitated before turning to meet her gaze.
What she saw was a dim-lit silhouette in front of her. What she felt was her mother's worries and fears. Ana stretched her hand out and touched the contours of her mother's face. Her fingers traced her eyebrows, nose, and lips. Her mother did not flinch.
Xena grasped her daughter's hand and kissed her fingers softly. "If I could change the way you see the world, I would. You know I would do anything for you."
"I know." Ana smiled. "I see the world in a different way now."
No apologies were necessary this time, which brought her comfort. Observing Anastasia's response, she concluded that she felt the same. Xena's lips curved into a smile as she leaned her forehead against Ana's.
"Do I really smell like sage?" she whispered, causing Anastasia to laugh. "You need to put some meat back on your bones." She pinched her daughter's taut waist.
"Mother, stop it!" she begged, yet the pinching continued.
Gabrielle was thankful that Farah had resumed her duties of invoicing and keeping track of the empire's finances. She knew Arielle was grateful as well. The Byzantines had yet to send their next installment for the month, which Gabrielle expected. General Baduarius must have figured out that the Lombards were now involved in the war in some way.
The Gepids retreated deeper into West Pannonia, planning for the next attack. The waiting time in between wars was agonizing. Gabrielle had seen enough war to understand that this was the calm before the storm. Each war was like a story; each one with a different beginning and middle, but they all had the same ending—someone was going to lose.
Acting as the Khagana's messenger, Gabrielle carried a very important letter from Shah Khosrow. She already knew the contents, but was unsure of what outcome it would yield. She made her way to the Suevi clan. A few men with tattooed faces gawped at her. They were one of the few righthand men to Ebnezdar. She gathered many of the Suevi Huns were still upset about Farah's attack on Yeter, despite so much time that had passed.
Thankfully, Ursula was receptive and read the contents of the letter. Gabrielle sat opposite of her inside the yurt, awaiting her reply. Ursula pondered over the letter, crinkling her eyebrows, a deep frown settling on her face.
"It is a shame that Nousha is so ill," she said, her tone cool and even. "Persia does not like my kind."
Gabrielle nodded. "It's a request from Xerxes."
Ursula's frown softened. "I am agreeing to go only because I like Xerxes. I do not like his brother. I don't trust him."
"I know he will greatly appreciate you for doing something so kind, Ursula."
But there was more to say—something Ursula had been thinking about for a long time. "I would like to have a word with the Shah when we arrive." Gabrielle waited, expecting the worst. "I want to see my grandson, Issik."
Gabrielle released a breath that was trapped in her chest. "I don't know if the Shah is going to allow that."
"It doesn't hurt to ask. I will help Nousha, but I'm still going to ask. I should be allowed to see him. I am no threat to Persia," she said, resting a heavy hand over her heart.
"I know, Ursula. Just...don't be disappointed if your ask is denied."
Exhausted was an understatement. And skipping dinner was not the best idea. After spending all day and majority of the evening filing away Arielle's letters and documents, Gabrielle wanted to go straight to sleep but her mind wouldn't let her.
As soon as she stepped foot in the bedroom, she planned to collapse upon the bed. Gabrielle walked in on Xena as she sat on the bed, reading. Gabrielle arched an eyebrow as she pretended not to notice her wife hastily tucked the note beneath the pillow. Removing her boots, she plunged into the bed.
"What's that you got there?" she walked her fingers up Xena's leg.
Xena huffed. "It's nothing. How was your day? You missed dinner."
"I'll find out what it is eventually," she said, slapping her spouse's thigh. Comfortably, she raised up on her elbows, hands beneath her chin. "I've got a new assignment for us."
"Is it babysitting Elif again?"
Gabrielle widened her eyes in surprise as she spoke with a noticeably higher pitched voice. The words "Awh, you big softie" escaped her lips as she cooed, eliciting a nasty look from her wife. "We won't be babysitting, but I must say, she is absolutely adorable."
Xena couldn't help but smile. "She is, isn't she?"
Gabrielle twirled her wife's hair around her finger. "Nousha is still very ill. Xerxes requested Ursula come to treat her and she needs some escorts to go with her..."
"I see where you're going with this. I don't like going to Persia."
"I know, I know, but hear me out; we can go to the Barsils tribe and see Aurora! What do you think?"
Xena finally said, "Alright, I'll go," after some muted groans and mutterings. "But only because you suggested we visit Aurora, and because I like Xerxes."
"I knew you would agree. Khosrow made a special exception to allow Ursula into Persia. Shamans are...forbidden in the empire."
"Ursula isn't a shaman."
"Well, yes. But she comes from a clan that practices shamanism."
Xena rolled her eyes, tired of the topic. She already consented to going. She changed subjects, saying, "I talked with Ana a few days ago."
"Yeah? How did that go?"
"I think we cleared everything up."
Knowing well than to probe more, Gabrielle responded with a mild smile. She was relieved that the strange tension between Xena and Anastasia had subsided. At the same moment that Xena leaped out of bed, clutching a letter, she climbed beneath the covers. She swiftly grabbed Xena's wrist.
"Is that from Aurora?" she eyed the letter. "This is the third time I've caught you acting weird when you've received a letter from her."
To that, Xena sighed. "I promised I wouldn't tell anyone."
Gabrielle had her secrets, as did Xena. There were plenty of times when members of the clan confided in her, and for the most part, she kept those secrets from Xena. She knew that Xena always kept her promises unless they needed to be broken.
"You would tell me if she was in any danger, wouldn't you?"
Xena brushed her wife's chin with her knuckle. "I would."
Altai Region, Rouran Khaganate
The crossing of the Caspian Sea and trek through the desolate landscape between Persia and Kazakhstan was arduous and seemingly endless. Aurora gained newfound admiration for the soldiers who traversed great distances. Aurora was eager to reach the new Khaganate, but more eager for a comfortable bed and a long bath.
Sharing a tent with Mara and Wasifah was uncomfortable, as Mara would try to cuddle and sneak kisses, which Aurora quickly stopped. Wasifah, a quiet woman, seemed to be aware of Mara's advances. The aloof Persian officer chose to keep quiet and when Aurora inquired about Mara, Wasifah simply replied with feigned innocence. Aurora greatly appreciated the subtle blissful ignorance. It meant she could trust her.
The more time she spent with Mara, the more Fusun faded from her mind. She went so far as to wonder if Mara was only a physical aid and nothing more. Although Mara was an overprotective Alp apprentice, she could be kind and gentle when she desired to be. She wondered how the remainder of this trip was going to pan out, considering she was going to be stuck with Mara for another month at least.
Alp Gohar led the way, traversing across the grasslands. She abruptly halted her steed and whistled for the others to join her on the hilltop. Below, she pointed at the large compound protected by ten-foot walls.
"Home to Bilge Khagan," she announced. "We can still make it before sundown."
It was a magnificent compound. The home in the center was three stories high and stretched for miles. There was one thing missing to which Aurora pointed out, "There are no tribespeople living here."
"This Khaganate runs a little differently than yours, princess," said Gohar. "Come, they're expecting us."
Aurora furrowed her brow, looking at the Khagan's palace. She was startled by Mara thumping her shoulder.
"A warm bath is just around the corner," Mara stated with an inviting grin.
From her balcony, Qutlug Khatun watched the Hun travelers arrive in the compound where her husband and sons were waiting to greet them. She observed their cautious demeanor as they took in their new surroundings.
Chancellor Yusi stood by the Khatun, intrigued at the sight of the three women. His attention was immediately drawn to the younger of the trio, with skin pale as snow and hair as dark as a crow. The other young woman had long, wavy brown hair with beads intertwined in small braids, though she was not as remarkable as her companion.
"Which one is the Hun princess?" he asked.
Investigating the two girls' stances, Qutlug sharpened her gaze. At the opportunity to present themselves to the Khagan, all but one of the Huns bowed.
She pointed at Aurora. "Her."
"Her parents have trained her well," Chancellor Yusi remarked. "She is young—perhaps a summer younger than Tengri."
"I want her brought to the gazebo after she is well rested."
"As you wish, Khatun." The chancellor bowed as Qutlug sauntered away from the balcony. He peered behind the curtain, eyeing Aurora as she trailed behind Bilge Khagan.
It was an overcast morning when Aurora awoke to the light shining into her room. Groggily, she sat up in bed and looked at Mara, sleeping soundly next to her. Mara refused to sleep in a separate room, despite being offered a luxurious suite by the Khagan.
She traced her fingers across Mara's cheek and covered her with the silk blanket. As she got out of bed, she jumped at the sight of Wasifah sitting only a few feet away. Wasifah was quiet, writing in her journal. Her eyes traveled to the blue dress draped over a chair.
Wasifah, without lifting pen from paper, said, "You're to meet Qutlug Khatun and she wants you to wear that."
Aurora took the dress and held it up to her body. The fabric was a mix of silk and cotton. By the weight of it, it had to have silver threads woven in the fabric. It was a gorgeous dress, one fit for a princess. Suddenly, there was a sickly feeling churning in her stomach. She had just arrived at this new place and she was being treated so kindly.
"She gifts me a dress and I have nothing to offer her," she panicked. "Did she mention why she wants to meet me?"
Wasifah swiveled in the chair. "Must I remind you who your parents are, princess?" she teased. "I don't think you should keep the woman waiting. The morning has almost passed."
Aurora clutched the dress to her chest. "Yes. Will—will you be joining me?"
"Unfortunately, no. But I will watch from a distance."
From the exterior, this place held a deceitful allure. Though the labyrinthine interior of the majestic palace boasted an abundance of torch-lit corridors, the outside presented an open and alluring facade. Enclosed within the palace's heart were three expansive courtyards.
Aurora strolled through the hallway, glimpsing a vacant courtyard. Another courtyard revealed a group of maids tending to the plants. Eventually, she arrived at the courtyard situated in the Khatun's wing of the palace. The gazebo stood merely a stone's throw away. Aurora halted on the deck, observing the Khatun's composed presence in the gazebo.
Wasifah laid a gentle hand on the princess' shoulder. "I will wait here for you," she whispered.
Aurora nodded and descended the stairs, crossing the gravel and following a dirt path. The Khatun glanced back, offering a gentle smile. Aurora's lips quivered as she struggled to return the gesture. It was the first time she found herself in a foreign land without anyone to guide her.
She didn't know why she was so afraid of this woman. Her grandmother was a Khatun, though she did not fear her. Perhaps it was because Anastasia was family. This woman was not. Maybe long ago, before her birth, the people once feared her grandmother. Did Grandma Khatun instill as much fear as this woman does?
Aurora entered the gazebo and locked eyes with the woman. The Khatun, small in stature but commanding in presence, wore a black dress with red accents. Her ornate headdress, adorned with red beads, reminded Aurora of her grandmother's ceremonial attire. The Khatun's stern expression and sharp features gave her an intimidating aura.
Qutlug Khatun sat down and offered the seat across from her to Aurora. Her eyes scanned the courtyard and she noticed the ominous officer lingering on the deck. She raised a curious eyebrow.
"I see we are not alone. Does she know that I will not harm you?"
Aurora looked at Wasifah, pacing on the deck. "She's my personal guard. My mother told her I am to be with her at all times."
Qutlug's eyes flared, and she turned her attention to her guest. "The dress is lovely on you. Blue compliments your complexion. Do you like it?"
"Yes, Khatun, it's a gorgeous dress. I wasn't expecting to find it in my room this morning."
"I thought it was fit for a Khagan's daughter," she said with a large smile. "Tell me; are you as good with a bow as your mother? Or do you prefer the sword like your father?"
The question caught Aurora off-guard and she stammered. "Neither, Khatun. I prefer knives and crossbows. I have trained with my weapons of choice for over a year."
"Crossbows are an excellent choice. I would love for you to showcase your skills."
Aurora glanced at Wasifah and then nodded. The moment of silence was more than she could bear.
Her thoughts strayed and she came to understand her mother and Gabrielle's advice should've been heeded. Aspire to rule, she did, but without the inclination to grasp weaponry or the intricacies of governing. She wanted to modify laws without knowing how to make them. Aurora had misconstrued her mother's efforts entirely.
"I want you to think of this place as a second home," said Qutlug. "You are our guest."
"Thank you, Khatun. Your home is beautiful," Aurora said, her cheeks reddening. There was that itch—a question—waiting to emerge. "I have to ask, where are the tribespeople? I didn't see anyone when we arrived."
Qutlug seemed pleased by the question. "Our clans are spread out through various lands. Shads, or governors, oversee the clans in the east and west."
"It must be difficult controlling all those clans knowing your Khaganate is so close to China."
"You're an intelligent girl," Qutlug mused. "Do you know any languages from China?"
When she was a little girl, Aurora had taken language classes, and one of them was a widely-spoken dialect in China. She didn't use the language while in Pannonia, as there was no need, but she understood it by ear. She had a feeling inside her, like a little voice, warning her not to reveal too much.
"No, I don't."
Over the next few days, a new dress appeared in Aurora's chambers before she awakened. Each dress was a different design, but the same shade of blue. They were all beautiful dresses, but Aurora knew she couldn't accept these. It would be insulting to accept so many gifts with nothing to give back.
Mara returned from the food hall and whistled, seeing the five dresses sprawled on the bed. Setting down a tray of desserts she confiscated, she walked over to Aurora. She wrapped her arms around the princess, resting her chin on her shoulder.
"You'll have a whole new wardrobe by the time you return home," said Mara.
Aurora huffed, grabbed Mara's hand and turned around. Those dark brown eyes were intoxicating to look at as was that mischievous smile. This palace was like a dream for Mara. She could take a break from training and indulge in sleep, food, and sparring grounds. For Aurora, this place left her feeling extremely uneasy.
"That woman is strange."
"Who? The Khatun?"
Aurora nodded. "Yes. Who gives a stranger all of these gifts? I'm going to tell her I can't accept these."
"Whoa, wait, hold on." She snatched the princess' hand. "Maybe this is their way building a relationship with your people."
"Mara, I don't think you understand. Everything I say and do is a reflection of my family—of my people. If these people want to build a relationship with my parents, they won't be able to do it through me. That's it, I'm going to tell her that I can't do it. I can't—"
A knock reverberated in the room. Aurora gaped at the door and gently pushed Mara away from her. Not a moment later, Qutlug Khatun let herself in. All three stared at each before the Khatun gave a warm smile.
"Good morning. Our Shads will be here in a few days. We are hosting a welcoming ceremony, and I would be honored if you attended."
Aurora's cheeks flushed. "I would love to, Khatun."
Qutlug eyed the gowns on the bed. "You have plenty of outfits to choose from. I will have a dress delivered to your maid as well."
Mara snickered. "I'm not—"
"Thank you," Aurora quickly said.
After the Khatun left the room, Mara thwacked the princess' shoulder.
"Maid? Maid! I am not your fucking maid. Why didn't you correct her?"
Aurora rubbed her shoulder. "You are lucky I like you, Mara. I don't want her or anyone here to know too much about us—about you—you and me."
"You really don't trust her, huh?"
Estakhr, Persia
There was no time to waste. Ursula was immediately taken to Banu Nousha's quarters, despite her exhaustion from the trip. The room reeked of impending death. Nousha's condition was worse off than the Shah led on. She looked like a sickly child, already small in frame, and she dropped a significant amount of weight.
Ursula began examining her, checking her skin for lesions, bruises, or odd markings. The pulse was weak, but present, which was a good sign. She examined the mouth next and found small white spots spattered on the tongue. This caused Ursula's forehead to wrinkle. She leaned forward, merely a breath away from Nousha's mouth.
Xerxes stepped forward, grasping her shoulder. "Maybe you shouldn't stand too close."
She rose up and frowned at the shehzade. "What plagues her is not a disease," she said confidently. "It is poison."
He was somewhat pleased he found the cause of his mother's deteriorating health. But he didn't expect the cause to be poison. He looked down at his mother, who was awake, yet so lethargic that she might as well been asleep.
Ursula rummaged through her satchel and dressed her hands with gloves. She asked, "Your physicians examined her and did not see she was poisoned?"
"I had every physician in the empire examine her. But her condition was better at the time."
She arched a swift brow in response, hesitant to criticize the physicians of Persia, knowing their expertise was renowned. Yet, her wariness of the Persians colored her doubt. Ultimately, the physicians served the empire, their allegiance to the Shah surpassing even that of a former concubine.
"I need you to move her to a different room." Ursula pulled out two small vials from her satchel. "She will need to be bathed in these oils."
Xerxes nodded, eager to scoop his mother into his arms. "I will have the servants prepare the bath."
"It will be better if I do the bathing, shehzade," she stressed, noticing he was about to refuse. "I mean no offense, but I do not trust your palace staff. Gabrielle can stay in the room with me, if that brings you some ease."
Xena's body craved sleep, but her mind wanted to wander. She felt guilty for wanting to sleep since Gabrielle was with Ursula and Nousha. So, after she bathed, she stayed awake and kept Xerxes company.
"Have you heard anything about Adarmahan?" she asked.
Xerxes sighed deeply and said, "Nothing. It's as if he vanished. With my luck, he is probably lying dead somewhere."
"I've been alive long enough to know that people like him don't disappear." She swished the wine around in the cup. "And they don't die easily," she said, taking a sip of the wine.
It had been nearly two years since Adarmahan disappeared, leaving everyone on pins and needles. The rebel group was nowhere to be found, as they too had vanished. It was strange to say the least. Even with the murder of the scribe in the Elam palace hadn't been solved. Xerxes knew his brother was doing his best to rein in the endless questions. The Shah did not want to appear weak or unknowing of the happenings in the empire. Yet, there were no answers, and plenty of questions.
Gabrielle appeared in the doorway, indicating that the bathing ritual was complete. She relayed Ursula's instructions, which were very explicit. Nobody was to enter Nousha's chambers without permission, which also included the Shah and Xerxes. Tonight would be the first dose of medicine and Ursula insisted on staying with Nousha throughout the evening to monitor her.
Xerxes concluded that he wouldn't be able to see his mother tonight. It was probably for the best because he was exhausted. He was sure they were all exhausted from the journey as well. He bid them goodnight, kissed Xena's hand and hugged Gabrielle before departing to his quarters.
"You've done a lot tonight. Are you ready to hit the pillows?" Xena asked, flicking Gabrielle's wispy bangs away from her eyes.
"We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Ursula wants us to search Nousha's room to see if we can link anything to the poison."
A curse was muffled under Xena's breath. "How is she?"
"Not good, Xena. Not good at all," she muttered, shaking her head in dismay. "I had to get in the pool with her so she wouldn't slip under the water. She couldn't hold herself up. I don't think she knew she was in the water."
While Xena did not particularly care for Nousha, she did not like seeing her so sickly. Nousha was Abbaseh, Boran, and Elif's grandmother and she loved them more than life itself. She was not fortunate enough to see Elif's birth or her first year on the earth. If her health didn't improve, she'd likely never see any of her granddaughters.
She saw tears brimming in Gabrielle's eyes and quickly wiped them away. "It's been a long day. Tomorrow will be better. Come on, let's get some sleep."
"What if—what if she doesn't get better?"
She restated her earlier statement on Adarmahan, saying, "People like her don't die easily." Her mouth curved into a sly grin.
Advised to wear gloves during the inspection, Xena did not argue and immediately donned them. Slipping her fingers into the tight leather gloves, she took a glance around the room. Gabrielle, at her side, had already began looking through the bedside table drawers.
"Are you sure it's safe to be in here?" she asked, suddenly afraid of coming in contact with the poison.
Gabrielle knelt and picked through items found in the drawer. "Ursula said we'll be fine. She said the poison takes a long time to enter the body. The poison should leave a film on the gloves." She wriggled her fingers, smiling.
Xena looked at her gloved hands with an unsure frown. "If that's the case, then shouldn't the poison show up on anyone's gloves if they touched all of Nousha's stuff?"
"Ursula doused the gloves in some type of oil."
Shaking her head, either in amazement or bewilderment, she sauntered over to the vanity. "Well, she certainly is craftier than I thought," she muttered.
All of the specialized lotions and creams were placed neatly on the vanity set. Several perfume bottles were lined against the mirror. Xena opened each canister and dipped her fingers in the cream, rubbing it between her fingers. Nothing unusual about the cream was cast on the leather. As much as she hated to do so, she dumped out all of the perfume onto the vanity set and swiped the oily substance with her thumb. Perfumes and lotions would've been too obvious. Poison was easily detected in creams. Any smart person who was trying to kill a person knew that.
The search continued for an hour, each nook and cranny came up with no results. Gabrielle had moved into the bath chamber, which would take a while to inspect. While she did that, Xena began looking through Nousha's expansive wardrobe. She thought Arielle had a lot of clothes, but Nousha had enough clothes for an entire tribe.
The wardrobe was behind a door and it opened into another room. The room could be a guest suite, considering its size. Dresses were hung on both sides of the walls. On the floor were also at least fifty pairs of shoes.
Xena blew a puff. "Shit, this is going to take all day."
Gabrielle's voice echoed from the bath chamber. Xena walked further into the closet, hearing her wife's footsteps nearing. She almost didn't know where to start, but started sifting through the first batch of dresses, carefully tracing her fingers along the fabric.
"Whoa," was all that Gabrielle could say.
"Yeah, I know," she grumbled. "Help me out here or we'll be stuck here until nightfall."
Nousha lolled her head to the side, her eyes fluttering open. She had awoken not by choice, but by her body craving food. She hadn't craved food in a very long time. As her vision focused, she realized she was not in her bed chamber. This room was dark, lit by tall candles, but flitting beams of sunlight filtered underneath the curtains.
Turning her head, a dark figure lying on the sofa caught her eye. Nousha moaned as she tried to sit up. Her head felt like it was about to snap off her neck. She ripped the blankets off her body and saw a pool of sweat beneath her. Her entire body was sticky from her own sweat. It was like waking from a fevered dream, yet she hoped she was still dreaming.
With another loud moan echoing in the room, Ursula jolted from her slumber. She rushed to Nousha's side and touched her forehead gently. Their gaze finally met and Ursula smiled warmly.
"Your body is healing slowly. The treatment is working, but you must pace yourself."
Nousha sat up and felt her heart pound intensely in her chest. She reared her head back against the pillows, exhausted. The minimal movement caused her to use all of her immediate energy.
"Am I still in Estakhr?" she asked, panting heavily.
"Yes. We moved you to a different room."
"What are you doing here? What's this treatment you're talking about?"
Ursula explained, "Xerxes asked me to come here to examine you. I found traces of poison all over your body. I gave you a treated bath and watched you all night to make sure you didn't have a reaction. It seems to have worked quite well."
The only words Nousha heard were 'Xerxes' and 'poison.' She felt honored that her son would go to such great lengths to cure her illness. She knew the Shah would never allow a person like Ursula into the empire. He was breaking their rules and traditions in order to save her life. Xerxes must've worked extremely hard to convince his brother to make such an exception.
Then the realization hit: someone was poisoning her.
"Gabrielle and Xena are searching your room for the poison."
Nousha shifted her gaze to meet Ursula's dark eyes above her. Not only did this woman make the trek all the way to Persia, but so did Xena and Gabrielle. Overwhelmed by the generosity shown to her, her throat tightened as she held back tears. It could have been the exhaustion feeding the tears, but the amount of people who came to her aid astonished her.
A few droplets fell from her eyelashes and Ursula gently wiped her cheek with a gentle hand. "You are upset," said Ursula.
"No, I...I am shocked that—"
"That I came to see you?" she interrupted. "You and I haven't shared many words over the years. My grandson is married to your son's cousin." Her tone was laced with mild disdain. "That makes us family, and in my culture, we help family, even if we don't like them."
A small smile escaped Nousha's lips, and Ursula returned the gesture.
At long last, Xena reached the end of the wardrobe where she saw the leather glove take on a greenish tint, the more she touched the dresses. Carefully running her fingertips over the dress, she continued to rub the fabric, noticing the green coating seemed to become more vibrant.
As she pivoted around, she beheld Gabrielle rummaging through a little jewelry box on the floor. Gabrielle rose up, tapping her shoulder as she held two rings, an earring set, and an additional pair of necklaces in her palm. A layer of green film covered the gloves.
Xena displayed the green film by raising two fingers. "The poison is laced into the last ten dresses."
To which Gabrielle responded, "And so is all the jewelry," gesturing toward the box.
Putting the jewels back into the box, Gabrielle hurried to the main room to retrieve her bag. With great care, she placed the box into the leather satchel. After that, she assisted Xena in carefully placing the poisoned clothes in the bag by bundling them.
They walked through the marble halls with Gabrielle picking up the pace. Her strides long and determined, she reached the throne chamber. Xerxes was deep in conversation with his brother until the doors swung open. Gabrielle marched inside and threw the bag onto the table.
"We found poison-laced dresses and jewelry in Nousha's wardrobe," she explained. When Xerxes leaned in to take a closer look, she showed him the green-stained glove. "Don't touch it."
Xena came up from behind and removed her gloves. "Those dresses are different than the rest and there are only ten of them compared to the hundred she owns."
Gabrielle pulled out one of the dresses and held it away from her body. Shah Khosrow stepped forward, mesmerized as he gawped at the dresses. It was so tempting to reach out and touch them, but he refrained. Suddenly, in disbelief, he wagged his head.
"It can't be those," he said. "Those dresses are from Assyria."
Xena frowned. "Assyria? The same place where Bawi and Shapur are stationed?"
Khosrow didn't dare meet his brother's furious gaze. "Bawi sent those months ago as a gift. The jewelry as well."
It was an excellent strategy; killing the empire from within. Xerxes began to piece together the different events that happened over the years. The killing of the scribe in Elam, his aunt Esther's brutal murder, and now his mother's poisoning. Everything was linked back to Bawi and Shapur.
"Bawi killed our aunt and now he is killing my mother," Xerxes said, glaring at his brother.
"We have no proof that he killed Esther," the Shah combatted.
"There is proof that he poisoned my mother!"
Xena intervened, "Don't you need two witnesses to confirm a crime around here? Me and Gabrielle are witnesses. That's all the proof you need."
The inner voice in Khosrow told him to believe her. Yet, his reign as a monarch told him that he needed more evidence. It was obvious to anyone with a good eye that Bawi was responsible for the poisoning. To convict him of murdering Esther was an entire ordeal. Khosrow knew his brother would have executed Bawi immediately even without evidence.
"I say you send Bawi a letter and ask him to come to Estakhr. Keep the letter vague and light. It won't raise his suspicions." Xena twirled the poisoned gloves around. "You got a place where I can burn these?"
Altai Region, Rouran Khaganate
The ceremony was more of a celebration as soon as the Shads arrived. The courtyard was bustling with dancers who were brought in from the outskirts of China. Music was played in the background, flutes flowing with the dancers' graceful steps. The strums of the harp rhymed with the upbeat yet calmness of the festivities.
Aurora sat by Mara's side, unsure of what to make of the ceremony. She didn't feel like a guest in this place, but felt somewhat like a hostage. The dress she wore was gorgeous, the people were nice, but there was something in the back of Aurora's mind that nagged at her.
Despite her intrusive thoughts, she tried to enjoy her evening. The copious amount of spiced wine served as her escape. She filled her belly with the warm wine and picked at a piece of toasted bread. While Mara seemed to be overzealous about the festivities, Gohar was becoming more acquainted with the Khatun. Aurora made sure to keep her eye on those two.
Qutlug Khatun shared a few smiles with the Alp and enjoyed their conversation. Aurora studied the women, recognizing how chummy they had become in the recent weeks. Qutlug was nice by appearance, but the glint in her eyes told a different story.
Across the courtyard, Bilge Khagan occupied a secluded gazebo with the Shads. The Shads, hailing from the east and west, partook in a grave discourse with the Khagan. Yollig and Tengri, Bilge's offspring, sat in the background, silently witnessing their father's conversation.
Aurora turned her attention back to Qutlug and Gohar. The two were cackling with each other. Aurora's lip quivered at the sight and then bit off a chunk of the bread. Chewing intensely, she felt Mara jab her rib. She whipped her head around and opened her mouth, stunned to see the figure above her.
Prince Tengri stood before her with an inviting smile. Aurora stood up abruptly, almost losing her balance until Tengri caught her arm. She choked down the dry hunk of bread and washed it down with the spiced wine.
"I wanted to know if you'd like to take a walk with me, princess," Tengri said.
Aurora nodded briefly and hastily chewed her bread, eliciting a chuckle from Tengri. They moved through the courtyard and crossed the pond, navigating through the dancers. After finally swallowing the bread, Aurora let out a relieved sigh.
"I'm sorry about that. I promise I don't normally stuff my face in front of other princes," she apologized.
Tengri's lips curved into a smirk. "You're not like most princesses I've met."
In response to that comment, Aurora was at a loss for words. Her cousins were the only princes she had ever known. This time was her first to meet a prince from another nation. She had to watch what she said, she told herself. Neither this place nor this prince had any idea who she was.
"The ceremony is pretty extravagant. I guess these Shads of yours are very important people."
He noticed her shift in topic. "They are key in making sure the empire runs smoothly."
"Does that include relations with China?" she asked, and Tengri halted his stride. "The dancers are from China..." she muttered.
An eyebrow was arched by Tengri. "You're quite inquisitive, Blue Eyes," he remarked with a mischievous grin.
They barely knew one another, yet he felt the need to give her a nickname. How interesting, she thought. She didn't know what had come over her, but she responded with, "Funny. Your mother said the exact same thing."
"Well, my mother is never wrong," he boasted. "The gown looks stunning on you. I picked it out myself."
An immediate blush spread across Aurora's cheeks. She was incapacitated to reply once more. She pondered the prince's motivations for approaching her. The fact that both sets of their parents were imperial rulers was the sole similarity between them.
"Where has your tongue gone now?" he teased her. "To answer your question; yes, the dancers are from China. We try to make deals with China to gain their emperor's trust."
"And that includes purchasing women?" there went her mouth again. She deduced her sudden word-vomit to the several cups of wine she had. "Forgive me. I don't know why I keep saying these things."
Tengri couldn't hold in his laugh. "Do you speak to your parents this way? I can't imagine your father putting up with that mouth of yours."
Aurora was unsure of what her father's reaction would be to her current behavior. Their time together had been limited since she was ten, causing him to feel like a stranger. If her mother were present, she could have easily responded to Tengri's inquiry. Her mother had always possessed a bold and trouble-stirring tongue. In fact, her mother might scold her in public, but praise her in private.
She didn't know how much Tengri knew about her family. That ugly feeling in her gut told her to withhold information just as she had done with Qutlug Khatun.
"My parents raised me to have a mind of my own," she proudly stated. "For one, they probably wouldn't approve of me walking with a prince all alone."
The prince arched an eyebrow and looked around. "We are surrounded by people. We are not alone," he argued.
"Yet, there are no guards around, listening to our conversation," she said, smiling from ear to ear.
Tengri chuckled and brought his hands behind his back. Nodding his head, he agreed with her. "As long as you know I mean you no harm, princess. You are safe with me."
They made their way back to the courtyard, traversing the bridge that stretched over the pond, shallow as it was. Aurora felt the weight of Qutlug Khatun's eyes on her, as if they were the sole inhabitants of the bustling crowd. Her heart raced as she turned away, not needing to glance back to confirm that the Khatun's gaze remained fixated on her.
Aurora lay awake, the lengthy ceremony failing to lull her to sleep. Outside, the Shads' soldiers lingered in the courtyard, indulging in wine, revelry, and music. The sounds of laughter and music drifted in, but Aurora's thoughts drowned them out.
Upon their return to the palace, she felt Mara's jealousy emanating strongly. The prince posed no threat to her, a fact that seemed almost comical. Aurora couldn't help but chuckle, until she caught sight of Mara's twisted expression. The aspiring Alp made no effort to conceal her contempt for the prince and his proximity to Aurora.
Tengri was not an ugly young man, nor was he particularly handsome. His face, like his mother's, possessed both strength and gentleness. His hair, black and abundant, cascaded down his back. In contrast, his older brother Yollig exuded a menacing and fierce aura, clearly destined for leadership. Tengri, however, possessed a charm that effortlessly guided the course of any conversation.
Aurora sat upright and dangled her feet off the bed. A leisurely stroll through the palace might alleviate her sleeplessness. She rose from the bed, taking care not to disturb Mara. On the other side, Wasifah slumbered on a small cot. Aurora was aware of the officer's susceptibility to awaken easily, yet perhaps the wine she indulged in earlier tonight would hinder that delicate doze.
Once in the hallway, Aurora closed the door, trying not to make any noise. She tiptoed down the hallway until she was far enough from the chamber.
As her mind wandered, so did her stroll. Without realizing it, she had stepped into the Khagan's wing. Tracing her fingers along the wall, she looked down at her feet, attempting to step on her own shadow. She smiled at her childish behavior.
CLING. CLACK.
Aurora's breath caught as the resounding crash of metal meeting stone filled the air. The thunderous thud of boots echoed, drawing nearer. Swiftly, she darted around a corner, concealing herself in a different corridor. With bated breath, she watched as two men hurriedly passed by, oblivious to her presence. However, the third set of footsteps decelerated, their pace becoming more deliberate.
She pressed herself against the wall, attempting to conceal her shadow. Looking down, she noticed the third man's shadow lurking in the hallway. He paused for a moment before continuing on. In the distance, doors creaked open and the soft footsteps of the maids echoed on the hard floor.
The lingering shadow vanished as he stepped forward. He strolled down the corridor with composure. Upon reaching the bend, Aurora released a long breath. She identified the man as a member of the Shads.
"The Khagan has been murdered!"
Aurora covered her mouth with her hand, tears welling up. Panic started to take hold. She leaned on the wall, gasping for air. Almost stumbling over her own feet, she made a frantic attempt to flee. But she was unable to. Her body refused to cooperate.
Another voice cried out, "He's been poisoned!"
An unlikely, but comforting, voice sprung to mind. It was her mother's. Run. Run, Aurora, run.