Blood (Epic of the Mediterranean) [Book 1]

Chapter 16

Asmaka jumped inside. Osaze wasn't lying when he stated how it wasn't yet any other lion. It was huge, nothing like he had ever seen. Perhaps he was able to see it more now not just because of the proximity, but because the beast wasn't restrained anymore and stood in its full pride.

The beast roared, deprived of any senses, making the people go silent in utter shock. It hadn't been fed and was subjected to tension. He could tell.

The jaws revealed rows of lethal draggers as they advanced forward. A lion is the king of the wild, and Asmaka respected that. But he couldn't allow any harm to fall upon a subject of his. He pulled forward the sword horizontally along the length of his forearm and locked it into its jaws with one blow. The beast failed to move as the sword was stuck right behind the canines. It sneered, attempting to free away while swaying its head. But the man held it steady while bringing his face closer, looking into the eyes of the very same shade.

The lion was forced to lower its head such that it was at a finger's distance from his.

"Calm."

***

Naya frowned. It was time. She scrunched the piece of paper. It had to be burned, no chances could be taken.

Even though it was the least of her concerns as of now, she did try to recollect about who it could be that passed the note. This proved at least one thing, people inside were in fact mixed in this matter.

The poison, or at least the anesthetic, was to be procured tonight. It was already late with the people retiring to their chambers. It must be midnight; everything was clearly explained. The place, the position. Nakurtum knew her game.

Precisely, the habitation and working parts of the Kayastha palace building could be divided into three wings for understanding. It was indeed irregular, but distinguishable. The west wing held all the servant quarters, royal kitchen and the dining and lounge halls. Right outside it was the favored portico and the extended gardens. All the ministries and the assembly hall made up the east wing which remained restricted for everyone. It was a different world, completely off limits.

Grandeur was specially saved for the south wing, and it explained. It consisted of the Lord's chamber and everything related to his ventures along with the General and the Army Chief's quarters. Apart from that, the resting chambers for the guests were also a part of it.

The Lord's chamber directly opened up to his private garden. Rest all were the extensions of the royal gardens which, at a point, merged with the wilderness. Towards the further south west laid Oxus.

Naya sat straight in her room with Shadi sound asleep. It went without saying that she couldn't be more awake. It was pitch dark with the woods outside just as cool. There weren't any preparations to be done on her behalf.

Moving through the vacant corridors didn't make her anxious. Only, it provided with a serenity which was much appreciated. Dead silence fell, she had to be careful not to produce any noise. Going through the corners instead of straight ahead would prevent her from meeting any keepers. They said that the Lord hadn't assigned anyone outside his chambers for the later hours either, so there was that.

Naya pulled her arms together, the premises seemed lengthier than normal. Colorful glass work seemed shades darker. Mats full of fresh red chilies were laid out in the garden since the day before. Raw material for spices. The palace wasn't at all hollow. Adorned in its full veracity, like a bride on her wedding night. Glistering, till the extent that one could hear the legends of the Persian vibrance, the sleepless deserts, valiant warriors and middle eastern dignity through the walls. No, it wasn't hollow. It was full, with the people here and their stories. She hadn't, in her wildest dreams, ever thought that she would come to like it this much. This palace.

The location agreed was the hall of Ministry of Diplomacy on the second floor. The corner most window where she would find whatever Nakurtum had chosen. Naya stood before the door, face void of any emotion. Just as was anticipated. There wasn't anyone assigned with night duties anywhere inside. Neither had any guest chosen on leaving their personal quarters. She had waited till three at night in order to ascertain complete safety. Amid a festival, royal palaces are bustling with life till late hours, people trying to squeeze out the most they could from the numbered days.

She didn't know how her sister did it, but Nakurtum got the small glass bottle to be right where it was supposed to be. Naya held it up in her palm before thrusting it into her robes. The woman had helpers, or money, it wasn't even a question. It wasn't the time to be procrastinating, she had to depart quickly.

On returning to the ground level, something caught her fancy. In the further corner of the east wing was a wide gallery whose termination wasn't visible from this proximity. Apart from a few specific ones, no gardener was allowed into the outsides of the eastern wing. There was something sinister about it, but she wasn't sure. It had a certain charm, like all things forbidden. She hesitated. What harm could it be if she would just catch a glimpse? She had never asked anyone about it, it never came to her mind until now. Surely, most workers here must know. But she wanted to see for herself. Naya sneered as she placed a step towards it after a grave thought.

Her face ran pale. What she had dreaded the most happened. Her feet froze as she felt a hand grip her shoulder from behind.