Internal: Viperpath (volume 1)

(4) Shade and Light

Momentarily shelving all concerns about her maligned daughter, the Amir's second consort went ahead with another of her secret conferences, currently being held in an underground chamber whose existence even Urdin had not managed to sniff out, so preoccupied was he in endeavoring to bring 'those with different banners' to heel on faraway lands.

Besides Razin--a balding, portly man of dark skin tones, sly hazel eyes and average stature, often mistaken by many a wanderer for a stray monk in his customary dirt-brown robes--four other officials had also been invited, and had taken their respective places: fellow courtiers Khazan and Aldeer, Mirdas the unofficial treasurer, and Vis, the figure that had been responsible in making sure that the needs of their 'field agents' were cared for.

At the center of this figurative roundtable sat Queen Mirani herself, her gaze exuding firmness and confidence. At her nod, and with no preconceived protocol, the meeting commenced.

"Fellow courtiers," Razin began, characteristically keeping his expression neutral, "as you may have realized by now, our most recent attempt had backfired. Fortunately, it could be argued that nothing could have led back to this small band of consummate Izurian loyalists: the gold having been expended with hardly a trace; the field agents directly involved, conveniently disposed of; their city of origin, reduced to smoldering dust as we speak. At the same time, resting on our laurels now would--I fear--not reflect well on any of us..."

"Would one failure not be enough to serve as a caution, sirs?" Aldeer objected. "And not just any failure, but one that had cost us so much in gold and manpower, to little avail! I am aware that only the queen's purses are concerned here thus far, but even still, you cannot expect to have my agreement to squander our hard-earned resources further!"

"Yet we still must determine our next set of priorities; on that I'm sure we might expect your agreement. Failing that, your place may no longer be with us, sir," Khazan put in with a sip of cynicism. "Do recall, our ability to assemble here in such numbers is only made possible by the Amir's ongoing campaign. None present here would know when we might reconvene next, if at all... so while we do, we better make this count."

"Well said,'' Mama Viper remarked. "Been thinkin'. Goin' right on to those royal brats may not 'ave been the soundest idea, collaterals be damned. We should 'ave put more focus on trying to undermine their figurative beams o' support. That begs for an entirely new target."

"Whom do you have in mind, Your Grace?" Khazan asked.

"No less than the Prime Vazir, in fact... but if ya're gonna suggest smaller fries as a warm-up, they won't be taken amiss."

For a time the dungeon-like chamber was completely still.

"The Prime Vazir himself, Your Grace?" Razin gasped. "That would be-"

"Reckless, aye," Mama Viper confirmed, smirking, "yet from my viewpoint, hardly so. Yasnar had been one of the first o' my dear late father's turncoats; one of the first known to offer insider knowledge to Urdin's legions--without which they might not have rolled in as rapidly as we all knew they frickin'-did. We got near 'nough two princes; why can't we pop quite a few more holes in a mere official's security net, eh?"

"Why him, Your Grace?" Aldeer demanded, forgetting himself in sheer surprise and frustration. "And why now? Personal sentiments aside--and they better not be our sole basis for action--this is not going to be any official. The Prime Vazir, of all people, would in all likelihood have learned of our previous attempt and taken precautions against it; we could not expect to take him unawares!

"Besides," this courtier went on bravely, "Yasnar currently has the Amir's trust and attention; anyone seeking to molest him must know that to be a one-way trip of no return! Are we really to target such an individual so soon, gentlemen--and this just to save face from the botched attempt to rid ourselves of those royal scions, who for your information had not even committed any imaginable slight against anyone gathered here?!"