Internal: Viperpath (volume 1)

(7) Across the Board

As was common in palace life in any given era, Queens Vestra and Mirani were not the only ones with smartly-skulking informers at their beck and call. Quite the opposite; Mu's most recent talk-back to Mama Viper roused the attention of one other quite-influential figure in his martial father's court.

This was Yasnar Rahandria, the Amirate's serving Prime Vazir. Currently in his sixties, Yasnar nevertheless managed to retain the level of astute cunning that had, among other traits, helped him maintain his position. This was further amplified by his consistent attempts at appearing to be as amenable as possible to the Amir's current lines of policy.

Loyal servants everywhere almost always had dissenters, however; and with Yasnar this was none other than the Amir's devious second wife, Queen Mirani, with whom he happened to share quite a few well-kept personal scores.

For his part, the Prime Vazir resented her very presence as being the sole remaining reminder of how much humbler his position ought to have been in the new 'order of things'.

Mira, on the other hand, regarded him with undisguised contempt for having been a vital part of the reason why her parents and siblings had ended up on the wrong side of Urdin's graces--namely, that he, Yasnar, had been among the loudest to clamor for "the cutting away of all the rotten roots, that your tree may grow high and strong."

General Urdin, at that time flushed with victory, had taken that to mean the purge of every last one of 'the despot' King Tharion's line, save one that the soon-to-be Amir had claimed as his 'prize of war': Princess Mirani.

The weasel and the viper had, thus far, been held in check against each other by the presence of the fearsome lion that Urdin was; and, whenever he was out of town, by Vestra, the lioness that could prove to be equally uncompromising if and when provoked.

As it was, the lack of open hostility did not disquiet Yasnar. This in fact enabled him to set up his own network of informers for any piece whatsoever of news that he might then employ to have the "vagrant queen"--his peculiar mark of affection for Mira--be out of the Pathfinder's good graces; the sooner the better.

He was shrewd enough, however, not to extend such ill-will to young Azalea.

Thus it was that, when the news of the Lion Prince's back-talk to Mira was brought to his attention, Yasnar paused mid-sentence in dictating a new draft for the 're-adjustment' of tax rates with a view to resuming hostilities against the infernally-divided North. Instead, he directed his undivided attention to his informant, a certain Mardanish.

"Does my hearing deceive me?" the Prime Vazir inquired in a voice tremulous with incredulity. "Prince Mustafa, his tender age notwithstanding, really is telling that vile snake off before witnesses?"

Mardanish, one of his first lieutenants, nodded. "This is something I would not have dared make a jest of, Excellency."

"Superb," Yasnar wheezed, stroking the middle part of his pencil-like white beard with dawning realization, a mirthful glint in his eyes. "Outstanding indeed! This has got to be the very first real rebuke that the accursed she-viper had had in years... Even still, our prince has yet to reach the age of consent; Mira might yet shrug it off and credit it simply to herself having been caught off-guard by a smart brat. Not much of a deterrent, really... and I can't have that. Still, it is a start, and a much welcome one!"

Mardanish kept his own expression neutral. "What do you have in mind, Excellency, might I ask?"

"Oh, nothing too direct just yet..." Yasnar was staring thoughtfully at his workplace's ceiling. "I still have three monetary readjustment drafts to dictate; any other moves regarding Mira on our part might wait. But keep me informed, would you, Mardan?"