The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

37. In the dark

Sahib Adam is a man of medium height, a bit stocky yet muscular built and a pleasant enough face with chin long, curly, dark hair, a nose with a small bump and piercing brown eyes. His features are regular and he is about the age of forty.

What I want to say, is that he seems a fairly normal individual, maybe a stoic soldier but by no means evil.

When you talk to him and see his behavior the perception of his expression changes. The way he smiles, tight lipped starts looking like an evil sneer and each one of his gazes makes cold sweat appear on your body like it does right now.

The even bigger problem is that he is an intimate friend of my husband's. At first, I thought he doesn't know Sahib Aldam is evil, but by now I know he doesn't care.

"Katar, contain yourself."

My husband's voice is, to my surprise, slightly amused.

"You heard, didn't you, that Yatir has now a magic bearing heir. Who would have thought he is even capable of fathering a son."

Salma's face is also glowing red.

"Is your wife not with child?" asks the Emperor.

"No. I will give her another star circle and if she still isn't capable... Since I cannot get more of them like you do, I might just switch her out."

He lets out a chuckle and the Emperor gives him a sly smile. They finally walk away and I can breath again. What a horrible, horrible night.

"I need more wine," says Salma.

"What for?"

"To be happy," she says and takes a big gulp from the chalice.

"Wine is not going to make you happy." I am not sure what will, though. "Salma, if you want to stay at the gathering you need to behave."

"What do you mean?" She tries to appear innocent and it annoys me.

"You know, what I mean. Bea hates me now and you are playing with her lover to make her hate me more."

"You are the wife of the Emperor. Who cares if a servant dislikes you."

"Just stop talking to him, all right? He is even older than your husband. I don't understand you!"

"Fine." She rolls her eyes. We walk silently to our place in the ballroom.

Sahib Aldam is not here anymore. Good.

"Where is Paisa?" I ask Laini casually.

"With our husband. His favorite little pet. Ah look, they are back already."

The Emperor steps back into the ballroom, arm in arm with Paisa. They are talking and behind them walk the Five Elites.

Some steps back are also general Yeoh and Sahib Aldam. They frown at each other and the general walks out.

"Everything all right?" I lean over and hug Paisa when she sits back by my side.

"Yes." She sighs slightly.

"What happened?"

"We have a little bandit situation." The answer comes from someone else.

One of the Five Elites was seemingly close enough to hear my question.

I look at him, or at the part I can see under his face cover. His skin is tanned, and his eyes ember. One of his brows is pierced by a faint scar. He is clearly manab.

"Emir of Avaleed. Peeler of scales." He says the last part as if he were joking but I don't understand what's supposed to be funny. "One of..."

"It's quite obvious what you are," interrupts Paisa.