Love Of The Sultan

Right Handed Rook

A/N

This re-write is a pain but I hope the story does well with the major modifications.

Insha-allah

-Jem

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Chapter 2 - Right Handed Rook

2 weeks after the argument, things started to slowly come to a simmer. The young sultan was making his way to Syria and it seemed as if someone set flame to the palace. News had arrived from a running messenger that he was here, he has only an hour away and it wouldn't be long till he arrives with servants and guards. My father has been losing sleep over this and the maids have been scrubbing up and down to keep the palace clean.

The night before, my brother Jalal returned from one of our cities. We briefly spoke last night but none of us wanted to discuss any of what had happened or what would happen. We where on the balcony, in the comfort of the shade cast by a gazebo my brother had set up earlier. We watched everyone running around and talked.

"Nadine, you will have to talk to me sooner or later. Father spoken for hours on end this morning and told me about the messages we have received but I really want to know; what do you feel?" he held cashews in his hand, studying them. I sat silent for a second.

"this may be one of the coolest summer days we have received so far" I said, tidying my fan away, I looked around not knowing how to answer his question and not wanting to cry again.

He glared at me, losing interest in his cashews. "I am asking you nicely Nadine, I don't want my courtesy to turn into something else" his voice turned harsher. "You want to know what I think, I think it is not what it really is" I stared hard at Jalal who stopped moving entirely, surprised at my outburst.

"By that you mean?...",

"I mean that there is more to this deal than meets the eye and we haven't even scratched the surface of the plans" I stole one of his cashews and popped it into my mouth, relishing the sweet, nutty taste.

"You think there is more to it that what he is giving us?" he raised a brow.

"Think my dear brother, think. An slightly educated girl from a neighbouring country, who will give him no beneficial assets whatsoever, he is willing to cancel his attack for my hand in marriage along with a treaty where he could sweep the country away in one go without all of the hassle?" I questioned.

"That may well be a good question Nadine, but he may just be looking to form union with the country, build the empire and take a decent woman as a prize, a woman from the family" he shrugged. "Decent?" I faked offence.

"Your beautiful Nadine, you wouldn't blame a man for proposing" Jamal's eyes pierced into mine as he appeared from behind us greeting Jalal briefly. Jamal is a friend of Jalal's and had been frequenting the palace ever since the both of them where children.

"And how did this notorious king see my apparent beauty because I would have seen him" I challenge.

"People talk Nadine, don't think your not known; don't ever think that" he started to get up as if I struck a nerve.

"What if the treaty was to slowly slip the country out of your hands Jalal, what if he uses my life as a bargaining chip just to get power here? what then? He takes your country and your sister. Seems like a one sided deal" I scoff. He stopped in his tracks and spun his head slightly towards me "He won't, I'm marrying his cousin, he would have to pry the country from my cold dead hands" he stood up and dusted himself off before he stormed off.