Serenity

Unexpected

Just after dawn the household of Asfandyaar received a guest. He brushed aside the servants who stood to welcome him 'Zalmai' he requested, although coming from him it was more a demand than a request, it was always the case with him.

Zalmai had just completed the dawn prayer when the guest strode in. He collapsed against the cushions wearily. Now was not the time to face the Sardaar of the Danaii, he had no strength to bear his harsh scrutiny.

'Well greetings to you too' The sarcasm was ever present, Zalmai groaned, it was too early for this.

The injured man did not bother him one little bit as he strode up to him and held out the two utensils to him. He held out the steaming bowl in silence until Zalmai stretched out a hand and accepted it

'Gulsen, my healer brought this tea from China, it has healing properties and eases pain and this --' he placed the other bowl on the beside table '-- is a paste, it will seal your wound and prevent infection. Let me have a look at your wound'

Zalmai sat stiff as a board as Sardaar Zaraar examined his back 'You have an enemy Zalmai' the voice was so low yet resonated throughout the chamber 'A Mongolian enemy. And I wonder Zalmai how you managed to do that'

Zalmai's heart was a rattle inside his chest, heat like flames licked at his body and his wound as the dark eyes fixed on him. The way a predator would examine it's prey, judging the weakness of it before pouncing. It was like staring into a dark well that seemed to have no end, the dark currents threatened to seize him and drag him below so deeply no one would hear him scream.  He steadied his hands on the wooden frame and reminded himself to breathe. 'Is there something you wish to tell me Zalmai?'

His common sense reasoned with him to reveal the truth to him but the pride in him refused to let the Danaii interfere. Sardaar Zaraar would be convinced of the belief that he held : that all the Zadraan Khayl were weak. Too weak to fight any battle for themselves. 'No'

The man straightened up, a unrealistically wide smile on his face as though he had not just interrogated him and this was all a friendly conversation. 'Well I wish you a full recovery' Zalmai hated Sardaar Zaraar, hated his manipulative ways, his dominating nature that sought to rule everyone and he hated his condescending manner with which he spoke to all not considered worthy enough, which was everyone. The proud Danaii ignored him and adjusted the mantle on his shoulders, despite the hate he had, Zalmai could not deny that they needed Sardaar Zaraar Danaii Khayl, they needed his harsh hand and organised structure of ruling and his carefully thought out plans, they needed him because no foreigner would dare attack Pukhtunkhwa and face his wrath, so his presence brought them peace and freedom.

When he and his brothers were younger, their father had told them that Zaraar wasn't a lion, Zaraar was a cobra. The kind that were unpredictable and suddenly did the unexpected, the kind that crushed their victims to death, the kind that prolonged agony by poisoning his prey, the kind that would smile through it all. What was more deadlier than such a snake? The more he observed the proud man the more he came to the conclusion that Sardaar Zaraar wasn't a cobra any longer, rather he had become a king cobra. Even the way he walked, as if he glided, unexpectedly startling, the crown on his head a refined hood. He had made himself the first ruler of Pukhtunkhwa since Danaii and no one had even realized it. If only you could see the snake now Father, Zalmai thought bitterly.

Just when he thought he had gone for sure, the cobra turned back 'Will you not congratulate me on my son?'

Zalmai had forgotten the snake had a wife, the poor girl, she did not even realize she was being poisoned slowly. Now she had a snake for a child too, he had no doubt it would turn out like its father, snakes only sire snakes.

'Congratulations' he said but his expression portrayed he did not mean it all.