The Unbroken Promise {A Magi Fanfiction}

Chapter Twenty-Two: We Will Be Victorious

Morgiana, Rashil, and Xander  had finally finished off the last of the dungeon creatures. 

"That's the last of them," Rashil said through rough pants. "We totally kicked ass." 

Xander threw an arm around her, grinning like a fool. "Indeed, we did!" He picked her up and spun her around, being careful not to squeeze too tightly. 

She groaned and tried pushing him away. "Noooo, too hot, too hot! Put me down!" 

He giggled. "You're adorable when you act bratty."

"It's not bratty!" she countered. "It's whiny! There's a significant difference! Plus, I'm tired, and sweaty, and covered in blood, so don't even try to argue with me!" He tried to place a kiss on her forehead, but she shoved him away. "Try me, dude. I dare you."

The djinn settled for just holding her hand, gentle smile ever-present. "Very well, Mistress."

Rashil rolled her eyes, directing her attention to Morgiana. "Morg, you were amazing," she said to her friend. "You did a great job handling everything."

The Fanalis nodded in thanks. "You and Xander were an incredible help." She cast her gaze to the palace. "Now, I just hope Alibaba can accomplish what he came here to do."

                                                                      ********

Ahbmad scowled at his brothers. "So Sahbmad, it's true you were communication with those thieves then," he spat.

The deputy king nodded. "Yes, that's right."

"Ha! Have you lost your mind?"

Mikha couldn't help the burning anger she felt towards the obese king. "Respectfully, your majesty, you're the one who has gone insane." She couldn't even remember the last time she had spoken out, and honestly, it filled her with dread, but she pressed on. Her mouth felt dry and sticky, but she didn't let it stop her, the insatiable burn in her chest pushing her forward. "Deputy King Sahbmad, please explain just exactly what your elder brother is planning on doing to this country." 

Sahbmad swallowed the ever-growing lump in his throat. "He's trying to ratify an agreement to sign over each and every one of Balbadd's citizens at tomorrow's signing ceremony."

The guards in the room gasped. This had been the first they'd heard of it. Had they heard of it before, they never would have approved. 

Ahbmad shot up from his place on his tacky golden throne. "Sahbmad! You wouldn't happen to be conspiring to take my place as king, would you now?"

The deput shook his head. "Of course not," he said quietly. "That's not my intent, I'm not qualified." 

"Intent? Qualified?" The King scoffed. "Are you saying that the deputy King, after staging a coup de ta, has no such responsibility?!" He grabbed Sahbmad's sleeve and dragged him forward. 

"Leave him alone!" Mikha yelled. 

He turned the deputy around to face the crowd. "Why don't you stand here and see for yourself what a royal's responsibility looks like!" 

Sahbmad stared out pat the crowd with horror, a gasp leaving his parted lips. He shook with anxiety, crippling him down to his bones. He backed up a few steps, just wanting to run away from it all.  

"It's not just them either," Abhmad egged him on. "If your plan is to drag me off the throne, all the citizens of Balbadd will have high expectations of you. And they'll be listening intently to every word you say, every syllable you utter." He smirked. Sahbmad could virtually feel all eyes on him. It was too much... He knees buckled, and he collapsed. "Ha! That's right! You're so frightened of other people that you can't even speak!"