Valim Alhari, Sultan of Murlia, plucked a grape out of a golden plate and dipped it in honey. It dripped on his fingers as he dragged it and placed it in his mouth. He looked up toward a map that covered half his palace.

A knock echoed in the hall.

“Let the old man in,” Valim said, chewing on the grape and licking honey off the sides of his own lips.

The guards who stood outside his door turned the golden knobs and pushed the door open.

Haeed al-Hakim stood in the doorway, frail and thin, head down, the mauve cloak still covering his head, and sleeves wide enough to feet a tree-trunk. He carried a black staff, taller than the man’s head and curved like a maid’s braid. Valim always felt a chill when he saw the staff. But Haeed was good, Haeed was very helpful lately, and the man looked happy. Even with his hood down, he couldn’t conceal a smile on his yellow teeth.

“Oh, Haeed,” Valim said cheerfully. “Come on in, come on, sit down and enjoy the sweetness of life with me, darling. Lord Creator, I’m happy to see you.”

“Your highness,” Valim said, walking slowly, almost stumbling, aided by his staff. He reached the table and bowed his head. Jeweled rings adorned each of his fingers, especially the Seal of Authority. The man was supposed to be a priest, a religious scholar who dabbled too much in mysticism.

There were rumors about him, though, that claimed he didn’t practice what he preached, that he was the opposite of what he was supposed to be. But even then, he was useful, whatever his religious persuasion was.

“I like you, Haeed, I like what you’re doing. Oh, I’m the happiest man in the world with what you’ve given me.”

“And the most powerful too I hope.”

“Exactly, exactly, Haeed, darling, come on in and enjoy. Look, I’ve got something for you. I’m grateful for helping me with Kash. The news travels fast, so you must know. Now we hunted this delicacy in Kash, the only place where it lives and thrives. You should try it.”

The Sultan pointed at a wide plate ahead of him, displaying the ribs of an animal.

“Behold!” the Sultan said excitedly. “We’ve got some of our spoils delivered to the city. Slow cooked ribs from a Kashian sheep. And wine from King Ramash’s cellar.”

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Haeed grinned. His long mustache shook slightly, like the whiskers of a cat before lurching at its prey.

“Well done.”

The sultan clapped and laughed heartily.

“Everything is going well. Everything. I’ll be honest, I didn’t trust you at first, but whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.”

“I am glad, your highness,” the old man smiled. “I am here to serve you.”

“And you’ve done it better than anyone. I’m about to name you my senior advisor. Even Vizier, if you work much faster than those others.”

“It will not be necessary,” said the man. The man was modest too. He only cared for his little jewels and weapons. Valim knew he could not trust these people too much. He’d have to keep him watched. That was another old tactic, put spies, send spies to become his followers, just to keep an eye on him.

“I just want your victory, your Highness. You know my kind. All I want is to serve a powerful king, and make you more powerful than you ever dreamed, and our goal is closer than ever.”

“Yes, yes,” said the king, pouring himself wine. “I like that. And I like it that we’re making it. This is what’s supposed to be. Not small so called kings and chieftains vying for power. A single Empire, that was our ancestor’s dreams. And thanks to you, my friend, we are making it come true. I will be the one. I will seize kingdom upon kingdom, one at a time.”

“Aye, your Majesty, and there will not be any more rebel kings, only viziers fighting to appease you.”

Valim felt a powerful laugh surge from within. He let go, he crackled like a bird and slapped the table, making the glassware shiver.

“I like the sound of that, Haeed, darling. And now, your little weapon should be arrived within a few days. Which…” The sultan cleared his throat. “Which is in itself interesting. Don’t think I’m a man of little faith. You’ve proven me wrong more than once, I believe you, Haeed, darling, but…”

“What is causing his Majesty to doubt.”

The sultan cleared his throat.

“I read the report. Yes, our men followed our instructions and we managed to tie the beast down, but are you sure your little toy is going to work?”

“Oh, I know it will.”

If that smile meant anything it was confident. The old man spoke as if he knew what he was talking about. As if he had done it himself a long time ago, which was not possible. Those beasts had not been in control for hundreds of years.

“But how?”

“It is a simple principle, your majesty,” said the old man, letting his frail weight drop on the gold embroidered couch. “You have applied it yourself. When you capture an enemy and he does not want to tell you what he knows, you do one simple thing.”

“What is it, darling?”

“You break him until he tells you.”

That made Valim raise an eyebrow.

“And how do you break a dragon?”

“You won’t be surprised, your Highness, but it will be a thing to watch, for sure. I hope you enjoy it too.”