Saggakara walked out on one of the balconies of the Harem, overlooking Ophara. The capital of Akhamet appeared so distant, so frail tonight. She purred, placing both hands on the smooth stone balcony, her black fur almost invisible against the night sky. The stones radiated heat, combatting the chill in the air, providing more warmth than her silken garments.
She dropped her head slowly until it rested on the huge black adamantine gauntlet she wore. As long as people have known her, she had this unsightly thing on her right hand. Its sight weighed against everything else. Such details did not worry Saggakara, it was other people’s problem.
Something moved, a shadow, at the periphery of her vision. Saggakara did not move except to focus her eyes on the newcomer.
“Mistress…” It hissed in a breathy voice. Her ears perked towards it, but she remained still.
She looked down at the city, her tail unfurling until it stood straight, the tip in a hook. She whispered, “At last, speak low and fast; traitors skulk among the Harem, their disobedience festering like rot in the roots of a mighty tree…”
The shadow said nothing for a moment. “Everything is proceeding as planned, Mistress.” It paused.
“But…”
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“Loyal officer, Mistress… They’re being assassinated.” A pause. “Here in Ophara.”
“What?” Her tail whipped around like a serpent.
“I don’t know, Mistress.”
She faced the Harem room with its many nooks and separating silk curtains. In there, her “sisters” lounged about, waiting for their husband to return for the night. She hid among them, right under His nose, His hubris knew no bounds; He never doubted His wives.
One of her sisters approached the balcony but shrunk under Saggakara’s gaze. She chuckled nervously and left the ubasti alone. Obedience ensures rewards.
“Pharaoh. The Sun God. The most benevolent granter of civilization. Forever may He reign,” Saggakara laughed. “I would never say that, not with any intention behind it, ha!” She turned back to look at her city below.
“That’s a dangerous thing to say, Mistress.”
“Ophara first, then Akhamet. Stepping stones. I dare my shared husband to stop me…”
Ever since she found the gauntlet in that strange city outside Anupolis, she had heard it. The commanding drive. That endless hunger for power. It consumed every moment of her existence, every second of the day. But not in a reckless way. No. Power merits to be garnered, assured, and secured. It allowed nor granted no respite. It roared in her head, in her heart. This drive, she called the Burning. It has always been there and would burn on long after she passed. If she passed.
“Find me those responsible for killing my officers; I want to see their corpses shamble about until nothing remains but their bones. I’ll deal with the traitorous vipers in the Harem…” She took a half-step. “As for the crocodiles… Get them good and riled up. Time to push this empire off the table and watch it crash.” Her tail swished from side to side as a cruel smile appeared.
The shadow was gone.