Laylaa frowned as she looked up at the city walls. As grand and bright as they were, seeing the city was enough to break her usual neutral expression.

Lucullus averted his gaze from the brilliantly chiseled pillars of the walls to Laylaa. “Is something wrong?”

Her anger briefly subsided as she turned her eyes to Lucullus. “I am fine.” She sighed, “I just hate to see such a beautiful city in the hands of darkness.”

“It is a beautiful city, but it just seemed strange to me.”

“We have a mission to fulfill. Let’s focus on why we came here,” she calmly said as she walked toward the gate.

As the large gate opened, they were met with narrow, crowded streets. There was more activity in one street than along the rest of their journey from the capital. Buildings were practically on top of one another, with some having walkways on higher floors to connect to each other. Most of the people in the streets had cloaks on; much of their faces were obscured under the shadow of their hoods. What little they could see revealed nothing but scornful looks as they passed through.

Aela leaned over to Lucullus, and muttered under her breath, “Very friendly people.”

He smirked. “I’d wear that face, too, if I had to be in this miserable heat.”

Through the throngs they navigated as they made their way to the capital street. The streets began to open up more, perhaps because they were wider, and the people seemed more spread out. The buildings were far cleaner, and looked like they wouldn’t fall over the next time a strong gust of wind came through. The populace of the capital street saw more nobility than the streets they had taken to get there. More people were wearing fine robes of spotless white linen, decorated with precious stones.

Aurelian cut between Lucullus and Aela, patting each of them on the shoulder. “The palace is at the end of this street, straight ahead.”

Lucullus nodded. “How are we planning to convince him to put away this foolish rebellion?”

“Lady Laylaa will instruct you on that. You and her will speak with Yasir. The rest of us will wait at an inn nearby.”

“Why just me and her? Surely at least you would also be there. You seem to always be by her side.”

“For the time, it was because our mission involved you, and I was the translator. But since you don’t need anyone to translate, my presence is unnecessary. It is better spent helping your friends, since they do not know the language of this land.”

“If no one else needs to be in there, why does Lucullus have to go?” Aela questioned.

“After what Master Elijah said about him, I have reason to believe that he will be our greatest weapon. Besides, even the growing population of heathens in this part of Mahjur know the signs. They will certainly be cautious.”

“What signs?”

He chuckled. “Do you think the Rigmatite or Aerasite Mystics are the only people in the world familiar with prophecies? The miracles that surround Lucullus make him the ideal candidate for this.”

“I’m just a farmer, Aurelian. My diplomacy is not as good as you think it is.”

“I’m not asking for a trade deal,” he joked. “You speaking fluently in Dayiran should be enough to make him think before he speaks. Beyond that,” he shrugged, “we’ll see.”

The Vizier’s court was filled with the sounds of flutes and drums. The guests drank till their stomachs could hold no more wine, all while admiring the Vizier’s dancing women as they moved to the rhythm of the drums. Laylaa scowled at the women as they wriggled past her. Lucullus glanced at her in confusion.

She whispered to him, “They dress like harlots. If a woman dressed like that in my brother’s house, she would be flogged.”

“I’ve seen worse at my own village,” he whispered back.

She slowly looked at him. The disapproval in her eyes pierced through him like a dagger.

“It is the truth.”

Three women stood between them and the Vizier as they approached. Two of them were Dayiran, and the other had skin like a lizard. Upon the command of the Vizier, they cleared the way.

“Filthy reptile,” Laylaa muttered under her breath, shaking her head in disgust.

“Welcome!” the Vizier called out in a condescending tone. “What brings a hidden woman such as yourself to a palace like mine?” He motioned for a servant to bring him a round of wine.

Lucullus glanced over at Laylaa. “Hidden woman? I guess I don’t fully understand your language.”

“You do,” she muttered back. “He’s clearly just drunk… and hates modesty.”

He stumbled up from his seat. “And who is the foreigner? He looks like he might enjoy life’s finest pleasures. Certainly much more than you do.”

“Vizier Yasir, I know it may be a lot for your right now, but I ask that you maintain some amount of respect. Your behavior is a blight on our people.” She sighed. “We are here for business of the most important kind,” she scowled at the dancing women as they passed by her side once more, “and not for your vain pleasures.”

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“Well then,” he bowed while laughing, “you’ll have to excuse my ladies. I would tell them to leave, Laylaa, but that would be rude. And it would be rude to all of my guests to cease such a wonderful time of amusement. It is a great time for celebration.”

“I’m certain you have a list from here to the western shores of things to drink a barrel of wine for. But I have no interest in any of that.”

“Then tell me what it is that brings you to my palace.”

“I think, at least on the rare occasion you are sober, that you know exactly why I have come to you. It is time to cease your rebellion against your rightful sovereign, King Saladin.”

“And what rebellion have I started against Saladin?” He looked around. “Is it wrong to celebrate having three children soon to be born into this world?”

“It is wrong to take more than one woman as your wife. It is wrong to have three harlots as equal to your lawful wife. It is wrong to treat your women as objects of pleasure, and to let them dress in this way. It is wrong to be a drunkard, especially when you are in the presence of those who speak on behalf of your king. It is wrong to ignore the orders of your king. It is wrong to forsake Hikma for these idols and vain pleasures.” She took a step toward him, and pointed at him. “You swore an oath that you would obey whatever king Master Elijah chooses. The Hand of Kamil chooses, and you must accept. If you forsake your oath, then you forsake the title of Vizier.”

“Did you come here to berate me? Why is it so wrong that I give my women the freedom to enjoy themselves as they please. I’ve never forced any one of these fine ladies to do anything they didn’t wish to do. Can Saladin say the same?”

“There is no freedom in the spiritual prison you keep these women in. You keep all of your subjects in this prison.”

“They are all happy. Am I wrong?” He smirked and stumbled over to Laylaa. “Under Saladin’s laws,” he laughed, “you’re devoid of happiness. I doubt anyone has ever seen you smile. I know I haven’t. But look around. Everyone in my court is smiling.”

“I would rather be dead than even consider doing what you or your women do. A smile will not save my soul.”

“If that’s how you want it, I can arrange for that.”

Lucullus reached for his sword. “If that is a threat to Lady Laylaa, then I suggest you retract that.” I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this odd sword. The curve of the hilt felt to him like grabbing a horseshoe.

Laylaa put her hand over Lucullus’s, not breaking her gaze on Yasir. “Normally, I would have you thrown into a dungeon for such unwise threats, but I did not come here to engage in petty conflicts with you, Vizier. However, if you refuse to see reason, then you will no longer be Vizier, and Saladin will be forced to seize your realm.”

“Humor must be wrong in Saladin’s territory, too.”

She sighed. “I shall ask only one time. Will you renounce this rebellion, and submit to the rule of Saladin?”

“What will you do if I say ‘no’?”

“I will change your mind.”

Yasir guffawed, his voice echoing through the court. “If you can convince me accept your terms, I’ll even give up drinking wine.”

“Can I assume that you have declined my offer?”

“I shall keep my freedom. Tell Saladin to stop bothering me with these annoying visitations. I do as I please.” Lazily raising his wine glass, he proclaimed, “And I shall offer a toast, as an act of my good will, to your efforts. There is only one way you can change my mind. I know you won’t do it. But if you truly wish to change my mind,” he hiccuped, “the chamber door is always unlocked.” He smirked. “If you let me know in advance, I’ll have my servants spare no effort in making it comfortable for you.”

With a furrowed brow, she turned and began to walk off. “I shall take my leave. I pray for your soul, Vizier. You may laugh now, but it will not be so in the next life.” She gave everyone except Lucullus, who followed close behind her, a scathing look as she exited the court.

“There’s no need to be so callous, dear,” Yasir called out. “My offer is mutually beneficial.”

As Laylaa made her way back to the front gate, she stopped by one of the guards and spoke to him in a low voice, “I would like to arrange a meeting with the Vizier’s wife.”

“For what purpose, ma’am?”

“We have a private matter to discuss. I shall meet with her by that fountain over there at dusk,” she stated while pointing to the closest fountain to the gate. “Tell her that Laylaa sent for her.”

The guard scoffed, “I doubt she will agree to it, but I’ll pass the message on.”

She nodded, and motioned for Lucullus to follow as she started down the steps onto the street.

“It seems the Vizier is preoccupied. He listens to that wine more than he does anything else.”

She gave a quick smirk. “Very perceptive, Lucullus.” Sighing, she continued, “That did not go how I had hoped. In fact, it was far worse than I thought.”

“It seems my fluency in your language was of no consequence to him.”

“It would certainly seem that way. He’s probably too drunk to notice.”

“His speech seemed coherent, yet he stumbled around like a typical tavern drunkard,” he pondered aloud.

“He can hold plenty of wine, but there were other things poisoning his mind.”

Lucullus chuckled, “If I didn’t know any better, I would assume the Astrum Festival was celebrated here, too.”

“Astrum Festival?”

“It comes right after all the farmers have harvested their crops and sold them in the markets. Some people call it the Harvest Festival. It’s mostly just an old tradition in the western parts of Lucium from an old religion of a bygone era. But since Scindoism became Lucium’s official religion, most of those old ways were suppressed. Most don’t even know what the name Astrum means. Now, the festival is little more than just an extravagant way of celebrating having a harvest at all.”

“I hope your village does engage in the debauchery that I saw in the Vizier’s court.”

“Well,” he cleared his throat, “it might not be as extreme as his celebrations, but it certainly isn’t far off.”

“May Hikma have mercy,” she gasped, nearly fainting.

Lucullus caught her, and helped prop her up, putting her arm around his back as far as it would reach. “What was with that reaction?”

“I have concern for your soul, as well as that of the Princess. Having now seen truth and justice, for the two of you to return to Lucium, with it being in such a state, would be spiritual suicide.”

“Lucium is my homeland. My mother is there, and I won’t abandon her.”

“That is admirable, Lucullus. But I shudder to think of the many temptations that must lurk there.”

“I assure you that no one is taking concubines at the festival. I certainly don’t partake of the excessive drinking.”

“You shouldn’t even be at such a festival. Do your women dress like that?”

He broke eye contact, his gaze wandering off to anywhere else. “They don’t start the festival like that.”

She bowed her head. “It’s not even noon. Let’s catch up with the others at the inn. I have much prayer and contemplation to attend to. A quieter place would be nice.”

He nodded. “As you wish, Laylaa.”