CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR—SHIMMERING SCIMITARS

Eyes widening, Shiro’s mouth nearly dropped open as he lurched out of the soft chair. “Let her in. Let her in!”

Kanu bid her enter and he closed the door behind her.

“Who are you?” Shiro asked. “Did Jessamine send you here?”

“The jinni?” the woman asked. “No, I—“

“I know who she is,” Razul said with a smug look. “You’re Kalina. I saw you with the grand vizier.”

She nodded. “Yes. You saw me in the sultan’s harem.”

“What?” Ali barked. “That’s where you were, you dog?!”

The guilty smile on Razul’s face was all Shiro needed as confirmation, but he also shrugged offhandedly about it.

“Hush,” Shai’na said. “Let her speak.”

Nodding again, Kalina said, “I saw this man in the sultan’s harem.”

“What?” Razul asked. “How?”

“Not important. What is important is that it is impossible to get into there, and it is death for anyone who tries—so how you managed to get in and out can mean only one thing.”

“Yes, and what is that?” Razul asked with narrowed eyes.

“That you are either a complete fool, or that you possess such power that you can do such a thing with little worry. Tell me,” she said, moving up to Razul, “are you here to kill Darius?”

He backed away, clearly annoyed at her closeness to him. “Why do you care? Perhaps I was simply having a good time?”

The woman gasped slightly. “Did you lie with one of the girls?”

Razul scratched the back of his neck. “Why is that your—“

“You fool!” she hissed. “That is a death sentence to any of the girls you touched if Darius finds out!”

“I cannot believe this,” Ali said, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Why did you not tell anyone you saw Razul in the sultan’s harem?” Shai’na asked.

“Because, he was fiddling the girls like an oaf!” she accused. “If the sultan finds out they will be tortured and fed to his lions!” She then turned on Razul. “You fool!”

“Oh gods,” Ali cried. “You were… I cannot believe you, Raz.”

Putting his palms out in a carefree shrug, he said, “What? I couldn’t help myself. They were all over me in an instant. And they are beautiful girls. It’s not like I went in their planning to—”

“Hush,” the woman said.

Ali covered his face and strode toward a chair.

Shiro walked straight up to Kalina and took her by the arm. “Tell us why the guards haven’t descended upon us. Now.”

“I am not here to sick the guards on you,” she said. “The sultan is a brutal man. He kills his slaves, and even his favorite girls when he gets tired of them. Just weeks ago I watched as Arisa’s throat was slit so he could bleed her out into a bowl to do the bidding of those vile sorcerers he keeps in the palace!”

They looked at her, stunned.

“I…” she breathed in deeply.

“Are you all right?” Kanu asked.

She nodded. “I… I want…”

“You are quite sure you are all right?”

She looked like her legs were going out. Shiro caught her just before she fell and quickly carried her over to the bed.

Ali came up with a cup of water. “Here,” he said, offering it to her.

She drank all the water, then looked at them. “I am sorry. It’s just… If the sultan finds out I was even in this room, he will kill me.”

“Listen,” Ali said. “Don’t worry about that. We can protect you. But what was it you were trying to say?”

“Everyone in the palace is in danger, but especially the servants and the girls. I can’t bear to see any more of them killed or tortured. He’s been—he’s been—“

“More water,” Ali said, pushing the carafe in front of her.

“She’s had enough water,” Razul said, shoving the carafe aside. “Calm down. Tell us.”

Nodding, Kalina said, “He’s been manipulating the jinni—killing slaves and servants to force her to do what he wants.”

Shiro’s eyes widened.

That is why she is acting that way!

His spirits brightened and he realized it was horrible of him to have an interest in this line of conversation, but he still moved closer to the bed. “What? Is this true?”

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“Yes,” she said. “It is terrible.”

“Now I understand why you are here,” Shai’na said, a subtle smile touching her lips.

“If you want to kill the sultan,” Razul said, “tell us how to go about it.”

“In his chambers,” Kalina said. “When he is asleep. He has few guards about when he is at bed. Darius likes his privacy.”

“Our dear sultan has quite the appetite,” Razul said with a chuckle. “And who wouldn’t with a veritable army of beautiful women just waiting for him?”

“Tonight, then,” Shai’na said. “We kill the sultan when he is in his chambers.”

Kalina swallowed hard and looked to Shiro like she was having trouble breathing. They needed to know where Darius slept.

“Can you take us there—to his rooms?” Shai’na asked as if she had read Shiro’s thoghts.

She shook her head. “No. No I cannot. There are guards. But… I may be able to take you part of the way, but then getting into his rooms will be up to you.”

The isekai nodded with determination. “We can do it.”

“He is right,” Ali said.

“I know,” Kalina said. “I watched him”—she pointed to Razul, saying his name as if it were an epithet—“leave the harem. I was thrown at first. I almost screamed for the guards.”

“No way,” Razul said as he crossed his arms. “I never even saw you react, woman.”

“Why do you think I am still alive in this place?”

“Why did you not?” Ali asked. “I mean… I know what you said, but any normal person would have called for the gaurds if only out of habit to deal with intruders, yes?”

“I was in the harem,” Kalina said. “I was there to fetch some of the girls. They are with the sultan’s satraps even now. And after…” she almost broke down in sobs then. “After they will be killed. That is why I did not call the guards.”

“Is that why the sultan’s high vizier was cross with you?” Razul asked.

Kalina nodded. “Hahkari,” she said. “He does anything Darius asks without question. The girls… they are—“

“I saw them,” Shai’na said. “In the throne chamber?”

Kalina nodded. “Yes.”

“Darius gave them to his satraps Those dogs.”

“But you do not understand,” Kalina said. “Darius will never touch them again after… after that. I told you. He always has them killed.”

“Really?” Razul asked, his eyes wide.

“Yes!”

“Then killing him will cause us no loss of sleep, I think.”

She looked worried. The death of the sultan was what she wanted, but she was clearly afraid. “You must wait for the sultan to go to his chambers,” she said. “Catch him unawares. Perhaps, if he is with one of the girls, you might even surprise him.”

“Might?!” Razul asked incredulously.

“There are hundreds of Scorpion Guards in the palace tonight,” Shiro said.

“Not just any Scorpion Guard,” Kalina said. “These are the most skilled of all his special army. They are the Scorpion Blades. Some of them are monsters brought from the fighting pits from all over the empire.”

“Ha!” Razul scoffed. “We can take any of these fools.”

“Hundreds?” Kalina asked.

“As you said,” Razul added, “we are powerful individuals. Really, have no fear. Among us we have two top-tier adventurers.”

“And a jinni,” Shiro added. “Jessamine will help us. When the time is right. I know she will.”

Kalina looked uncertain, but then finally nodded.

“Then that is how we will do it,” Shai’na said. “We will assassinate Darius while he is either sleeping, or with one of his girls.”

“Wait,” Kanu said. “Lady vizier, are you certain of this?”

She looked at her servant. “We will never have a better opportunity than we have now. Bring the others to these chambers, slowly, by ones and twos. We can have them change into different clothes to disguise them as guests.”

“But we still don’t have the weapons,” Shiro said.

Ali nodded. “That is right. Where is Debaku?”

They all looked at each other for a moment. “If he does not come, we can either raid the barracks,” Razul said, “or toss this plan to the wind and leave.”

“I would rather not raid the barracks,” Shai’na said. “It is far too dangerous.”

“I agree,” Kanu said.

Ali and Shiro nodded together.

“Then we wait,” Ali said.

They all nodded agreement to the plan. “Very well,” Kalina said. She swallowed hard. “Then I will come late in the night. Be ready for me. I will knock twice.”

“And then?” Ali asked.

“And then I take you as far as I can in the direction of the sultan’s apartments.”

“All right,” Ali said. “Go. And try to relax until you see us again. You look like you’ve seen an evil spirit.”

“Relax?” She glanced at them all, then stifled a laugh, which Shiro though would have come out more as a shriek of fear.

Kanu opened the door for Kalina and she slipped out.

“Now we wait,” Ali said.

“Yes,” Shiro said as he narrowed his eyes and walked toward the door. Turning, he said, “but can we trust her?”

“What, you think this is a trap?” Razul said. “We do not even have weapons. If the sultan wanted us, he could take us in an instant.”

“I am surprised to hear you would be defeated so easily,” Ali said. “Even if you do only have your fists to fight with.”

Razul rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. And besides, there are hundreds of those Scorpion Blades around. I saw them too from the rooftops.

“Wait,” Shiro said. “We can use that. If we have to, we can escape to the rooftops, yes?”

Razul shrugged. “I am sure the sultan must have other fighters about. Sorcerers?”

“Yes,” Ali said. “Kalina did say something about sorcerers.”

“We should have asked her,” Shiro said.

“But we cannot,” Shai’na added, her tail flicking sharply. “Not anymore. We will have to wait until she comes to us tonight. Kanu—go. Fetch the others.”

“Yes, lady vizier.”

“But be careful about it, eh?”

He smiled. “You know me, madam. I am ever a cautious one.”

She nodded and Kanu left them.

“I still feel very naked without my sword,” Ali said, “and even with a few more fighters, if this goes poorly…”

“Then we will have a real fight on our hands,” Shiro said. “It will not be the first time.”

“Hey, Shiro,” Ali said. “Why is Jessamine not speaking to you?”

“What?” Razul asked. “She can speak to you through walls?”

“In his mind,” Ali corrected.

“Truly?” Razul asked, his eyes widening. “That is interesting.”

“Yes.”

Marveling, Razul said, “I need to find a jinni.”

“Be careful,” Shiro said. “If you find a jinni, she is just as likely to kill you as aid you.”

Ali chuckled. “Considering the amount of trouble Jessamine has lead us to, I would say you are correct, Shiro.”

Nodding, Shiro said, “She cannot talk to me now. I am not her bond mate. Darius is. If she tries to speak to me, I suspect Darius will intercept her conveyances.”

“Ah,” Ali noised. “Then we must keep faith that she is on our side.” He tapped Shiro on the shoulder. “It is like that woman Kalina said—the sultan is manipulating her by killing his servants, yes?”

Shiro nodded. “Hai.”

It pains me to be happy upon learning this… Kami-sama—does this make me an evil man?

Suddenly there was a thump outside the window. As one, they all turned their heads toward that direction. “It is Debaku!” Shiro said, and approached the window with haste. “Finally he has—“

An Abassir man in black pantaloons pulled himself into the window and thrust his palm into Shiro’s stomach. The air left his lungs and he bowled over.

“What in the name of the gods?!” Ali spat.

Coughing, Shiro glanced up.

It was a Scorpion Guard—the slithering gold undulations stitched to his pantaloons shimmered in the light as he crossed his scimitar twice in midair as he attempted to sheer Ali in half as he back stepped, almost falling over Shiro.

The samurai rolled to the side as fast as he could as the sword wielder cried out like a mad man. The Scorpion Guard rushed further into the chamber, slashing at them all with every step he took.

Razul docked to the side as Shai’na backed to the door. Shiro got up and Ali jumped out of the way of a quick and dead sword strike.

“Look out!” Shai’na suddenly hissed. “There are more of them—coming through the window!”

Shiro glanced toward the opening to find two more Scorpion Blades climbing through.