CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT—CADENCE

The noble over Shiro’s shoulder was beginning to get heavier.

The samurai decided to set him down atop a bench in a dark alcove. The cadence of the music billowing through the halls had changed. The drum beats louder—and faster.

Something was happening.

Shiro decided that he needed to find out what it was, but he had been separated from the others who were no doubt waiting in Shai’na’s chambers.

Debaku was probably there with the swords.

If that was indeed the case, the next stage of the plan was to be enacted. A reconnoitering of the palace to find Jessamine’s location, and that of the sultan. But first they would have to decide when to attack.

The moment would have to be an opportune one, or else Shiro believed their entire party would be massacred.

He stalked though the halls past some laughing guests making their way toward the throne chamber with a determined step. Shiro followed them, unable to pass, for the space within the wide corridor was being taken due to the size of their party.

These guests were probably not the most esteemed of the palace, otherwise they might have had an escort, even if unarmed. In a normal palatial gathering, the individual bodyguards of high ranking nobles might still carry their swords.

But it seemed here that was not allowed.

But did common soldiers, even adventurers, pose a risk to Darius? Is he more powerful than we think?

Jessamine had told Shiro that Dairus was powerful. But so was their party—and even Shiro had strengthened since his time fighting Debaku in that alleyway street in the cold rain.

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The corridor opened up into a large drawing room with settees, rugs and braziers. The party’s gait seemed to slow as they became distracted with the offerings presented by the servants atop silver platters.

There were guests all about and in the somewhat darkened chamber a heady smoke wafted about, making Shiro feel woozy. The hookahs must have contained some other smoking leaf that he was unaware of.

Whatever this is, it’s not the shashu leaf!

Extricating himself from the chamber as quickly as he could, Shiro continued on and found himself back in the corridors leading to the apartments where Shai’na would be sleeping tonight. He almost went in the direction of her chambers, but stopped himself when a thunder of footsteps echoed down the halls.

Files of Scorpion Guards in black pantaloons and shimmering with gold thread marched through the corridor.

Several of them came up the steps where he was and bared their scimitars in defense, but made no move to approach Shiro.

They were protecting something.

Or someone, he thought, Shiro’s mind instantly conjuring images of the sultan as he fought a monumental battle in the void against Debaku.

Suddenly a flock of performers, men, women and even a lion poured through the file of Scorpion Guards in the direction of the throne chamber. They wore shimmering robes, sparkling jewels and fluttering feathers of every color and stripe.

After the troupe of performers, women dressed in so little as to make Shiro almost blush, sauntered through.

For a moment no one else traveled through the corridor of warriors, until suddenly a tall man, strong and clearly important, wearing a low-neck black-tunic, of shimmering silk pantaloons in the same color as the Scoprions with golden swirls going up his legs stalked through.

The cut and quality of his heavy jacket bespoke one of extreme wealth and power, and something about the way he looked emanated danger.

As the man glanced Shiro’s way, Shiro instantly realized Darius was about to spot him!

The sultan stopped.

Shiro’s heart leapt into his throat and his stomach tensed. He leaned up close to the edge of the wall near the corner, hoping he wasn’t seen.

“Did you see something my lord?” a Scorpion asked, his tone demure, but nonetheless rough in nature.

Shiro swallowed thickly.

There was a pause.

“No,” Darius finally said. “No,it was nothing.”

Then Darius’ footsteps receded.

Breathing heavily, Shiro glanced around the corner, finding the Scorpion Guardsmen folding in on the cordon.

Kami-sama, that was close. Far too close.

Unable to stop himself, Shiro decided to follow Darius, despite feeling like he needed to find a place to retch suddenly. But narrowing his eyes, he was determined to find out what was going on.