CHAPTER TWENTY—PREPARATIONS

Ali shivered as he glanced about, looking for any signs of those vines that had attacked them before. They were dangerous, and they were many. He truly hated that they could burrow into the ground and come up to attack when he least expected it.

He felt like his backside was exposed.

Gods, why am I even here? I want to be in Darshuun—back at my mansion with my wife! I want to entertain guests and have big parties, but be out there socking and wet and harried by monsters.

“Are you all right, brother?” asked Raz.

“What—of course I am. Why would you even ask such a thing?”

“You seemed distant,” he said. “Like Shiro.”

Ali raised an eyebrow. “Keep on the lookout for those tentacles. If that monster attacks is, I want to be ready.” He glanced around but could not see the forward sentries through the mist. As Raz loped off back toward the vanguard, Ali muttered a curse. “…can’t see anything out here.”

“The Angor can sense magical auras,” Samira said. “It would be wise to have your brother leave the army altogether and let it be known to the beast where he is to divert its attention.”

Why did she say it like that?

Shaking his head, he sighed. Had they been in less peril, Ali perhaps would have challenged her on that. He did not much like her arrogant attitude. He was the high vizier to the sultanah’s court. And she was what? Some dead princess? Ha!

The men parted to admit Abbaass, captains Gohar and Ushtan as well as Shahzad. Surprisingly, the thin and spindly Yasser was with them. He was a healer. Ali wondered if he was suppressing his magical abilities? What—of course he was, otherwise the “Her Majesty” would say something, yes?

“High vizier,” Abbaas said.

He was in his forties, lean but muscular. First and foremost, he was a fighter. His battle tactics and ability to lead larger forces a think that Darius had apparently seen, and given him a promotion by.

Ali nodded with satisfaction. Ushtan was also a good man, bearded and strong with thick arms. He had taken his time in captivity with the savages well, while some of the other Scoprions had all manner of problems of the mind now that they had been taken out—the poor fools.

Captain Gohar, Ali was less certain of, but he was young and spy, younger even than Ali, surprisingly. Or was he simply getting old? No matter. If the Horde Commanders thought him a good replacement for Captain Dout, then he would abide by their decisions to raise him up to such a command.

“Welcome back, Captain Abbaas. Were you able to secure all of the men?”

He nodded firmly. “I have, and I have brought the Horde Commanders with me that they might be led well during whatever actions you see fit to conduct against the monster, venerable vizier.”

Ali almost felt embarrassed at the high praise, but then, his station did warrant such an address. He thought he would have gotten used to it, but no. “And what of the rest of the army?”

“I left Commander Hasheff with them. They will remain on the boats where they will sail in and out of the straights to keep out of the grasp of the beast.”

“Very good,” Ali said.

He turned to Samira. “Does that sound right?”

She nodded. “It is a good strategy to avoid the Angor’s reach. The vines are often slow to travel over great distances, but once upon you, they can dart and strike with speed. I think your army will be well protected as it is.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“And what of us?” asked Abbaas. The other Commanders, and Yasser, who seemed quietly afraid and fearful, looked on with great interest.

“We are in danger,” Samira said. “We could be attacked at any time. I hoped that your other adventurers would be here to assist us—and to be honest, I am surprised you do not have more adventurers with your elite force.”

“The Abassir Empire has many great adventurers fighting in the war effort,” Ali explained, feeling slightly annoyed, but he wanted to let her know they were far from incompetent—the very think she was subtly implying of them. He could not allow that. “The men you have seen are the greatest adventurers in the empire.”

She sniffed with amusement and derision.

“What—being bested by one of their jinni was not good enough for you?”

“One of their jinni?”

Ah, she thinks we have more than one. Good. And we will keep it that way. “Do not ask too many questions, Ashah,” he said, keeping a smile upon his face. That felt good.

She ignored him mostly, which meant his attempt to annoy her was working.

“What is your plan?” she asked.

“Plan?” said Ali, and he glanced to Abbaas and the other captains. “We send our men out and attack those things you told us about.”

“The Nodes.”

“Yes, those things. Raz can be bait, and if we need him, he can come and help us.”

“There are a lot of nodes. We do not have enough men. You should have sent more of your army.”

“Not advisable,” said Abbaas.

“I agree,” Ali said. “Now,” he said to Samira, “I will do something out of character for myself.”

She put her hand on her hip. “Is that right?”

“Yes, that is right.”

“Well go one, tell us what it is.”

“I am,” he said. “I want you to tell us what you would do.”

“I told you what I would do.”

“No,” Ali said. “I want you to tell us what you would do with what we have, yes?”

She sighed as Abbaas and the others watched. “Oh, Yasser.”

“Yes, vizier?”

“When you can, stay close to me. I cannot die today.”

“All right.”

Samira sniffed, but she didn’t understand that Ali couldn’t leave her alone by dying out here. He would not betray her that way. Besides, she might chase me to the afterlife.

“So,” she said, “you wanted me to tell you what I would do?”

Ali nodded. “Please.” He was intending to reject her suggestion, just to irritate her. It was pretty, but there was not a lot he could do to outplay her since she was far above his class.

At this time it was quite immature and reckless, but Ali felt incredibly irritated by this arrogant Ashah princess, assuming she was what she said she was!

“I would take your force of a thousand men here and I would attack all the nodes at once. There seventeen on my map.”

“That is, what—fifty men each? It’s not enough.”

“Well,” she said, “with four top-tier adventurers, maybe it would be, but now that we only have two, we must change our plans, I think.”

“To what exactly?” asked Abbaas.

“We should attack two nodes at once,” she said. “Split your forces, and send me with with one of them, and that fop with the other.”

Ali weathered her insult directed toward his brother. Normally he wouldn’t mind, but he hated her so much that he felt an incessant need to defend anyone she insulted.

“I can see no fault with this plan,” said Abbaas.

Ali sighed. Why did he have to agree with her? Why?!

“Yes,” he said. “Yesyes. I agree to it.” He waved his hand away. “Let’s do this and hope we can destroy this monster before Shiro and Debalu get back.”

“Where is that man you call Shiro from?” asked Samira. “I have never seen his like before.”

“There is much you have never seen before, I am certain,” said Ali.

Abbaas cleared his throat. “I will lead one of our flanks with Captain Gohar. High vizier, I suggest you go with Captain Ushtan.”

“And where will you be?” Ali asked, turning to Samira.

She smiled indulgently. “With you, of course.”

“No, I think you should go with Commander Abbaas.”

“Nonsense.”

“Why?”

“I told you, I get to kill the Angor and take it’s heart stone. I want to keep an eye on you, yes?”

“Fine.”

“Don’t forget that the other adventurer can provide a distraction,” she said. “At the outset, I too will provide a distraction, yes?”

“Very well,” Ali said quickly. “Let’s move—come on, let’s move.” He stalked away to give orders. He turned to Ushtan. “You will be my second as Abbaas said. “Prepare to move out.”

Ushtan nodded, his big beard and thick arms intimidating for most, but not to Ali—not anymore. “Prepare to move out!” he called to the group of officers.

As Abbaas moved to join his own forces with Captain Gohar, Ali called to him. He turned. “Good luck.”

“Thank you, high vizier.”

Samira made to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“I told you, I will provide a distraction. I am going to your lout of a brother, you traitor—and we will both serve that purpose in the beginning, yes.”

He growled in frustration. “Fine,” he said waving his hand. “Go!”

She sniffed derisively in his direction and then was off.

Ali shook his head. “What an annoying women, eh?”

Ushtan looked at him, but he said nothing.

“What are you waiting for, man?!”

“I gave the order, vizier.”

“Right! Let’s go!”