#general al-khoury

[vesperascorpio]

“You—are a miserable brat, Shahrzad al-Khayzuran,” she choked.

At first, Shahrzad  could think of  no way to string together a  coherent response. “I—you’re—Despina, are you . . .” Shahrzad trailed off. Then she cleared her throat. “Well, are you?”

Despina rose to her knees, blotting her forehead on her arm. She sighed in defeat. “I truly despise you right now.”

“Hate me or don’t hate me. But answer my failed attempt at a question.”

Despina expelled a pained breath. “Yes.” Shahrzad fell back against the cushions in disbelief.

“Holy Hera.” Despina laughed hoarsely. “I must say, you donning the guise of a friend is quite the heartwarming sight. Especially in light of the fact you thought I was trying to poison you.”

“Well, what else was I supposed to think? Especially after last week’s incident with the tea. I suppose you were sick that day, too?” The handmaiden sighed again.

“Despina,” Shahrzad said, “who is the father?”

“Now, that question I won’t answer.”

“What? Why not?”

“Because you share a bed with the Caliph of Khorasan.”

“Ah, the web of secrets grows thicker every day!” Shahrzad retorted. “So is he the father?”

“No!”

“Then why does that matter?” Despina sat back on her heels. 

“Because I can’t trust that you won’t tell him.”

“What? I don’t tell him anything.”

“You don’t need to. Your eyes search for him the moment they leave this room.”

“They do not!” Shahrzad screeched.

“By Zeus, my ears.” Despina clutched the side of her head. “Don’t yell. I beg of you.”

“I won’t tell Khalid. I swear.”

“Khalid?” The edges of Despina’s lips curved upward. “I know you’re tenacious in your endeavors, Brat Calipha, but I would give up on this one.You’re bound to be disappointed when your attempts at persuasion prove futile on me . . .” Shahrzad frowned. “After all, I am not the King of Kings.”

“Enough!” Shahrzad flushed. “Tell me who it is.”

“I’m very sorry, Shahrzad, but I am not telling you. I simply can’t.”

“You can’t?” Shahrzad mulled over the word. “Then he must be someone of import.”

“Don’t push the matter.” Despina’s voice was tight.

“I  wonder  .  .  .”  Shahrzad  disregarded  Despina’s  look  of  warning  and drummed her fingers along her chin. “It can’t be the Rajput or any of the other palace guards. There would be no reason for someone as bold as you to conceal that.”

“Shahrzad—”

“So,” Shahrzad continued, “it must be either the Shahrban of Rey, which is preposterous, or . . .” Her expression smoothed in sudden understanding. “Jalal.”

[vesperascorpio]

Not knowing what else to do, she locked upon her enemy.

The tiger-eyes were . . . torn.

Wary.

And then?

Calm.

“General al-Khoury?”

“Yes, sayyidi.”

“I’d like to introduce you to the Mountain of Adamant.”

The shahrban stared back and forth between the caliph and Shahrzad.

“But, sayyidi . . . I don’t understand. You cannot—”

The caliph swiveled to face the shahrban. “You’re right, General. You do not  understand.  And  you  may  never  understand.  Regardless,  I’d  like  toi ntroduce you to the Mountain of Adamant . . .”

The caliph glanced back at Shahrzad, a ghost of a smile playing across his lips.

“My queen.”