right. "Aik, you and Kiah are the only two of whom they approve."
"Yes, but at least you and Nanda behave. More or less. Bey goes out of his way to keep them in that frenzy." Aik shook his head, laughing softly. "It doesn't help that now he is doing it on his King's orders."
Shah sighed, but it was obvious he was fighting a smile. "Perhaps our private meal tonight will wear the lot of you out enough I do not get more reports concerning your behavior." He motioned to the door. "I suppose I have put off work long enough. Witcher, let them know court will resume?"
"Of course, Shah," Witcher murmured, and crossed to the door to speak with the guard outside, then immediately returned to his place at Shah's side. A minute later the doors opened wide and slowly the room began to fill with people, most ordered to allotted seats along either side of the room, others made to form a line before the throne. One by one the supplicants approached, presenting problems or propositions, presenting sons, daughters, seeking permission for visitors, dozens upon dozens of matters there were for Shah to decide upon. Most issues were left to his council, but there were still many that he must handle personally. Throughout it all Aik and Witcher never moved. They sat patiently, tirelessly, lending quiet support and subtle weight to the King's authority.
The afternoon passed with relative quiet, few of the problems brought to him complicated or troublesome, and only one man having to be dragged away by the guards.
Shah forced himself to relax, hating to look anything other than completely at ease when he was anywhere but his private chambers. Court was exhausting, however, and the small midday meal sent to him did not last long. He wanted only to be where he could truly relax, away from the stress and the ever-present threats of treachery and assassination.
Because if he had councilmen plotting against him, working with the west to grab hold of the Wild Desert - which would bring the west uncomfortably close to Tavamara - then he had no doubt that getting rid of him would at some point become necessary.
He motioned the next supplicant forward, warmly greeting the son being presented, making him an official part of society now that he'd come of age, then waved the family away and motioned for a pause in the proceedings. "Something to drink?" he requested of a guard, and wine was immediately brought, light and sweet, pale pink in color.
For the first time in two hours his harem men moved, Aik carefully pouring wine into a shallow drinking dish and passing it to Witcher, who held it to Shah's lips, face expressionless but eyes smiling. "Better, my King?" he murmured, words only for Shah to hear.
"By your presence, my witch," Shah said just as quietly, wishing he could touch but ever aware of his station. "Thank you," he said more loudly. "Let us resume." He motioned the next supplicant forward as the wine was taken away.
Six
Jackal rested on the edge of the Desert, right where it began to shift into the hills that eventually joined the mountain range that divided the Desert from the West, and eventually wrapped around to form Tavamara's northwest border. It was no wonder most thought the Tribe long dead.
Who could really be bothered to come all the way out here just to shed blood?
Though, it probably didn't hurt that people in this region feared Jackal the way the southern region feared Ghost. In Jackal's case, however, it was not an ability to be everywhere and nowhere, but their utter ruthlessness in protecting their territory and disposing of enemies.
Jackals bore marking on their face to indicate rank, achievements, and the distinctive jackal head, inked into different places depending on the person and their place.
Security around the camp was light. Not because Jackal was lazy or careless, but simply because they were confident they could kill whatever was stupid enough to wander too close.
He had yet to see evidence that they
"Yes, but at least you and Nanda behave. More or less. Bey goes out of his way to keep them in that frenzy." Aik shook his head, laughing softly. "It doesn't help that now he is doing it on his King's orders."
Shah sighed, but it was obvious he was fighting a smile. "Perhaps our private meal tonight will wear the lot of you out enough I do not get more reports concerning your behavior." He motioned to the door. "I suppose I have put off work long enough. Witcher, let them know court will resume?"
"Of course, Shah," Witcher murmured, and crossed to the door to speak with the guard outside, then immediately returned to his place at Shah's side. A minute later the doors opened wide and slowly the room began to fill with people, most ordered to allotted seats along either side of the room, others made to form a line before the throne. One by one the supplicants approached, presenting problems or propositions, presenting sons, daughters, seeking permission for visitors, dozens upon dozens of matters there were for Shah to decide upon. Most issues were left to his council, but there were still many that he must handle personally. Throughout it all Aik and Witcher never moved. They sat patiently, tirelessly, lending quiet support and subtle weight to the King's authority.
The afternoon passed with relative quiet, few of the problems brought to him complicated or troublesome, and only one man having to be dragged away by the guards.
Shah forced himself to relax, hating to look anything other than completely at ease when he was anywhere but his private chambers. Court was exhausting, however, and the small midday meal sent to him did not last long. He wanted only to be where he could truly relax, away from the stress and the ever-present threats of treachery and assassination.
Because if he had councilmen plotting against him, working with the west to grab hold of the Wild Desert - which would bring the west uncomfortably close to Tavamara - then he had no doubt that getting rid of him would at some point become necessary.
He motioned the next supplicant forward, warmly greeting the son being presented, making him an official part of society now that he'd come of age, then waved the family away and motioned for a pause in the proceedings. "Something to drink?" he requested of a guard, and wine was immediately brought, light and sweet, pale pink in color.
For the first time in two hours his harem men moved, Aik carefully pouring wine into a shallow drinking dish and passing it to Witcher, who held it to Shah's lips, face expressionless but eyes smiling. "Better, my King?" he murmured, words only for Shah to hear.
"By your presence, my witch," Shah said just as quietly, wishing he could touch but ever aware of his station. "Thank you," he said more loudly. "Let us resume." He motioned the next supplicant forward as the wine was taken away.
Six
Jackal rested on the edge of the Desert, right where it began to shift into the hills that eventually joined the mountain range that divided the Desert from the West, and eventually wrapped around to form Tavamara's northwest border. It was no wonder most thought the Tribe long dead.
Who could really be bothered to come all the way out here just to shed blood?
Though, it probably didn't hurt that people in this region feared Jackal the way the southern region feared Ghost. In Jackal's case, however, it was not an ability to be everywhere and nowhere, but their utter ruthlessness in protecting their territory and disposing of enemies.
Jackals bore marking on their face to indicate rank, achievements, and the distinctive jackal head, inked into different places depending on the person and their place.
Security around the camp was light. Not because Jackal was lazy or careless, but simply because they were confident they could kill whatever was stupid enough to wander too close.
He had yet to see evidence that they
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