"A Providential Encounter"
Jade shook her head and rolled her eyes as she looked over to Sultan Rubina.
“Do you think you made a difference? Do you think even one of them took you seriously?” inquired Jade as she reached for an unopened bottle of Harvest Wine. After a few moments prying the cork out, Jade took a rather large gulp from the bottle.
“I have what I have been looking for all of these years; a name to put to the face.” replied the Sultan. Jade let out a rather audible sigh as she set the bottle back down onto the table.
“None of them wanted anything to do with your trade offer! They gift you a satchel of severed heads!” exclaimed Jade as she pointed over to the ocean where the satchel was discarded. The Sultan stood up and walked to the water’s edge. Peering over, he spied the water-logged satchel still bobbing and floating around in the waters. The Sultan turned his head and replied:
“It seems Moreno and his men have been a bit outgoing with their presence on the island. The Governors were reluctant to make a deal because of their presence below.”
“Do you think the Justicars you sent to the mainland had anything to do with it?” inquired Miguel. The Sultan turned, smiled and replied:
“They found who I was seeking and have been instructed to return to the island. Unfortunately, not one has made it back yet to report to me. I do hope they are well.”
Jade took another large gulp of wine and reached for a piece of bread that was on the table in front of her. After taking a bite and another gulp of wine, she spoke:
“Perhaps they have fallen to a blade? Perhaps they have abandoned you? Did you honestly think that they would not be met with hostility?”
The Sultan looked over to Jade and mustered a smile. He then returned to his throne, sat down and exhaled softly. After a few moments of gathering his thoughts, he reached for a wedge of fresh cheese that was on the table. He then replied:
“There is not a second thought about it, for the King’s men to travel here. This pawn of King Blackthorn, Radim; He has been sighted in recent weeks. Apparently, a bit late to follow up on the Armageddon Cultists.”
The Sultan took a bite of the fresh cheese and poured himself a glass of wine as he was chewing. After a few moments, he continued:
“Surely, sending my men to the mainland to pursue someone who kidnapped my sister is not unwarranted?”
Jade and Miguel sat in silence for a few moments pondering Sultan Rubina’s question.
“Do help yourselves to some of this food and drink. The Governors would not even trust it to touch their lips, tis a shame. This rare cheese only comes around once a year!” Said the Sultan. Jade peered down the table and admired the large stacks of bread, wheels of cheese and bottles of wine that had been left.
“I’m going to take some for the others, share it with them.” said Jade as she pointed to the provisions. Miguel looked over to the Sultan and inquired:
“What of the men below the streets? You know, as well as I, the Governors will never make a deal with you as long as they are down there. Perhaps you should have let them storm the tunnels and eliminate those criminals.”
The Sultan stood up abruptly and smashed his fist down onto the stone table. He then exclaimed:
“We would not be here today without their help! They gave us weapons! They gave us armor! Without them, we would still be living in the slums! Surely, you realize this!?”
Jade motioned for the Sultan to calm himself. After a few minutes of frantic pacing, the Sultan continued:
“We will tax them. Moreno will have to come up with payment for us quartering his men below the streets. Considering they have not kept their promise of secrecy, it is the least he can do.”
Jade and Miguel nodded softly for a few moments as the Sultan began to kick a small hole into the sand. After several minutes the hole grew gradually larger. Miguel looked over and watched the Sultan as he continued to kick the sand and inquired:
“What if he refuses to pay us? What if this becomes a bigger problem than it already is?”
The Sultan stopped kicking the sand and walked over to behind his throne. He put his hands down softly on the back and spoke:
“Then we shall let King Blackthorn’s men make short work of them. We will show them how to get down there, all of the entrances, and this Family will be slaughtered!”
Sultan Rubina walked back over to the hole he had been kicking into the sand and continued. Jade and Miguel looked over to one another and seemingly approved of the Sultan’s plan.
“You had mentioned, the trading of servants during your meeting?” inquired Jade. The Sultan again paused kicking a hole in the sand and spoke:
“For what I have gone through, all of these years searching for my sister Davana, it will be forbidden for as long as I sit on the throne.”
“And just like this Family, what of the criminals? Do you think you can just tell them to stop?” inquired Jane. The Sultan walked over to the shoreline and picked up the soaked satchel containing the severed heads. He then brought it over to the hole he had been digging into the sands. He sighed softly as he set the satchel down into the hole and began to move sand with his foot to cover it.
“Do you see that over there?” Inquired the Sultan as he pointed across the waters to the guillotine that was outside of the Nujel’m Courthouse.
“If any such transactions are made aware to me, they will have their heads removed!” exclaimed the Sultan. Miguel smirked as he leaned forward to gather some loaves of bread and spoke:
“Now
you are acting like a proper Sultan!”
