War of the Sultans

by Fuad Baloch

  For the first time, her mind saw more than her eyes.

  She was surrounded by men. Far too many! Though her mother and Mona hadn't been involved in any strategic decisions when she’d been rushing toward Algaria the first time, at least they had been present alongside her in meetings like these. Two women who understood things these men simply couldn't. The need to be firm. To be moved by one’s heart and an overriding sense of what was right, no matter the cost. To sacrifice in the short term, hoping for a payback in the future.

  The other realization frightened her.

  These men hated each other. Maharis was wary of the inquisitor, who watched him in turn. None of the men approved of the manner she listened to Camsh’s counsel. As for Ranal: when his usually upset stomach did let him attend these sessions, no one bothered listening to him. And Jinan… well, he snapped at everyone and everything.

  A nest of vipers. That was what passed for her council.

  “My sultana, you’re absolutely right in your wish to rush back home,” said Camsh. Nuraya waited. “As the son of the grand vizier—and despite all the recent unpleasantness between our families—I applaud your inclination, but I have to agree with the inquisitor. Even if we were to arrive before the city falls, our numbers are simply not enough to bolster the defending forces. Besides, there is no knowing how many more reinforcements the Zakhanan would have assembled by then.”

  “Excuses,” she muttered, clenching her fists. “That’s all the lot of you offer me.”

  “We need to ride like the wind,” said Jinan suddenly. He turned his bloodshot eyes toward her, a lock of thick hair slipping out from the turban, partially covering an eye. “With the righteous might of all that’s holy and right in the world, we’ll smash into the bastards, me leading the vanguard personally. I might be an Atishi, but I will give these Husalmin primitives from the east a real taste of Istani steel!”

  “And you shall die,” noted the inquisitor. “You’ve lost other people in the city before, I understand? You’ll lose more.”

  “Inquisitor, stick to what you know best,” Jinan growled, pointing at Maharis. “Right there’s a rogue magus for you. One who desecrated laws your people set for him. Deal with him and leave the strategy of battles to me!”

  “My sultana,” said Maharis, dabbing at his forehead. “I must also remind that the Reratish emissary would most probably not appreciate any deviation from the path west.”

  “We are traveling west,” she snapped. “Despite what the inquisitor said about the siege around Algaria two days ago, we’ve not changed our course.”

  Maharis cleared his throat, one hand rising to right his black turban. He looked out the open tent flaps into the dark night beyond, his gaze settling at the cook pots in the distance. “Indeed, but not fast enough. Or so the emissary tells me anyway.”

  “Might I suggest,” said Camsh, standing straight, “that all communication with the emissary be handled through me? No offense to your… diplomatic skills, but I’ve had a lifetime’s worth of experience in dealing with their kind.”

  “Is that right?” mused the inquisitor, a sly smile playing on his lips.

  Fuming, Nuraya glared at them all. “If you lot haven’t got anything to offer regarding pushing back the Zakhanan, then keep your mouths shut!”

  Maharis dropped his gaze. The inquisitor kept examining his fingernails. Jinan narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything. At least Camsh had the good sense to nod and look suitably chastened.

  The silence stretched uncomfortably. She exhaled, forcing her clenched shoulders to relax. Jinan raised a plaintive hand. She nodded.

  “The emissary also wishes for you to send another message through to Qwasad.”

  “Why does the emissary care what message I send through to Qwasad?” she demanded. “We will be there in less than three days at this pace anyway!”

  Before anyone else could reply, Camsh cleared his throat. “It appears that the pathway to the north is blocked by the city’s great fortified walls. A formidable obstacle even for this Reratish army that seems to have won every other victory. In a way, Qwasad is the Buzdar of the north-west. So long as the city remains out of his reach, Prince Sabrish can’t leave his flank undefended.”

  She interlaced her fingers. “So, Qwasad is a vital chokepoint. What of my brother? Has he been dealing with the local ameer and nizam to work against the Reratish?”

  The inquisitor laughed. “Your brother worries about just one person. Himself.”

  Nuraya sucked her teeth. “So, the emissary wishes for me to send another message through to the city to prepare for my arrival. Insist, once more, to let them feed the Reratish army perched under the shade of its walls and let their diplomats enter the city?”

  “Quite so,” said Camsh. “Personally, I can see why the Reratish prince would want to win the city one way or the other. Leaving it unchecked would be exposing a major weakness.”

  Nuraya rubbed her thumb and forefinger. She might have been too foolhardy before, but at least she had been influencing events by her sheer will. How had she ended up being tossed this way and that by external circumstances? That’s what happens to the defeated!

  “Not bad, boy,” drawled Inquisitor Aboor. “You have picked up rudimentary tactics from your father after all.” He leaned forward. “The real question though is what’s this prince going to do once he no longer has to worry about the north?”

  “It wouldn't matter,” she said. “As part of my conditions for marriage, he would have to return to Reratish for at least a year.”

  Maharis coughed. “I wouldn't be so certain of the prince’s willingness to cede territory his armies have been trying for centuries to win from the realm.”

  She nodded, feeling her mood darken. “Which is why I hope he will consider installing an ameer in Nikhtun that is mutually acceptable to him and myself.”

  Inquisitor Aboor whistled. “A Reratish-appointed ameer of an Istani province?”

  “What else can I do?” she said bitterly. “Maharis is right. Prince Sabrish won’t just give up the western realm! Anyway, all of this will be temporary. Nikhtun was, is, and always be the western border of our great land. And… one day, I will avenge all the honor I lose today.” Her mother had married for political reasons as well. And she’d poisoned her husband to gain power for herself. As much as Nuraya hated it, the parallels between her and the queen continued to pile up. Sooner or later, she, too, would break out of this marriage, on her terms.

  The magus shared a glance with the inquisitor. “We have to be cognizant of setting precedents, my sultana. In the days of the Malik kings, the Reratish invaded and annexed Buzdar for a good three decades. Back then, it had a name history books have since forgotten. They called it Buzdish, a name that corrupted to Buzdar over time when we won it back.” He paused. “If they gain a foothold again, I doubt it would be easy to uproot them easily.”

  Something about his words snagged at her memory. Not the fact that the word Buzdar had been absorbed into the local Nirdu language after the Reratish had been made to leave.

  The bit about Malik kings.

  She tried to recall her lessons. Malik had been the ancient Nirdu name for the family that had ruled before her forefathers had become ascendant. Under the influence of languages like Gharsi promoted by the Istani Sultans and the Husalmin priests, many names had been corrupted over time, taking on new shapes.

  Malik had become Amalk, Malak, Malaka. Could it have also turned to…

  “Malook,” Nuraya whispered the word softly, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Could it really be? Was this yet another twist of kismet, making her wonder whether the one-eyed usurper could actually have a claim more ancient than hers over the Peacock Throne? What did that mean? Another thought rose. What would it mean if both of these ancient lines were to unite in defending Istan?

  She shook her head. Surely, this was merely a coincidence. Had to be.

  Another worry settled in her. If she
had managed to draw the connection, how long would it be before others drew it as well?

  “My sultana,” said Camsh. “What would you like us to say to the emissary?”

  Nuraya bit on her lower lip, the world beginning to sway under her feet. What if after all she ended up sacrificing for this realm, it still ended up being denied to her family? Where would that leave her? Istan was the land of the Istani Sultans. If she couldn't even preserve that, what was the point?

  “Sultana?”

  She raised her chin, nodded. “Send another message to Qwasad as the emissary demands. Now, all of you, leave me!”

  Chapter 14

  Shoki

  As they rushed outside the doors into the red valley, the ground began to rumble. Shouts came from around them as other djinn looked up in alarm. Massive stone boulders rose into the air, then burst into fire.

  “By Rolomon! I’m going to gut them!” shouted Kafayos, yanking hard at Shoki’s arm who needed little motivation to break into a run.

  Jiza was shouting as well, barking orders at the other djinn to make way for them. Blood pounding his temples, Shoki pumped his long legs, unable to hear exactly what she was saying.

  They were being attacked. Again. And once more, the enemy knew exactly where they were. The djinn of Nainwa had fought back these miscreants before, but that didn't mean they would succeed again. Maybe, this was the time where they made sure Shoki breathed no more. Curse you, Shoki! He had ruffled the feathers and gotten just what he had expected.

  And all because he was apparently the only gods-damned Ajeeb magus they had been able to find.

  Spittle flying from his mouth, Kafayos turned his head toward Shoki. “Run harder!”

  “Where are you taking me?” Shoki shouted back.

  “Toward safety.”

  Despite the mayhem around them, one thought rang true in Shoki’s mind.

  No matter where he went, he’d never be safe.

  Not as long as Kafayos was with him.

  Shoki yanked his hand free, then stuttered to a stop.

  “What in Rolomon’s name are you doing?” shouted Kafayos, stopping to look his way.

  “Ensuring we don't get betrayed again,” he replied. The djinn glared, his eyes darting at the boulders that were still rising.

  “Duck!” yelled Kafayos.

  Shoki did. Something heavy and dense whooshed past him, crashing into the ground behind him with a mighty bang. A sharp cracking came next. The sound of something—a house?—splintering. Trembling, Shoki squeezed his eye shut, continuing to run straight. Ordinarily, the djinn might be true in their belief they couldn't be hurt by their world that seemed to mold around them, but who knew what other tricks these monsters knew. He, sure as hell, wasn't going to wait around.

  Shoki bumped into something and yelped. The djinn, a woman with pure white hair the color of snow trailing behind her, blinked at him, then ran the other way. Swallowing, Shoki stayed put, watching the peaceful streets of Nainwa swell with panicked djinn.

  “Why have you stopped?” screamed Jiza, turning toward him. “Kafayos, do you want him to become an easy target? Grab him and—”

  “Jiza,” said Shoki, his good eye fixed on her, his left index finger rising toward Kafayos. “He is a traitor. Been giving our whereabouts to whoever is attacking us. It all makes perfect sense.”

  “What nonsense!” growled Kafayos. Clenching his fists, he inclined his chin toward Jiza. “We’re running out of time. Lend me your strength so I may save us.”

  “I—” she began.

  “No!” shouted Shoki, stepping between the two of them. “Can’t you see? Not only do the enemy magi always know my whereabouts, but they also seem to make good use of their well!” Another whooshing sound came overhead and Shoki ducked, kept quiet until it had passed. “He… must be a Zyadi magus with an affinity for earth. That explains how he can keep up attacks so long as he is in close proximity to us.”

  “You silly, puny human,” growled Kafayos.

  Around them, the djinn of Nainwa were gathering in groups of twos and threes, their hands pointed skyward, their lips quivering. The earth rumbled, streams of water and smoke swam around the peaks, massive balls of searing fire rushed toward the boulders of stone smashing into the citizens.

  Shoki licked his lips. He was right. This was it. He’d gotten way more than he’d bargained for. Today was the day he was going to die.

  “Jiza, you can't really be listening to him!” Kafayos was saying. “Had I really been who he alleges me to be, wouldn't I have disposed of him a long time ago?”

  “There’s a reason for it,” Shoki blurted, facing the tall djinn. “A good reason. Your plans go far beyond what happens here. Attract suspicion and you lose your place of trust in front of others. Your masters do not want that. Isn't this why they’ve always had you initiate the attacks whenever there were others around to shield you?”

  Jiza narrowed her eyes, standing still despite the burning sky overhead. Then, she nodded. “He does have a point, Kafayos.”

  “Rolomon give me strength,” swore Kafayos. Brushing dust off his shoulders, he stood straight. Casting a baleful glance at both of them, he raised his hands.

  “Jiza, careful!” shouted Shoki, his eye darting around for safety.

  “What you see me do here, never, ever, mention in front of another!” said Kafayos, his voice cold, distant. “Or I will kill you, human.”

  Shoki darted his head back, blinked. Kafayos was gone. One instant, he had been standing all smug, his pride wounded. The other, he had melted away.

  Vise-like invisible hands grabbed Shoki. He yelped, tried to break free but failed.

  “Stay still, you idiot,” came Kafayos’s voice. “Or you’re going to give yourself away.”

  Shaking his head, still squirming in Kafayos’s grip, Shoki raised his left hand upward to break free. He couldn't see his hand. Shoki screamed, then looked down at himself.

  Nothing.

  He, too, had disappeared.

  Shoki felt himself being dragged toward Jiza. “Run, Jiza,” he screamed.

  “Jiza, extend your hand,” shouted Kafayos.

  Jiza cocked her head to the side. “You have the power to go invisible. An incredibly powerful ability.”

  “Hurry up!” bellowed Kafayos. “Or you can stay here.”

  Shoki was shaking his head—stupid, considering she couldn't see him. Jiza nodded, then stepped toward them, her hand outstretched. One instant, she was there, a goddess sashaying toward them framed by scenes of destruction all around, and the next, she too had vanished.

  “Keep walking,” said Kafayos, pulling Shoki forward.

  “Jiza, we cannot—” began Shoki.

  “Shut up,” she said. “Can’t you see it couldn't have been him? He had every chance to kill you and didn't. Besides, his well isn't earth.”

  Shoki clamped his jaw shut, knowing in that instant that he had been wrong. Kafayos controlled the power of sight. How it worked, Shoki had no idea, but one thing was certain.

  Kafayos was not the magus who had been causing earth to turn against them.

  Out of arguments, too shook up to think straight, Shoki allowed himself to be propelled forward and deeper into the plains between the mountains that had started bulging at the sides, making the city look like a massive bowl. They traipsed past groups of djinn magi facing an enemy who gods-only-knew how long had been lingering amongst them. Kafayos never slowed down, heading for a narrow pathway cutting between two mountains. Three djinn lay squirming to the side, dark smoke billowing around their stomachs, motes of dried ash spreading around them.

  Jiza gasped. “We have to help them.”

  “No, we don't,” said Kafayos, his voice no longer as smug as it had been. “Not unless you want to risk the safety of this Ajeeb.”

  Shoki blinked, taken aback. Jiza didn't argue, allowing Kafayos to take them past.

  They continued onward, never stopping, never talking, never letting the
fighting distract them. All wise choices by Shoki’s reckoning. Especially considering that the djinn weren't really as safe here as they might have wanted to believe.

  A set of doors loomed ahead.

  “Is this us?” asked Shoki, panting with exertion.

  “Aye,” replied Jiza. Shoki heard a rustling sound, then Jiza materialized out of nothing. He yanked at his hand, freeing it from Kafayos. Another half-breath later, Kafayos also stepped out of his cloak of invisibility.

  “Run!” said Jiza. Nodding, Shoki broke into a sprint, the three of them rushing toward the doors.

  “What’s in there?” shouted Shoki, pointing ahead.

  “Just keep up,” replied Kafayos, his long legs easily keeping up with Shoki.

  Jiza arrived at the doors first, her chest still as she turned toward them.

  Panting, Shoki raised a hand, coming to a stop beside her. “We need to think things through before barging ahead without a plan!”

  “Oh yeah?” challenged Kafayos. “Listen to you after how wrong you were about me?”

  “That notwithstanding,” said Shoki, “I think the threat remains. There must be other places as well where—”

  “Azar—Mara—is missing,” said Jiza, cutting him off. “In his absence, we have to seek instructions from the clan leaders. They will know what to do.”

  “The c-clan leaders?”

  Kafayos shoved past Shoki, opened the doors, and entered. Jiza turned sideways toward Shoki, motioning him to follow.

  Shoki chewed on his lower lip. He might have been wrong about Kafayos, yet his gut continued to insist they weren't out of danger yet. That there was more he wasn't seeing.

  “Go on,” said Jiza.

  Swallowing, Shoki nodded, then walked over the threshold.

  The room was large, dark, familiar. The same room he had been not too long ago, even though the scenery outside all looked different. Just like last time, the clan leaders sat against the opposite walls, their features obscured by shadows.