The long-anticipated day, the day of the Amir's return to the capital, was finally at hand.

As the winding snake of steel, armor, banners and wagons got inexorably nearer to the capital--and even before the Amir had thought to send some outriders to further alert the citizenry--Elbar itself was already awash with thrilled rumors and hearsay.

Some wondered at how much gold and silver the Amir might have brought back as loot from such a well-fortified city as Melvir; quite a few even tilted their heads in amused curiosity on what new name the Amir might see fit to give to that city once it's been rebuilt.

Or not, as some argued: Melvir's literal 'grounding' might just serve as a simple and yet vivid-enough example to the Amirate's would-be defiers. Besides, such a project shall inevitably draw more from the royal treasury, whose funds were already depleted from this expedition.

What seemed to thrill Elbar's denizens the most, however, was the notion of prisoners.

Long had so many in the Amirate's capital yearned to see for themselves the oft-rumored 'omen- and copper-worshipping pagans' from the north and east, hitherto being treated as subjects to put delinquents to sleep.

Whispers of how most of these folks still lived in wood-and-straw huts in relatively-distant, often conflict-strewn villages (as compared to common Elbarians' dwellings of pale stone with cosmopolitan airs, also added to the excitement, with almost-equal halves of the populace attributing such contrasts either to inherent backwardness or as "their own peculiar way to get along with nature."

Some of the older citizens even recalled--some in whispers, others loudly and with not a little excitement--that, pagan though Queen Mirani herself and a large portion of her people might have been, they had since then been "largely brought to reason".

Even as many busied themselves discussing and spreading such rumors, some of the more savvy ones had also taken to reserve spots near windows of multi-story taverns and inns, the better to watch the Amir's procession.

When the first few of Urdin's outriders came in to relay the exact nature of the most recent 'field trip', including the number of loot wagons and that some pagans were indeed brought along as "living proof", the jubilation only increased. The added word that the Amir was due to enter the city by that same midday, almost tripled the number of near-window reservations. Merchants hastily cleared their stalls for the day to join the growing crowds of to-be spectators.

Be that as it may, there were also those not so interested in such hustle-and-bustle; among whom were the Pathfinder's own families. They were, at best, hesitant.

"Tell me for the absolute-final time, y'all," Zal grumbled as the morning repast neared its conclusion, "are we really gonna 'ave to welcome that guy back? Really, the only benefit he's givin' us is a single frickin'-day off school, I daresay..."

"We talked about this," Mu reminded her. "Being there for Dad's arrival, hard as it might be, would be expected of us. We can't just ignore that."

"Bull crap! Yer mom's not gonna be the one facin' a trial no thanks to him, Akhi!"

"Will there even be a trial, though?" Rashid put in, prompting all in the room to look at him. "Because, you see... if Dad were to put Lady Mirani on trial, at least some of his own past misdeeds might come to light, and before so many! Let's not forget that he might have second thoughts and all, especially after months on the road..."

"Brat's got a point," Mira, who had regained enough of her strength to rejoin the family repast in the dining room, observed. "Heck, in place of a public trial, Urdin might instead consent to settling things on a person-to-person basis... to which I wouldn't mind at all!"

"Slim chance o' that, mind ya, Mom," the Little Viper put in.

For that, the girl earned a sour stare. "Come now, lass, have some faith. Would it not delight ya that I'm bein' spared the added burden of public humiliation? Urdin, for his part, had yet to properly apologize for the slaughter of my siblings..."

"If Dad ever does, then," Mustafa wanted to know, "would you forgive him, I wonder? It's all empty talk otherwise."

Mama Viper considered this. "That will also depend on the manner of his apology, Prince. Ya better pray he knows how."

The Lion Prince met her stare. "Likewise, Lady Mira, I would suggest that you don't worsen his ire. He's seen so much death to the point where one more would not have mattered. My father is a front-line warrior, unlike you who's been skulking in shadows and dare call it honor."

Azalea watched on this particular exchange with quiet, if immense, admiration. Such candor!

"Dear Mustafa," Queen Mirani replied with a fine smirk, "pray don't hold masters of shadows with such low esteem--one o' these days ya might have cause to regret it. How many rulers before Urdin in this wide world might have been felled by a single crossbow bolt in the dead o' night; their venerable reigns thus cut short? Do not speak of 'honor' before such types--they play not by the rules ya've been raised to understand."

"All this talk of crossbow bolts in the dark..." Vestra interrupted as she noticed Mu's countenance harden, "you might upset him with it, Mirani. You well know how close he had been to falling victim to exactly that kind of ploy!"

"All the more reason why he should be made aware o' that, Ves, don't gimme that look. Hubris leads to neglect, oft as not."

"I thought you're reformed by now-"

"Ya bloody well know I am, wench. Part of that reform, I believe, is giving unreserved advice as and when needed. This young lion 'ere can be as upset as he gets for that--see if I'd give a damn--but one o' these days he might thank me for it."

"How right you are, Lady Mirani," the Lion Prince put in evenly after a moment's silence. "Your notion of 'love' is as tough as my mom's is warm. So be it; we might yet benefit from both... if only we know how."

"Spoken like the Pathfinder's firstborn!" Mira exclaimed, enthused.

Leia stared down on her now-empty plate; Rashid looked away with a sigh, even as their birth mother maintained a concerned silence while looking alternately at them both. Dastra kept eating, unperturbed.

A fine mix of compassion and craftiness, the Little Viper noted mentally as she continued to observe, her admiration doubling. No one wife might have embodied such traits with 'nough perfection, nor can they always be in the same place at the same frickin'-time... Small wonder Dad decided to take in two!

***

In the meantime, the capital had already been suitably decorated, its approaches secured: the Amirate's leaf-green colors dominated the city walls, towers and parapets; the crowds neatly lined up on both sides of the main avenue, with the basiras keeping order.

The pent-up excitement burst forth as the gates began to be opened inwards, followed shortly after by the Amir's entrance. The troops, first cavalry, then archers, then spear- and sword-wielding infantry, followed in his wake. Behind them, and which triggered admiring whoops from among the crowds, trailed along wagons of loot, gleaming gold, silver, pearls and coins from some of the oaken chests, purposely opened to impress and awe.

The prisoners came last, by which time the mood had considerably grown more somber. The long line of sour-faced, mostly-quiet pagans, nevertheless, attracted hushed expressions of admiration and pity.

Prince Mustafa, with a small escort, also rode out to greet the man at the head of those conquerors.

"Peace be to you, my Amir," he said upon dismounting and kissing the older warrior's hand. "Our congratulations on yet another well-fought victory."

The Amir responded with a tender, if brief, sidelong embrace. "Only by Allah's grace, son. So good to be home again."

"My siblings await you too, Dad."

"In varying stages of anticipation, I suspect. I'll rejoin you all shortly.
While you're at it, why not say hello to your cousin somewhere back there? He's not been very talkative to me for the last leg. See if you wouldn't miss what he's seen fit to bring along, for that matter."

Mu tilted his head slightly. "Presents, sire?"

"In a manner of speaking."

This said, the Amir calmly went on his way, prodding his destrier to a sedate trot.

Curiosity prevailing, the Lion Prince remounted his horse and sent it trotting to where his cousin was said to be. He found him still happily chatting with a young slim pagan girl of about his own age.

"Cousin," Mu nodded by way of greeting. "Happy to have you back with us."

"Good to be back, Mu. You've been well?"

"Praying for your safety."

The Amir's firstborn then turned to regard the pair of soon-to-be prisoners--a boy and a girl--that Idris must have been whiling his time away with. The girl surveyed him back with equal candor. The boy, on the other hand, looked overawed.

Soon enough Idris noticed the attention, and cleared his own throat.

"Ahem... meet Tiara and Theo, orphans whom I'd chanced to meet on the road. My new wards, should I say."

"Your wards..?" Mu paused. "Dad allowed that much, for real?"

"He's let me stay around with them this far, that's something."

"And you expect he's gonna... let you go a step further?"

"One hopes, Mustafa."

The boy, Theo, half-raised a hand in timid greeting--a gesture that the Lion Prince did not miss, even returned with a kind nod. The girl only glared.

"So this is your 'princely cousin', Id? Littler version of that bloodhound?" Tiara cut in.

Mu looked at her. "What bloodhound are you speaking of?"

"Your mad dad, that's what," she blurted fiercely. "His riders put our village to the torch; our dad, he'd killed with his own hands, right before our eyes just as he tried to protect us! Then he took us in and dared call it mercy, just 'cause he lumped us with Idris here..!"

"While I am deeply sorry for your loss," came the Lion Prince's pointed reply, "recall also how you've since then been fed, cared for, and been allowed to see so much else on the way here; rather than left to rot untended by the wayside like your dad and so many other unfortunates. There's little cause to keep resenting my dad, thus, is there not? He may have taken a life from you, but he's also giving you a shot at a new one here, when others in your situation might only dream of it. Be grateful for at least that much."

Tiara was in turn taken aback by that; she had expected this new kid to take that in with a lot more surprise, maybe even side with her.

Chip of the old block, then, is he?

"How very interesting," she murmured, almost to herself.

"Might we get to actually live here, then? In this marvelous city?" Theo wondered aloud as he looked around. "Idris here said we would, but..."

The Lion Prince smiled. "You would do well to believe him." He looked back at Idris. "Might I expect to see you again in the palace?"

"Got my own stops to make first, but... yes, you might."

"Fine by me. Great job shielding these two from Dad's fury."

"Done what I could. Glad he decided to listen."

With that, and after another sidelong glance at the young pair of prisoners, the Amir's firstborn headed back to the palace.

***

The Amir in the meantime proceeded on to the palace, where members of his family not otherwise preoccupied, as well as some of his functionaries, stood in a welcoming line some distance from the archway leading to the main hallway. Vestra took the lead, exercising her unwritten prerogative as first spouse.

"Welcome, my dear." She smiled sweetly. "Another task well performed, I gather?"

"As with any before this, Allah be praised," came the reply. "All's well in my absence, I trust?"

"As can be seen. Should you come across Leia, do give her some praise; she's already learning how to make shawls and actually sell them for extra income."

"What, by herself?"

"Through underlings, naturally."

"Is that so? I just might, love." The Amir kissed her once on the forehead and moved on, to Mirani--by then her injured arm had healed somewhat, though the cast yet remained. Urdin raised an eyebrow when his gaze fell on it.

"You've been injured," he remarked.

"This? Nothin' I can't handle; better yet, 'tis already healing."

"But whatever might've caused it?"

"Know what? We can always go back to that later. Glad t' see ya safe once more, Urdin."

"Likewise." This time the Amir merely embraced her, which she nevertheless welcomed.

"'Ey, Dad," Zal, presenting herself in her favorite purple dress, spoke up even before the Amir reached her. "So frickin'-nice to 'ave ya back."

Urdin lowered himself to her height with a fatherly smile. "Good to be back, Azalea. Been a good sister, have you?"

This princess rolled her eyes playfully. "Things 'appened... But believe it or not, I and Dastra have been enrolled to a real school! Ya know, the Hikma Academy right here in the capital? Got myself quite a few new pals too! Just the other day, Lei's also let me in on the Crescent Contests--oh, I just can't wait to take part in it!"

With a chuckle, the Pathfinder ruffled Zal's shoulder-length red hair, knowing full well his youngest daughter's martial tendencies. "Sounds like a fine start. Train hard, study well." He rose. "Mu's greeted me outside, but I don't see any of the other princes. Why is that?"

"Rashid's excused himself," Ves replied. "Doesn't feel like going out today, he said."

"Is he ill?"

"No, sire, merely preoccupied."

"Even to greet his father?"

"Some things you just can't put off."

"As for Dastra," Mira joined, "he's studying like always. Gettin' good at sums, that one."

"Well, that's as may be. Just let them know of my arrival, and that they may extend their welcomes at their leisure. Thank you all for keeping everything at peace and in order in my absence, as you well should. You may all leave."

"At peace and in order, my butt," Mira whispered fiercely for her counterpart's benefit, when she was sure they were alone. "Would that the warmongering prick know just how close some things are to breakin' apart..."

"Do me a favor and be tactful when it matters," the Lioness of Elbar cautioned in an undertone. "He's here now when so many fathers aren't; we'd be wrong not to expect some changes in him yet. Besides... you'll help him to see the real truth at last, won't you?"

Mama Viper momentarily closed her eyes. Bastards and traitors, murdered siblings and treacherous friends... Yeah, it's gonna be quite the blast. "Have no doubt on that last bit, Vestra. And when that should happen, it just won't hurt to keep yer yapping mongrels--and mine too, please?--well outta our way."

Vestra nodded grimly. "Ought I start sending them off somewhere, you think? Our southernmost harbor-city of Mers, perhaps? Tell them we'd be going on a picnic or something."

Her counterpart huffed. "The older kids won't be so easily fooled, Zal least of all... but yeah, best start lookin' if there might somewhere big 'nough in Mers that ya might lodge in with five others for just a few days. I wouldn't give a spit even if it were some fishmonger's shack..."

"While we're at it, Mira, may I ask why you did not broach such a solution sooner?"

Mama Viper grunted. "Didn't trust ya 'nough. Couldn't bring myself to, more like."

Mustafa's mother paused in her tracks. "Takes a broken arm and Urdin's actual return, after years of bloodshed, to even begin trusting me, is that it? Goodness, Mira, you sure have been driving a tough bargain..."

"Were ya in my place, ya might've done much the same, don't deny it. Just be thankful that I'd seen my wrongs and turned back from that damnable path just in time. Oh, and Ves... thanks again."

"For what?"

"For agreein' to share my burden, yo! Right after ya slapped me, ya told me that I'd have to take far worse wounds than that... but also that, should I get to survive 'em, I'd have wanted for nothin' more. Believe it or not, we are headin' that way. This broken arm, this upcomin' showdown with Urdin... I've shown that I could survive the first, and I will survive the second!"

The Lioness of Elbar managed a quaint smile this time. "For all that candor, you don't deny you need help. I respect that."

***

Among the first things Urdin did having safely reached home (having taken off his armor) was to send for Nouman, his grand sheikh for nigh-two decades now, before retiring to his own study. He felt he had much to ponder still, and there were times he would appreciate the few moments away from everyone else.

Even still, some things needed settling, and he'd rather do some of those sooner.

After what seemed like a few minutes, there were some knocks on the door.

"Enter!"

To his mild surprise, it was Rashid.

"Hey, Dad. I was told you were here. Welcome home; sorry I wasn't there the first time."

"Good to see you again as well, Rashid, my cub. What are you up to these days?"

"Well, archery's getting my interest these days... but Mom said there's so much to learn 'til I get to have my own bow. Arm strength and all."

Urdin smiled. "Still the disciplinarian, is she?"

"Good that she is... especially with Lady Mira being incapacitated. Took care of all five of us at one point, Mom did; still does, in fact. So much so that Zal and Das decide to call her 'Ma'."

The Pathfinder's smile faded a tad. "I noticed Mira's cast. When exactly did that happen, and how?"

"Rumors have it that she's slipped in the bath; so careless, I know. But hey, I think that helped mend her relations with Zal and Das. They're closer with Mira now than ever before, far as I can tell."

"Hmm... thanks for telling me this, Ras. Anything else you think I should know?"

Their hearty chat went on for quite a bit longer, with Rashid briefly--and keenly--also expressing his interests on the subject of music, and how he hoped that someday he might be deemed qualified enough to play an instrument of his own ("the flute, perhaps?"), before another series of not-so-loud knocks cut the familial moment short.

A door-minder entered, bowing. "My Amir, Grand Sheikh Nouman is without and requests your audience."

"Let him in," came the reply. "Rashid--we'll talk more later, okay? See that all your siblings will be there at dinner today. I mean to make new adjustments for all of you."

The middle prince nodded dutifully. "I will! Thanks again, Dad, for listening."

"You're welcome."