His Grand Sheikh's earlier advice on possible abdication notwithstanding, Urdin had at length resolved to hold his ground.

Indeed that would be more proper, he reflected. I can't just walk out of my hard-won, decades-long Amir-ship just because a lone wizened man said I ought to! I've yet to hear Mirani's take on it... or Yasnar's, for that matter. And besides, the kids...

Had he not told Rashid to try bring the whole lot together for the upcoming dinner? Things remained that needed doing, rules remained that needed setting; he, the redoubtable Pathfinder, could not give up so soon!

"That being so," he murmured, "I might as well grace Mira's chambers tonight; she might wish to let me in on a few truths of her own... For now, let's see whether that crafty old fox has insights concerning the most recent conquest, shall we?"

With this in mind, he sent for Yasnar.

"My Amir," the prime vazir took up when they were alone together, the latter having made the necessary obeisance, "I look forward to knowing matters that might require my care."

"Oh, there shall be quite a few, sir," Urdin responded, smirking. "To start with, there's the matter of Melvir. It would have to be rebuilt, repopulated, its defenses redressed... in short, returned to its former bustle--since it could serve as our easternmost bulwark, to keep the northern hordes at bay. They are presently divided among and against themselves, so I've heard... but I'd rather not leave everything to chance."

"Very insightful, sire. I have had one of my aides, Mardanish, working on just such a contingency; Your Grace may peruse the proposed plans at your leisure within two weeks, at most. Might you also deign to designate a new name for the city, to mark its very first milestone under new administration?"

"I'll reserve that new name until after I've reviewed those same proposals."

"Well understood, sire."

"On to the next issue, then..." the Pathfinder paused briefly, leaning back in his seat. "That of prisoners."

"Oh, how those eastern pagans must make for such delightful displays to the common crowds, Your Grace."

"I'm talking more about its aftermath. Our prisons can contain them only for so long. Ransom remains an option... as I feel disinclined to serve them the sort of dish we'd forced on Tharion's damnable spawns."

"Years in bed with the last one of them sure have done things to your perceptions, sire, if I may be so bold."

Urdin huffed, clearly disquieted. "Perhaps... but this Melviran bunch is different. You counseled me to get rid most of Tharion's kids on the grounds that they might prove to be future thorns in my tree, and that such ailments are best nipped in the crib, and I found merit in that... but these? Heck, I have half a mind to just integrate them; this will arguably increase our cultural diversity. We may have been rather prejudiced against the North, but not the east, if that helps. Besides..."

"I'm listening, sire."

"This year's Holy Month of Ramadan is almost upon us," the Pathfinder pointed out. "I have in mind, as a matter of fact, to let them cool their heels in this city for the duration of that entire month. That might further ease the integration process as they learn from us, and we from them."

Yasnar inclined his head. "Another problem thoughtfully solved. Might there be anything else?"

Urdin threw a sidelong look at him. "I have in mind also to discharge you from my service with honors, effective in the next few days, in line with the coming of the Holy Month. I mean to have quite a few changes implemented, beginning with governance."

Yasnar visibly paled at these words, whatever pleasantries he might have offered turning to ash in his lips. "My Amir..!"

"That is final. I bid you fair rest in your advancing age, Yas. That would be all for today; you can leave."

***

Having earned their bread, meanwhile, Mu and Zal debated some more on whether they ought to meet Zena, or turn back home instead. Either way, the prince pointed out, they had come across quite the fascination that day.

"Fair skin, fair hair, green eyes, some freckles... That Thorvin looks foreign, alright," Mu remarked. "Not that it's so wrong; foreigners try their luck here from time to time. Still, I'm curious; he might yet have new insights to offer."

"Not me," Zal gruffly stated. "Ya made me apologize to a mere bread peddler, Akhi, just when he was offering free bread, no strings attached... We coulda spent the risnas elsewhere, thus!"

"Really, Zal, that's not worth fussing about at all. Maybe he was only trying to be polite in gifting us the bread, maybe not... but if we didn't pay, I feel he might think it's gotta be the norm here, being a foreigner. Better to correct that from the outset."

"I take what's offered."

"We pay for what we buy, period. Such small niceties garner respect too, you know."

The Little Viper did not protest. "So. We still gonna go see Zena, or what?"

"'Twas your idea to go out in the first place. You decide."

Permission obtained, the princess went ahead with her plans, first visiting the abandoned barn that she'd first met her paupress friend in. When it was clear that Zena was not in evidence there, Zal decided to try heading to the city's market district.

"That'd often be the stomping grounds for people o' such trade," she reasoned.

Her sibling rolled his eyes. "Says so much about your earlier 'take what's offered' logic, while we're at it. You've been surrounding yourself with such kinds of-"

"Well forgive me for not havin' as thoughtful a mom as yours from the outset!"

Mustafa dropped the matter.

The pair did not need to linger for very long, as it turned out. Zal noticed her 'first friend' as she was trying to lug out a sack of flour and another of wheat, having paid for them. Mu was likewise introduced; the necessary compliments were made.

"No longer purse-cutting, then, are ya?" Zal teased when they were well away from the markets.

"'Fraid not, Zally; been tryin' make things work on a brand-new bread shop since, oh, some days ago. Could show y'all the way there, if ya like."

"'Zally'... That how you're being referred to 'round these parts, sweet sister?" Mu laughed at Zal's intensely-blushing countenance. "Good nickname. Anyway! That'd be great, Zena. Would you mind if I help you carry those sacks? An endurance test of sorts, if you will."

Zal huffed. "Dammit. Here we go again..."

Zena likewise giggled. "Heck, that'd be helpful indeed... but then I might get in trouble real soon for gettin' the prince to do my stuff; then I'd never show up on time in that shop, and I'm expected. Talk 'bout a foul start... so, nah, thanks. The thought counts, though."

"Yeah, we'd still like to see that bread shop."

"For that, ya're most welcome. Hit the trail, shall we?"

The sacks ended up being carried by two of the royal scions' four assigned attendants for that day, one sack each.

***

"So ya've met Thorvin too, huh?" Zena said at some point. "He's standin' watch on one o' the stalls today, I'm told. What's more, he n' his mom pulled off all the hard work gettin' this job, an' I'm their present 'guest of honor'... or shameless freeloader, whichever ya'd rather believe."

"Lucky sod, either way," Zal observed.

"Luck's ever fleeting, lass. Countin' my blessings, rather."

"So you've spent at least some time with the both of them, have you not?" the Lion Prince inquired, referring to Zena. "Impressions?"

"Nice people, I gotta say. Came in from the North, by the looks of it. So what? Just now quite a few so-called pagans are bein' brought in from the east. This city really is a meltin' pot; yer daddy sure chose his nest well, I'd give 'im that."

"The North?" Zal repeated, awestruck. "Ya frickin'-sure o' that?"

"What, did I hit a nerve?"

"That's where the wildest, most uncouth sorts of people are rumored to be dwelling," Mu put in, thoughtful. "Even worse than pagans, they're said to be outright savages."

"Well, Thor n' his mom're gonna beg to differ most heatedly, I daresay, and who can blame 'em?"

"Not you," Zal offered.

"Not gonna bite the hand that's feedin' me, thanks."

The Lion Prince hummed. "So now we have northerners as breadmakers, as well... Interesting."

"Heard quite a bit 'bout ya too, Prince," Zena purred. "They say even the otherwise-unflappable Mama Viper dithers before ya."

"An exaggeration."

"Is it?" Zal wondered. "Mom does appear to respect ya much, Akhi. As I do."

"Nothin' wrong with that," the paupress rejoined gleefully. "Be good to know there'd at least be someone to tell that trashy-tongued queen what's what..."

Zal growled. "That's my mom ya're insultin', freeloader."

She got an easy shrug in response. "Relax. I bet ya're just as pretty."

***

"My word," Musa flushed with pride once he learned of his young visitors (Zena having unobtrusively stored the sacks in the shop's back room). "For the Pathfinder's two most renowned children to deign to stop by my humble excuse for a shop... Young excellencies, you have so honored me, words can't describe my appreciation enough!"

"Please," Mu said, "we're just gonna look around. Bought our bread from a junction stall already, you see."

"Still, if there's anything at all that I might help you with, sir... you need only to ask."

"Very well. How many employees do you currently have?"

"Three as of now, my prince."

"Two of them are mother and son, I trust?"

"Just so."

"From the North?"

"Very perceptive. They were of southern origins, but fled North due to... uncertainties. You might wish to ask the mother yourself to find out more, excellency."

"I might. By what name shall I know her?"

"Kahina."

"Would it trouble her to speak with me about her past, you think?"

Musa thought for a moment. "I cannot answer that for her, excellency... but she might request that it be kept secret."

"As is her right." He turned to regard Zal. "What do you think?"

"'Ey, why're ya lookin' at me? Talkin' with this Kahina's yer idea."

"You want no part in it?"

"Why would I?"

"Just a thought."

"Which reminds me," Musa rejoined, clapping once, "this Kahina also professes herself to be a longstanding friend of Her Grace the Queen Mirani. The all-too-rare presence of her daughter might well be desirable on her part..."

The Little Viper narrowed her eyes at that. "Mom did tell me she's got a childhood pal, but for said pal to be here already... How news travel."

Mu raised an eyebrow. "Your family seems to have a quirk for attracting undesirables, the way I see it, Zal..."

She had the grace to blush. "That's... one heck of a way to put it, yeah. Look, if ya don't feel like seein' this Kahina today, Akhi, I'm totally fine with that. Got what we came for n' all; we can come back another-"

"Oh, hey! Welcome, dear customers!" a new cheery woman's voice greeted them. "Feast yer eyes, take yer pick n' come again!" This fair baker made a move to approach them.

"That her?" Zal managed in an undertone to an obsequious Musa. "Kahina?"

"In the flesh. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Hello there," Mu greeted Kahina just as pleasantly. "Nice place you got here."

Nice save, Akhi, Zal thought as she pretended to look at the stacks of bread on display.

"Not mine, technically," she gushed, "but ya're welcome all the same! How may I help ya, sweet dears?"

"Just having a good look around for now, thanks."

"Like I said, then, feast yer eyes! Now what's takin' that Thor twerp so long..."

Mu looked over at his thoroughly-flustered sibling. "Well?"

"Not now," she whispered back urgently. "Let's just leave 'ere..."

The door opened with a loud clink of the small bell suspended above it before they could, however, and an overexcited Thorvin burst in. "Yo, Mom! Guess what?"

"Ya been chasin' cats 'round town?"

"Even better! Met some noble's kids just-" he paused, saw Mustafa, and gasped loudly while pointing at the latter. "They're frickin'-here!! Why... How..?!"

"Wha... Thor, ya're really bein' rude."

"Nuh-uh, I saw 'em both earlier, I tell ya! At that stall! Bought all my remaining bread, they did... and now they're here!"

Kahina huffed, hands on hips. "Lettin' ya watch on the stand might've been a mistake after all, with such tempers."

"Mom, would ya please listen to me-"

"I've heard more n' enough. Let's just bag in today's profits n' call it a break for now, shall we?"

Thorvin, miffed, refused to let it off the hook just like that. He glared at Zal. "This one's called me a 'leech'. Her nice bro here defended me."

"Well now I'm gonna show ya how it'd 'ave been like if Akhi weren't there!" the Little Viper retorted. "Come on then, ya li'l punk!"

"What, goin' back on yer apology? Fine then, bring it on!"

"Leech!"

"Jerkwad!"

"...I'm so sorry ya got to see this, young sir," Kahina told Mu in the background, smiling apologetically even as the younger kids butted heads with gnashed teeth between themselves.

"On the contrary, kind lady, I must ask you to forgive us for making a scene... though that's hardly gonna be so much different back home, if I'm honest."

"And where, sir, is yer home, might I bother to ask?"

"That would be the palace."

It was Kahina's turn to be rendered speechless. "Ya jest, surely."

"As you will."

"Did ya watch the Amir pass earlier today?"

"Watch? I got to kiss his hand."

"Who... who are ya really, that he'd have allowed ya to approach him that closely..?"

"Akhi Mustafa!" Zal snapped, briefly turning away from Thor's glare. "Gotten what we frickin'-came for here, ain't we? Now let's buzz off already!"

At this, Kahina involuntarily took a step back; even in the North, that name carried some weight. "'Mustafa', she said... Could ya be..?"

"Damn right, ya breadmakin' wench! Ya're talkin' to the-"

"Don't ya dare speak of my mom that way!" Thorvin shrieked, and a vigorous slap rang out--much to everyone's surprise.

When Zal looked at Thorvin again while holding her right cheek, the flaming fury in her eyes was unmistakable.

Only Mirani had ever gotten to literally lay hands on her in all her years, and even then Mama Viper had had such a difficult time getting her own apology through.

Not even Mustafa had resorted to slapping her in all his attempts to make her just a bit nicer; yet now she, Princess Azalea Husniria, was actually being smacked by a foreign breadmaker half a head shorter than herself, right in her most-respected sibling's presence?

"Now ya've done it, ya little shithead!"

Zal grabbed the collar part of Thor's plain shirt (ignoring his and Kahina's yelps of surprise) and hit the young breadmaker full in the face with the elbow of her other arm, and once again... but before she could bring it home for the third time, she felt herself being firmly constrained from behind by her none-too-pleased eldest brother.

"We're gonna talk plenty about this," he promised coldly. "Unhand him now, or I swear I'll drag you all the way home this instant!"

In the end, brotherly respect won out. Still visibly seething, Zal nevertheless shoved the young, now-bleeding breadmaker away. Kahina, having flipped the sign hanging on the breadshop's door to 'Closed', lost little time in attending to him.

"You okay, dear? Anythin' broken?"

Thor's stare was still defiant as he regarded Azalea while trying to nurse his own nose with one hand. "Don't think so, but- agh- hurts like heck..."

"Sorry," the Little Viper conceded with a growl as Mustafa let go of her. "Y'all saw it, though; Thor hit me first."

"You were bein' rude to my mom! Ow..."

"Hey, easy there," Kahina told her son. "That nose's gonna need treatin' still."

"That's just how I talk, alright," the Little Viper sighed, actually feeling bad. "Yeah, I've always been this insolent smartass who voice what I think. For fair or foul, 'tis carried me this far..."

"And have ya ever given a thought on how people 'round ya might feel 'bout yer remarks, lass?" Kahina wanted to know.

"I... guess that ne'er really occurred to me. My mom's abused me for so long and of'n so badly, I'd come to believe that I could rely only on myself at worst. Why bother thinkin' 'bout others when all they might do is serve me anyway, huh?"

"I don't serve you," Mustafa offered. "Dastra loves you."

"Dastra is pure-hearted... and ya likewise didn't shun me for my frankness, Akhi; I love ya both back for those. But as to warmin' up to others... Heck, my first-ever friend had been a down-and-out paupress-slash-cutpurse! Even then I'd had to find her all on my own, dammit!"

"Okay, ya know what," Kahina put in, "p'raps we might take this to the backroom? That bein' said, how ya speak really reminds me of Mirani, lass..."

"Duh. Ya're my mom's ol' chum from back then, ain't ya, Kahina? Musa told me."

Kahina and her son exchanged stunned glances at each other, before taking a good long look at Zal.

"The queen is yer mom?" Thor gasped. "No way! Thought that 'princess' bit was a thing said on the fly, just to tease me..."

Zal smirked, arms crossed. "Congrats for findin' out that ain't the bloody case, ya green-eyed leech."

"If ya truly are Mira's girl," Kahina rejoined with some alarm, "then this young man Mustafa here must be-"

"Yep. My eldest bro, the Amir's firstborn from his first wife," Zal finished for her. "Though in truth, there are three more squirts I gotta contend with..."

"Then I must insist," Thor's mom interrupted, "that we make for the backroom posthaste! Yes, you too, Prince Mustafa, please. We 'ave lots of catchin' up to do, I reckon; the sooner we can settle 'em, the frickin'-better!"

"I'm goin' too!" Thor piped in, no less keen. "Gotta make sure none mocks ya again, Mom."

"This way, folks."