(Part 1)

In the days following news of Mustafa's imminent return, things appeared to have winded down a bit in the Amir's family: Dastra settled down with his new spear-wielding training regime; Rashid began utilizing thrown knives in bringing down those apples, despite having to train almost from scratch for that; and Lei, true to her promise, started asking her acquaintances and relations whether they might be interested to help take down extortion rings in town. Most expressed interest, but their support came in varying degrees.

Azalea was ever restless.

Even as this princess resumed her swordplay sessions with renewed vigor, her thoughts had already begun to turn on the new and, to her, boundless prospects of riding into battles, "much like Akhi." In this Mirani was compelled to metaphorically put her foot down; and the daughter, following tearful exchanges--during one of which she even dared to bring up the Dragoness's example, and how such a warrior-woman definitely would not have been very pleased to have to be carried into battle after battle "like sacks of rotten melons"--finally came around to the notion that simply finding a suitable mount would be more than what could reasonably be expected of her at this point in time.

She may ride that mount, her father concurred--but please, for the love of God, not to battles!

For the moment, this was the kind of go-ahead that Zalea eagerly grasped. The very afternoon after this agreement, she began making her way to the stables. During her way she came across Leia who had just returned from persuading her last acquaintance for the day.

"Fine day's work," Zalea commented, smirking, hands on hips. "Care to watch the horses with me, by the way? Got one yerself, no? That Vania filly. Bet ya wanna make doubly sure if it's really bein' well-taken care of, huh?"

"I trust the stable-hands, if that's what you mean."

"Eh, do ya? Kind wretch. Thing is, I been given leave to find me a horse; wanna help decide which might be best?"

"Gosh, Zal... Right now?"

The other princess gave a wink. "A day later and Dad might change his mind, ya know what men o' power could be like."

"I mean, I've been doing what you asked and all, contacting those friends..."

"What, enterin' stables not really a thing for ladies now?" Zalea scoffed. "Fine, get yaself home and stay there. Just don't get too upset should I beat ya in the next race, the way I did in that swordplay."

"Only because you cheated!"

"Hey, I came on top. Ya claim to have been trainin' from Akhi, arguably the best among us, yet didn't seem to have taken that lesson anywhere too seriously... nor wanted to, if ya thought it mattered: that your styles hardly matter in real fights so long as the opposition stays down or dead at the end of it. Anyway, right now I've got a freakin'-different offer; take it or leave it."

Leia paused for thought. "After you. Could use more time to get some fresh air out here, myself. Knitting shawls day in and out does have its drawbacks."

"Glad ya noticed."

So it was that, weeks after their less-than-friendly encounters (first regarding the stolen doublet, then in the sparring), the realm's princesses walked together with the same thing in mind again.

"Your mom seems to have grown remarkably more... compliant these few days," Leia observed while the pair were about halfway to the stables. "What would you say have changed her?"

"Heck if I know," came the hot-as-usual reply. "P'raps it was her fallout and break from the likes o' Razin? Good riddance, I'd say, and make no mistake, she has grown nicer... at least as far as I remember her to be. But oh, ya gotta see her face when news of Yasnar's end was related!"

"I... didn't know Mirani put that much weight concerning that egghead."

Zal put both hands behind her own head as she walked on. "Some things ya gotta see for yaself to believe, what can I say. Point is, my mom's definitely progressing... Now if only yours might follow, preferably 'fore Akhi gets here, eleven days hence. Be a darn-welcome surprise, that."

Leia smiled. "I concur. My mother could be firm in her stand, but far from insensible... else we couldn't have lasted this long. 'Sides, I'd love to know more of the north, its current young ruler, and its people; the less it could be achieved without quarrels, and with Akhi whom we all respect so much at that, the better."

"Hope's mutual. Here we are."

The siblings were stopping before a wide open expanse, dotted here and there by wooden fences wherein horses were being allowed to roam and graze in open air. Some distance from these, stood the royal stables proper.

"Where our famed cavalry charges came from," Zalea remarked, with an awed whistle, while resuming her erect stance. "D'ya wanna linger a bit here, or are we goin' in just like that?"

"I'm here at your invitation. Your shots."

Zal shrugged and started walking slowly between the open-air pens, taking in the sights of one steed after another and trying to note anything of interest. Some horses here, she noted, were sand-brown in color, with or without white splotches on the head--they must have come by trade from the coastal south, across which sandy plains must still be a common feature of the landscape.

Given the lurking Sigistan pirates, these same mounts might as well have been acquired for at least five times the normal price. That, Zalea surmised, might explain why so few were in evidence.

Even so...

Bred for speed, these beasts, this princess marveled. Dad must've ridden one of 'em during one of his raids, back in the days. Wonder how that felt: hot winds flowing by the hair, one hand on the rein, eager for more each day...

"Might you be interested in any of them, Princess?" an attendant asked, by way of greeting. "Alas, we could only get a handful of them this time 'round... but these boys are said to be a prime choice for campaigns 'round these parts, short of hunting trips."

"Who's been using it for such trips, then," Lei inquired, "and what's the record?"

"Most recently, 'twas Sir Ukara, father to Sir Azumi who's havin' the honor of being with our prince up north. Bought two pairs of these beasts and aspired to breed 'em himself. For sale, perhaps. Smart."

"How'd that gone?" Zalea cut in.

"I know only that four horses changed hands. Beyond that is beyond my affairs."

"But you do know of his address, do ya?"

"Ah, here you're in luck. Sir Ukara loved not to use intermediates in his affairs, as it were..." The peon mentioned a street name and number, thanks were made, and the princesses moved along.

"Another horse-lover," Zal observed. "Wonder if this Ukara might be any good with instructin' others, as well. Son's servin' Akhi and all--got much to live up to, that one."

"Do go easy on him, Sis, this once," Lei advised. "We're talking about one of Father's direct officers during the first conquests, after all. The love for horses might not be a trifle for him, having for so long put his life on the line. Best not mock him for it."

"No promises."

"One would think you've learned nothing from those earlier encounters, see-"

"I learn what I learn, lass. None of those peons had to endure what I had anyway; not my problem they don't like it. Come! We gettin' inside or what?!"

Leia complied with a sigh nevertheless, and was soon greeted by the lingering aroma of hay and horse manure. Here again she paused to take in the sights: apart from the fences keeping each horse away from each other, there were also overhanging wooden containers to put hay in right before the animals. Furthermore, she knew, some of the mounts in one corner--on which no other horses may be accommodated--had their names placed before them and periodically rewritten in black ink.

These were steeds of royal stock, among them Urdin's sand-colored destrier Sibenico and Lei's own white Vania. The pen that was supposed to contain Mustafa's jet-black Kindra was presently left empty, as were two others being reserved for Rashid and Dastra should such inclinations begin to set in.

"Hmm... seems like they gotta erect one more pen for the steed of yours truly," Zal remarked as she got to this corner. "Supposing I could get my hands on one, that is..."

"If ever," Lei added in a whisper.

"What's that?"

"Eh... Best of luck, Sis."

"Ya're a terrible liar, know that?"

Looking around, this 'hotheaded genius' (as Lady Alista once referred of her) thought she saw a face she recognized.

"Oi, Ronan! Get yer butt o'er here!"

One stable-hand, who was collecting fresh hay for another round of feeding, looked up, saw the visitors, and waved in acknowledgement. "In a moment, Princess, if you please!"

"Cheeky jerk."

When the hay bucket was empty again, Ronan made his whistling way to the visitors.

"If it ain't Princesses Aza-Leia. How do you do." He bowed.

"Glad to see you're well, Ron," Leia replied, smiling.

"Up and about, my lady, ready for duty! What shall it be today?"

"Takin' a shot at why we're even here," Zal chimed in with a smirk, arms crossed, "for starters."

"Not 'cause you both happen to miss this peon, that's for sure; so, let's see... Princess Leia did not wish to be here in the first place, from her travel-worn garments... yet Princess Aza would have none of it, as befits her. Princess Lei already has a horse nicely quartered here, much as the other has not. 'Bout time we get Princess Aza the right mount."

Azalea snickered, deciding to let the new nickname stick. "Think ya might pull that off, eh?"

"Else you wouldn't have bothered yelling for me. Picking a mount and having it bond with the rider are two sides to the same coin, though... oh yes, we do learn such things... and I'm afraid I could be useful only for the first part. What sort of steed have you in mind, Princess Aza?"

Leia cleared her own throat. "Got to see how Vania's doing in the meantime. Have fun~"

"Bug off." Zal turned to regard the stable-hand again, who was staring back with one eyebrow raised. "If ya ask me, Ron, I'd say get a good steed that'd carry me fastest to where the din of battle is thickest... but Dad said No, y'see."

"The Amir has the right of this, Princess, dare I be so frank," came the peon's reply. "'Tis vital to learn to master one's beast before trying to direct it anywhere... and battlefields are only for the most tested brave souls. You, Princess Aza, are not wanting in courage, quite the opposite; but this endeavor stinks of wanton recklessness, even for you."

Azalea paused for thought.

"Hmm, ya think so too, huh... Fine! Spent more time with these beasts than I ever would, ya had... plus, ya been cheekier to me than most of those spineless louts who know only to tremble and fawn; guess I'd trust ya this once. What do ya suppose I ought to do, then?"

"I suppose we can try striking a balance: a mount that's swift enough so that you may have the experience of riding it first time, but not that ill-tempered, so you'd have an arguably-easier time in handling it."

"Personally I won't fuss 'bout that 'ill-tempered' part. I am ill-tempered, in case ya hadn't noticed. The more closely-matched beast and rider are to begin with, the better... That not the case?"

"Ah, but you wouldn't have tried chomping at someone's arm should they irk you too much, nor kicking them deep in the face. These stallions might, with feral impunity, and I'd rather not wait to find out. Another thing: my earlier advice remains in force--I'm just gonna help pick the steed, and afterwards care for it as required, like I've been doing with these others. Naming and training it would be at your leisure. Fair?"

Zal nodded, then pointed at an empty spot. "Gotcha... and while I'm at it, get a new pen set right here, for my upcoming mount. It better be in place when next I get here. That clear?"

"I'll be sure to have this place's chief attendant see to that, Princess. Shall we?"

***

Leia, having parted ways with her sister, went to see her own white mount, Vania, which neighed happily at the sight of her. From a passing stable-hand she fetched two carrots and began feeding one of these to the animal.

"Been a while since we rode out together, Nia," this princess confided. "Last time was two days before Akhi was to set off for the north, how I recall. He and Kindra won, I knew they would, but you've grown since then. Hopefully this time it would be more closely matched... Don't you think so?"

The filly lowered its head with a whinny to take in another carrot, as if nodding, and the princess smiled back.

"You there," Lei called to another stable-hand, "how long since this animal was last scrubbed, do you know?"

"Oh, some two days ago, excellency."

"Can I please borrow that brush, all the same?"

The stable-hand obliged after some reluctance, and Lei soon found herself a wooden stool to balance herself on.

"Not for very long now, Zal would finally have a mount all her own," Lei murmured as she began slow strokes with the brush on the filly's back. "Can you believe that, Nia? That hothead actually riding a horse! How long before she can stand up to us, do you think?"

This princess only got neighs for reply, and smiled to herself. "I know. Just do your best, Nia; I'm sure my sister would too. Wonder what route she'd want to take, though, should she ever be of the mind for a race..."

The brushing went for some time before Leia fancied herself satisfied, and stepped off the stool--by which time her fiery counterpart had returned and was observing.

"Found my pick," Zal related, beaming. "Might show ya on the way out. Meantime, Ron said I ought to see a proper riding instructor for the next part of the learning."

"Let me guess--that where Ukara's name comes in?"

"Read my mind for once, Pighead."

"But see, that's only the first name offered! For this kind of thing, Sis, you ought to be searching at least two more for comparison, not to mention looking slightly deeper at the backgrounds 'fore coming to a decision. Nothing of value is ever accomplished with haste."

"In battle, might a maneuver with every speed to a vital choke-point not have resulted in victory, I ask?"

"In battle," Lei stressed. "We're leagues outside it, for crying out loud. Besides, if this is how you'd commence your training with, you can forget about owning horses in the first place--no matter who the instructor shall turn out to be. Do trust me on this, please?"

Zalea sighed. "Fine! 'Tis gettin' late anyhow, and our presence at dinner will be expected. Come; just gonna show ya that beast, then we can get the heck outta here."

(Part 2)

Some time earlier, back in the palace.

While her daughter was selecting her very first mount, Mirani was courting a visitor of her own; and not an ordinary one. Mardanish, one of the 'Gatekeepers' under the late Yasnar, had come to discover the horrible nature of of his comrade Zaeed's end, and had hastened to Mama Viper's presence to plead for protection lest he too should suffer a similar fate.

"I have long recognized your fairly-decent professional relations with the late vazir, my queen," Mardan related, "but he has now been taken from us, and my friend Zaeed murdered--by whom exactly, I could not discern yet..."

"Murder, eh?" Mira blinked--she who would not have balked at such a solution, then as now. "That's not the sort of accusation that can be easily overlooked, Mardan, and especially not for such a highly-placed official. Right-hand man to Yasnar himself!"

"I have proof, my queen."

"Of what sort?"

"I discovered Zaeed's body... and as I ordered for its proper internment, I came to notice strangle-marks round the neck. By rope, I'd say."

"Do ya still remember where that grave is?"

"Oh, I could show you the location, in case you're so inclined to pray for him... but in my humble opinion, tracking down the perpetrators and handing out their dues will be of more significance!"

"And ya wish to do that from beneath my proverbial wings now, is that it? Why?"

Mardan struck his own breast with a fist, and quickly lowered his gaze.

"Please allow me to! To all intents and purposes, you are already reconciled with Princess Azalea, for whom the late vazir had at one point gone so far as to giving deep thoughts about being his own disciple... his own words to me. Together, there would be few in this palace that would dare oppose you!"

"Ask yer old master as to that: if he could fall, so can I," Mama Viper muttered to herself. She then leaned back in her seat, and asked aloud, "You do realize what it would mean to be in my service, yes?"

"Well..."

"My ways diverge from Yasnar's, and heck, that's probably why so few would dare to keep up. Zal, for that matter, is still but a boor thirsting for adventures... but you must have seen many alongside that egghead, so let me begin with some hard facts.

"Firstly," she went on, "regardless of how highly you lot had been regarding Yasnar, to me he was but a traitor to his own king and realm. As such, on a strictly tactical basis, I would ordinarily not have suffered to be associated with him in any way. Secondly, Yasnar had not been the only one who's had shortcomings in this kind of game--I too have my own rotten apples as it is, and seeing how you've gone so far as to grovel before me, I would probably command you to help me rid them first thing; nor would I care if some of 'em happened to be your former comrades. Thirdly, some of my methods you might not approve--in which case you've two options. One is to stomach it, and this might prove way harder than it sounds, ask Zalea; or leave my service... which, depending on the circumstances, I might tolerate or take as a slight. I shall act accordingly either way, so ya'd do well to be and stay prepared. Plain enough?"

The silence was allowed to stretch, more so by Mira's understanding that this would not have been an easy decision on Mardan's part.

"That... will be quite tricky," he admitted at length. "Myself aside, there are still such individuals as Ilyas, the late vazir's custodian of financial affairs; and Aska, in charge of the innermost circle of the late vazir's servants. For years we have been closing our ranks against you-"

"Aska?" Mirani laughed. "Saw eye to eye with that buffoon just the other day, seemed quite impressed with yours truly at the end... and you might as well try and persuade that other guy, Ilyas, if he's worth that much to ya. Tell him I'm being magnanimous, for the sake of a departed mental opponent. Three chances, your call as to the 'when', but I'll find out if ya've used each up. Should he prove adamant after all those, end him. Got my own scores to settle, and they do not involve waiting on mere earthworms. Get that?"

"Yes, but... my queen, you must realize that the Amir is on the point of appointing a new vazir! Are you not going to allow them the leisure to get acquainted with even a portion of the resources that their predecessor had seen fit to pass down to them?"

Mira huffed, staring at the overhanging chandeliers.

"If the newcomer is smart enough--and I believe Urdin's not gonna settle for a dullard to help him steer the ship o' state from now on anyway--they'll soon learn not to rely too heavily on out-of-date assets... don't you think? Heck, you might even let them get in touch with me to try pick up loose ends and tie 'em together, supposing they could; but never mind that now. Ya really up to the noble task of servin' me, Mardan?"

Once again the 'Gatekeeper' dipped his head. "I do so vow, my queen... and if you wouldn't mind me asking: what bait would you say that I ought to use to help entice Ilyas?"

Mama Viper smirked, rising from her seat. "Look who's finally willing to listen. Didn't realize you were such a good boy~"

"I'm all ears, Your Majesty."

(Part 3)

The day's dinner passed quite uneventfully for the most part, each of its participants pondering on the day's goings-on: the princesses were once again discussing Azalea's new steed, a pale horse which she had named Lancer, and how its owner was already planning to list some of the best riding instructors around her father's realm. The princes' talks revolved in their respective trainings: how Rashid had begun to learn to shoot targets at various distances that were further concealed by an erected wooden fence, and how Dastra thought he was ready to begin training blindfolded.

For the queens' part, Mirani appeared more pensive even as Vestra related how she thought she had gained some new insights following her session with Alista the day before.

"It might not be coincidence that I was to have such talks mere days before Mu's purported return," she admitted. "Motivations notwithstanding, Lista appeared earnest in her suggestions about those northern... reinforcements. Since Mu's jihad in defending Nasria had also been made possible by their intervention among other things, well... perhaps I ought to be giving them more credit."

Mira clapped lazily thrice. "Progress is progress; just remember to make that clear to yer son when next ya get to see him, I'm sure he'd be damn-grateful." This consort turned to regard the Amir. "So, how's that vazir-picking game coming along, love?"

"I was just about to relate it," came the reply, "but before that... another note came from the north."

"From Akhi?" Rashid looked up, beaming. "What's it say?"

The other kids too paused to listen.

"It would appear," said their father, "that the Dragoness had seen fit to include a number of her own men in a double function as part of Mu's escort and emissaries in their own right."

"If that be the case," Vestra put in, "they must be seeking to deliver some other message. We'd do well to prepare for a double sort of welcoming."

Mirani rubbed her own chin, her fertile mind already at work. "Wonder what that northern message could be at this juncture, 'specially coming from one so young who's also a ruler in her own right."

"Well, they had worked together once before, Mom," Zalea offered. "Beginnings of an alliance offer, though unlikely, ain't too off-the-stretch... just saying."

"And we shall be conducting that without the formal presence of a vazir, which they might have come to expect, ya dolt," Mira observed, "which means, your father should have to attend to such a matter in person. Any wiser in your pick of words, Urdin?"

"I negotiated to have Vestra's hand in marriage, come to think of it... as well as Alista's for Imran way before that."

Mama Viper narrowed her eyes. "Both were most probably love-infused... and this is gonna be a truly big deal, methinks. Depending on this, ya'll have the north warming up to the idea of yer rule, or remain mortal enemies as Ves would've loved to fancy. Make damn-sure you'd handle that well, alright?"

The Amir nodded. "You'll see."

"How soon 'fore they gonna get here, anyway?" Dastra piped in.

"From now? Ten days at best."

"Not 'nough to appoint a vazir without making 'im look like a fool as regards his first true stately duties," Mira interjected. "Whether you already have candidates or not, I'd suggest putting his appointment off 'til after those talks; by which time Mu will also have been here, and ya can afford to be more at ease in confirming yer selection."

Ves managed a low whistle. "Well, how's that! I'm impressed, Mira; your insights are no less incisive than those of Lady Alista's... though their delivery could use more grace."

Her counterpart scoffed. "Screw yer graces, wench--I love gettin' matters to the point, as my lass here would confirm. 'Sides, that's something you too could have learned, had ya not been so unhealthily-fixated with those 'heathens' in the first place. You fancy yourself to have the graces--very well, put 'em to damn-good use and who knows, we could be a force in our own right, alongside the man we both claim to love; such that even Mustafa and that Dragoness lass would step back to admire. Huh?"

Zalea laughed heartily as she pulled off a standing ovation, soon joined by her other siblings. "Well said, Mom! Love to see how that'd turn out; an answer to that egghead Yasnar's prayers, if I got any say."

"What the heck. Least I can do to not..." Mama Viper stared at her husband as she said the following lines, "...besmirch that egghead's noble memory."