(Part 1)

That same afternoon.

"Ngh..."

Try as she might, Leia found it nigh impossible to ignore the feeling of haziness around her. She felt warm, but was as yet uncertain whether this was from the onset of fever-for the princess was painfully aware of the throbbing sensation in her head-or simply delayed excitement from the previous encounter.

"Dozed off 'nough, 'aven't 'cha, Pighead?" an awfully-familiar voice followed soon after. "Welcome back."

"Wait, what- Why am I in your chambers, Zal? And... ow, my head... How long was I out?"

Lei's fiery counterpart was looking out of the window, one hand at her hip.

"Nearest place I coulda thought of, for the first," came the reply. "Damn-lucky, ya were, know that? As for, how long... 'Bout three hours now."

Realization struck Lei then, such that she came very close to kicking away her sibling's thick cotton blanket. "What of Razin? Did... Did he get to Akhi at last?!"

"Easy there, lass; scum's little more n' a cadaver now, down and gone. Akhi insisted he should be at the funeral, who am I to say no? All done now, I s'pose; finally, eh?"

"Then... what're you going to do now?"

"Can't say anything too precise right 'bout now. Das has yet to learn of that 'offing', still busy gettin' together a dragon-ey painting as he is for this northern nymphet. Hope she wouldn't end up mockin' him for it, or-" Zal punched her other palm, "-so help me. Outta my bed, now."

Lei obliged, moving to sit on one of the simpler chairs in that room. Her head still felt wobbly, but this princess in particular had found it ill-advised to 'look weak' before Azalea; her only outward sign of lingering fatigue, thus, was a grunt as she sat down. "What of your lady mother?"

"Hah! Regarded herself as avenged, quite. Never seen 'er half so 'appy. We may 'ave to leave, though; where n' how soon, freak if I know."

That did surprise Mu's true sister. "Leave? But- you helped save us!"

Zal shrugged. "Not just me we're talkin' 'bout; Mom too, and Das. Stay, and those country smartasses would soon blab on how fairness's got no more teeth 'ere. That what ya wish?"

"Well... no, but I'd be lying if I said you would not be missed."

"Damn it, now I really feel bad 'bout ruinin' yer favorite doublet n' boots weeks prior." Mira's only daughter approached her counterpart, clapping her on the shoulders. "Forgive me, 'kay?"

Lei shook her head. "I was being damnably selfish."

"That said... fret not, Big Sis. Our departure's prolly not gonna come to pass before that Dragoness lass shall be gettin' the fill o' flashin' off her northern butt. Now, momma Vessy and sweet bro Ras might just be gettin' worried 'bout ya, no? Oh, where is our dear, sweet dove of a Pighead~"

That got Lei giggling. "Shut up, you're making me blush..."

Azalea smiled in her turn, reveling at how far she had risen in just under one year: from a bratty shop-wrecker to be a bratty voice of reason-and still be loved for it.

She would most probably miss this sight too.

Three knocks occurred on her door just then.

"Princess Azalea? Pardons, but Prince Mustafa is here and wishes to see you..."

Zal opened the door herself just as the door-minder got back to his station immediately beside it.

"Akhi. Please, do make yaself comfortable."

Mu was alone, having just returned from their common nemesis's gravesite, as evidenced by his black garb. He nodded, more in acknowledgment to Lei's being there than to Zal's lipservice. As per custom, he did not convey his thoughts until after the door was properly closed.

"Had a talk with Father," he began. "It would seem His Grace is willing to spare you and your mom the inconveniences of a public trial..." he paused, "provided you shall leave this Amirate for an unspecified time, and with much-reduced wealth. I had such line of thoughts myself, but his consent now shall undoubtedly lend more credence to such a sanction."

Azalea was visibly beaming even as Lei blanched.

"Did ya also get to learn from him where we oughta be goin'?" the former wanted to know.

"Said he'd need to wait for future developments... and that he would rather not ponder on any alternatives. I lent my voice to that."

Lei found herself being cheerfully winked at.

"Ain't that freakin'-great," Zal exulted. "We're really still gonna be here to witness that northern butt's diplomatic performance!"

"I'd appreciate your not calling Bri that to her face," Mustafa put in.

"What's that, ya're already on nicknames?" the wolfling princess gushed. "Screw that. Are we not s'posed to provide our best to such a self-important mouthpiece, Mu? My true bro's gonna hand that one a painting he's laborin' to make even now; in my case, best I got are words. If that Bri's even got half a seal's brain, she'd take her sweet time to appreciate 'em..."

The lion prince took two strides towards his blunter sister.

"I warned you," he hissed, his black attire helping somewhat to reinforce the severity of his words. "Brista's going to be here, as you said, in diplomatic capacities foremost of all. If she were to take offense 'cause of your antics, that in itself might spiral to proportions too dense for even me to dress up. Please, Zal; it has taken me quite a sore to get her to consent to this roundtable, and I will not have it ruined through ill grace--so don't be the first to try, or once again you'll have me to answer to... and who knows, I might prove far less forbearing next time. Do we understand each other?"

The princess shrugged, though with reduced cocksurity. "Quite."

"Leia."

"Yes, Akhi."

"Glad you've come to, but be out of here soon as you think you're able. Zal had had quite the day saving our lives, and you're standing in the way of her well-deserved rest. Let's not overstay our welcome."

***

"I see. They got Razin too in the end, huh..." Rashid muttered grimly. "And in such a fashion! Thanks for letting me know, Salsabeela."

The maid-informant nodded dutifully. "Glad to serve, sir," came the reply. This girl had started in Leia's service, but over time--like several in her profession--had developed bonds with other royal family members as well. Unassumingly astute, she had particularly been observing the gritty-but-on-point interactions between Prince Mustafa and Azumi; Azalea's mercurial frankness; and Mirani's cold streak.

Between them and Princess Leia's relative tenderness, it had occurred to Salsa that Prince Rashid too might have need of someone who could afford to stand up and 'stay afloat' amidst such mind-gamers. Razin's 'request' for clemency that other day had seemingly prodded this princeling into action, and he had turned to Salsa for aid.

"I know Akhi meant well," Rashid presently related, "but dang, did I not expect things to turn so quickly... Oh, how Mama Viper must be gloating like heck right now, and her daughter, having technically been let off the hook!"

"Pray do not entertain such unseemly thoughts, sir," Salsa assured him. "For better or worse, Razin shall trouble you no more. We have other things to attend to, and your noble brother knows that much. I suggest you move on, as well."

"I know, quit yapping 'bout it already! It's just... Look, Salsa, I'm still finding it hard to forget that, for all his supposed crimes, and no matter how inappropriate his manner of approach might've been, Razin had been the first ever to ask me for protection--the first to give me the notion that I could have done anything at all as a prince than nod to my elders. By having him killed, Akhi had so willfully snatched that golden chance away!"

"Had he not done so, sir, you would probably have found yourself--or, worse, Prince Dastra--at the wrong end of Razin's blade."

"I don't need you to tell me that, dang it! For better or worse, then, as you said, Razin shall represent my first failed chance at leaving my own mark in ages... and I swear, this shall not happen again if I could help it!"

Salsa bowed. "Godspeed, my prince. Oh, and before you leave, if I may be so bold to add... Not every prince need be a warrior. Might it not occur to you that... your strengths lie someplace that none of your royal siblings had hitherto been aware of, preoccupied as each of them already are?"

The boy paused, recalling a certain night-time stew and the particular urchin he had thought to receive it. How darn-glad she must have been; many more had followed, he hoped. "I'll try to remember that, Salsa, thanks again."

(Part 2)

The following day.

Even as Azalea was setting out to the city in search of Idenara--the basira patrolman that she had once maligned--she could not help noticing how particularly crowded and noisy Elbar on this particular day had become. Rumors of the Dragoness's impending arrival abounded. At places where they believed Bri's entourage would pass through, the commonfolk were already standing in neat rows, leaving a single pathway, pondering on rumors in whispers or cautiously breathing new ones.

Three hours before midday, the announcement was heard that the Dragoness had finally arrived, and that Elbar's gates were opening in welcome.

Into the city she proceeded, her mount set at a sedate pace, the better to navigate through the jam-packed crowds. Black-armored Brista of House Sabri was flanked by Idris, Mu's paternal cousin--the sight of whose elicited smattered cheering among the Elbarians--and Bri's own aide, Vilkar, also one of the reigning Lord Sabri's most stalwart commanders. Immediately behind the trio rode Khalid, the second of Mu's aides, at the head of mixed contingents of Husnirite and Sabrian legions.

Some of the latter could be seen shouldering firearms, and this prompted renewed murmurs of excitement from the bystanders.

"Whoa. That the 'fire beast' some of our prince's returning men were fussin' on about?"

"Doesn't look anywhere too impressive..."

"Eh, so does that girl ridin' in front, seems to me. All said, Prince Mustafa's hardly one to exaggerate too oft'n."

"Be a match to watch out for, then, this one."

"In yer dreams, p'raps."

Amidst this general chatter, Brista's river of flashing steel and gripped banners rolled on even as the Dragoness herself was surveying her surroundings; this could well be her first trip of many in the future.

Having the not-so-ample opportunity to witness first-hand how other cultures worked, Vilkar had told her along the way, could always be a mixed source of wariness and fascination. To this Khalid had nodded, further suggesting to "Please keep your mind clear."

She had started the march with her mind clear.

Roads sure are way cleaner n' more orderly here than back home, Bri mused presently. People--understandably excited but otherwise unobtrusive. More important: no peltings thus far. Bravin' it would perhaps cost yer palm, who knows.

Unbeknownst to the northerner, Azalea too was in the crowd (her own apology to Idenara having been offered and accepted), jostling for space to crane her neck just high enough to take a glimpse. At one point her gaze and that of Bri's met, but this proved fleeting. It was the Crown Prince and his upcoming offers Brista was here for, not some sweaty, nameless urchin with understandably-few options and fewer coins, getting still fewer each passing day.

The nearer to Elbar's central keep (featuring, among others, five massive drum towers) they got, the lesser and less-noisier the crowds became. As they reached the outer ring of the palace courtyard, the Crown Prince himself greeted them alongside ten mubarizuns, including Captain Kaigen and Yusuf but not Kashik.

"Lady Sabri." Mu nodded to the lead rider-in-black. "We bid you welcome."

"We shall trouble to benefit from your hospitality," Bri said formally before dismounting, the 'common' troops having seen themselves to accommodations befitting their stations.

"Sir Idris. Welcome home."

"Pleasure's mine, excellency."

"Sir Vilkar."

"My lord."

"Khalid."

"An honor to be back, my prince."

As Kaigen's men deftly saw to their mounts, Bri's entourage--following months of back-and-forth--finally got to make their first entry into the Amir's residence.

"So," Bri remarked as they walked to the main corridor, also known as The Grand Way; Idris and Vilkar not far behind, "we s'posed to take a few days off here first for courtesy's sake, Dragontamer, or are we good to go right away?"

"Always a good idea to get yourselves settled, yes," Mu suggested. "We also need to figure out and be sufficiently acquainted to the rest of your delegates, and you ours. Real talks are not expected to occur before the third day at the soonest."

"Hmm, quite a berth there. Be it so, it is gonna be important both ways. I s'pose then we might get to see some of yer oh-so-vaunted siblings?"

"Might, but first things first. This very evening there will be a stately dinner, with the Amir presiding. Testing the waters and all. Second day's relatively free once delegates of both sides as well as cursory hints of the upcoming topics have been properly introduced; use it as you will. Third day-"

"-We'll babble it the freak out." Brista grinned. "Fine by me. Gotta admit, though, ya do make for a decent chaperone."

For whose sake do you think it is, eh? "Lesser ones would've quailed at your demeanor, I suspect; the core information all but forgotten."

The Dragoness chuckled. "True 'nough."

As they entered The Grand Way, they saw Lord Husnirid already there in greeting, flanked by his two wives.

"Salutations," Urdin began. "You seem to be the one they've been referring to as 'Dragoness'. Way younger than we expected."

"Why, same goes for you, Your Grace," Bri said easily without curtsying. "Where I came from, you are rumored to have the vigor of ten men-" she eyed his consorts rather slyly. "I'm glad to see it proven. Brista is my given name, please don't hesitate to refer to me as such from here on."

"Appreciated. Now, these are-"

"-Mothers to your children, it would seem? You would not have had common maids in tow to greet such a guest as myself. No disrespect, but I'm fairly certain that we'll learn of their real names soon enough."

To Urdin's left, Mirani smiled. "Such is your notion of manners, dear, and you expect us to welcome you with courtesy due to your station?"

Brista looked at her. "I know enough of such terms as had been used in reference to my people on these lands, lady; spare me the details. You would name that 'courtesy'? Forgive my smiling. I'm here to forge deals, not break them."

Vestra subtly eyed her firstborn's reaction to that; but he guarded his look well, save for a slight 'that's-her-for-you' nod.

"Forge them you shall," Urdin acknowledged, "but first, common grounds must be established, I trust you know. That was a substandard opening at best."

"It was? I wonder. I have come a long way, Your Grace, and I trust neither of us would want to waste time further on rosy words with no real substance. Your son here has kindly let me know that our talks shall commence in three days' time, so any hour before that will likely be used up in gauging impressions. Very well, then this is mine, up close and personal; and you've gotten to receive it before even your chief delegate... unless you're it too. Prime honor if so, no?"

Behind his cousin, Idris could not help smiling. Vilkar momentarily closed his eyes, partly in wondrous admiration.

"Am I to believe," the Amir pointed out, already making a mental note not to regard this particular heathen as a trifle despite her youth, "that this is also how you would want to start the negotiations with, Lady Brista?"

"That shall depend on the nature of your offers come the time. You may deride our faiths, but never devalue us as neighbors; I trust your faith has similar rules too. If there is nothing else?"

"Nothing we could argue back on, for now," Urdin conceded. "We bid you welcome. Your entourage shall have the rights due to envoys and visitors, and you shall come to no harm under our roof; that I vow."

Bri nodded. "Favorably accepted. Good day."

***

"Damn, ain't that northern lass flamin' hot," Mama Viper mused as they walked back inside. "Our Urdin, the redoubtable Pathfinder, veteran of a hundred raids great and small, and two major campaigns on his new homeland besides, rendered speechless after just a few spot-on exchanges with a 'godless' northern brat half his age... First try! Little wonder yer eldest whelp could get along so freakin'-well with that one, Ves. Heck, Zal might even learn some things from that one yet!"

"If she cared to," Mu's mother reminded. "Hotheads, both of them, and Mu can't always be there to pull the breaks. Nor do our other sons appear strong enough to."

"Hmm. On that I may have to agree."

"In more ways than one, furthermore," their husband joined, halting in his tracks, "this Brista confirmed my apprehensions on the upcoming negotiations; namely, she struck me as someone unwilling to give way to views other than her own. That's not how negotiations are supposed to work."

"True enough," Vestra consented, "but let's not forget, she is young and at best untried in this sort of affairs. Do pardon her occasional indiscretions."

"Well said." Mira nodded. "I could see Zal makin' pretty much the same mistakes still, for all her improvements. Then again, that might have something to do with how this Dragoness hatchling was raised; I'm something of an expert there, y'see. What do we know of Brista's parentage?"

"Let's see..." the Amir was silent for a minute, reflecting. "The reigning Lord Sabri goes by the name of Balkir Sabris. According to our agents there, that man had taken power in the wake of his own father's death no thanks to court intrigue. Even today his hold on the House is tenuous at best..."

"That would seem to have left little room for proper upbringing," Vestra suggested. "As it is, for Bri to have come all the way here, she must've been regarded as 'the best' among her people, such as she is: she even made special emphasis on that. Pray don't ruffle her feathers too much there, Urdin."

"Good point. I shall try not to."

"That said," Mama Viper added, beaming, "that lass's vigorous determination might well be one of the reasons Sabri hadn't been torn into oblivion. Her at the helm, with Mu to match... Now that's what I'd gladly cheer on!"

"First things first," Urdin mediated. "In three days' time we'd have quite a few things to discuss and, insha Allah, agree on. In the meantime, I'd better see to the readiness of our own delegates. Wish me well, loves... Oh, and do be there for tonight's stately dinner, if you're able."

"Godspeed," they chorused.

(Part 3)

Her share of courtesy having been suitably performed, and with Razin gone, Mama Viper next moved to fulfill her part of the deal with Mustafa. In this leg of the journey, her breezy confidence could be pardoned, as she was being assisted by such able figures as the repentant Aldeer; the wily Mardanish; and the steadfast Aska. They were told to assemble in the fateful dungeon-like chamber that same afternoon.

"We are gathering here today," she began, staring at one face of her 'fresh blood' lieutenants after another, "to conclude what had been started. As you all know, for these past few months Razin had proven himself more than an irksome hurdle to us... until he wasn't anymore. Now, however, we would have to deal as conclusively as possible with Razin's beneficiaries and financiers, callin' themselves as a body as 'the Black Hand'.

"How would I know, some of ya might wonder? Well, I ain't gonna sugar-coat it: 'twas I who had helped engineer it to my own ends. Anything to add here?"

"Oh, Your Grace," Aska objected politely, "this might also be realized by some on that side, as well. With you practically turning a new leaf and Razin now dead, what would prevent those who'd been benefiting from the Black Hand's operations from, say, packing up and out with every resource they could've laid their filthy hands on?"

"Conceivable," Aldeer joined. "They would not be daft 'nough to sit tight n' wait 'til the roof fell, I gather... and now we have the Dragoness pokin' her nose. Such news are more n' likely to whip 'em skunks farther away still, no disrespect."

"They'd have scrammed, that'd be most logical... and convenient," Mardan asserted. "Blight of it is, we've not the idea just how many days' headstart they've gained on us while we were so busy trying to make that young highborn northener feel at home. God Forbid, were they to reach the security of another powerhouse's domains... That'd mean a full-blown manhunt at best, were we to persist. At worst-"

"War," Mira supplied the answer, tasted it, and almost for the first time knew doubt. With her own lot so close to being gently ushered away from this Amirate, a conflict of such scale would be among the last scenarios she would knowingly trouble Mustafa with. That poor brave lad.

"Can we afford to let them off, though?" Mama Viper thought aloud. "They have, after all, been engaging in rings of vice; any powerhouse so afflicted would take the necessary actions, I imagine... and in so doing they'd have done most o' the work for us."

"They might also seek the heck out for the source of said menace, and from there demand damning compensation," Aldeer finished.

"Either way," Mardan rejoined, "they had been allowed to plant their roots deep; dismantling them would not be a cakewalk..."

"Not impossible, Mom," a new voice joined, "provided we start soon."

It was Dastra, grinning, with somber-faced Rashid in tow.

"Das," Mama Viper echoed, nonplussed. "What the freak are ya doin' 'ere, this ain't no place for children!"

"Then why did ya bring me here that first time?" Zal's true brother countered. "Never mind, though; past is past and now I see familiar faces, and they just happen to discuss some things I'd want to be a part of."

"I did not say ya could!"

"Try me, then!" Rashid joined, with a vigor Mira had not expected to witness. "Akhi may have pronounced his decision by sending Razin six feet under and granting you freedom from persecution, but you have yet to hear from me. I now insist that we be part of this subterranean council!"

"No guarantee you'll like it, though, Prince," Mardan told him.

"Any more than you, sir, had liked being first witness to noble Yasnar's death, perhaps?"

Aldeer chuckled. "Got guts, that one. Do let 'em in, Your Grace, by all means; we ne'er know what such younger brains as these could afford to bring to the table, and right now I fancy we need all help we can get."

Mira huffed. "You were warned."

For ten more minutes the princelings--having seen to their own comfort in that particular chamber--were briefed on the Black Hand and the possible threats they might come to represent... as well as the not-entirely-dismissed bit of fact that they might have started to move camp beyond the Amirate's reaches in the wake of Razin's grisly though not undeserved end.

"We've had so many distractions, granted," Rashid spoke up. "Still, if there could be ways with which we might keep track of their movements..."

"They're too damn-slick for that, princeling, wit' due respect," Aldeer commented. "Got so many informers in place, they do; and ya'd have to be a complete lackwit to believe these would not have been put into action guardin' their tails for future pursuers, like us, as we speak."

"But we cannot just let them go, huh? They've lost their leader-"

"We're not in some set-piece field battle, Ras," Mira joined, "where ya could expect the rank-and-file to shudder n' tremble at the sight o' their main commander minus a head. No; we're talkin' 'ere 'bout outright scoundrels, for whom leadership of'n goes to the most wily. On and on they'd struggle, down to the last. Dreadful prospects, yes... Keep that in mind, for such is the kind of menace your brother would soon be facing lest swift action is taken. Nailing just what sort o' swift action, is why we're here for. Ya got no better offer, scram already."

"Mom, please," Dastra stared at her, "that's no way to talk to yer savior's direct sibling-"

"Would that I have that same savior right here n' now, rugrat! He would know what to do; I rather not have half-baked counsel on this!"

"Half a counsel's still better than nothin', surely," Das pointed out, and Mama Viper quietened down.

Rashid looked around him. "We have here survivors of some of the fiercest mind games that I'd had the opportunity to experience... and you are having me believe we cannot hope to outwit them?"

"For one, sir," Aska spoke up, "they've got more heads and resources than we do... and this without bearing in mind that your noble brother is making plans already to reduce the latter by three-fourths. Should such a verdict be allowed to come into effect before we could do away with this new set of menace..."

"Let's not focus on shortcomings just yet, sirs," Mardan suggested, "for such a take on things would only serve to diminish our resolve before the undertaking could even commence. If need be, we shall not involve funds allotted to the queen; rather, we shall pool funds available to us, and no further. Those not contributing in gold shall do so in advice... and yes, they better not be half-assed."

"The death of your master seems to have loosened your tongue somewhat, Mardan," Rashid observed without flinching.

"As you would have, sir, I presume, had your brother not survived. Now, as to solutions... yes, I think we might try this. Unknown to this council, I have been maintaining contact with a girl from Ardis, name of Sarvia. She struck me as someone of action..."

"From Ardis." Mira considered that in under a minute. "A stranger, at best. That strumpet would not have been sufficiently acquainted with the workings of this city... and you'll be askin' her to help unravel the works of a ring o' crime syndicates that had had ample time to establish themselves?"

"Must we depend on your daughter once again, then, Your Grace?" Mustafa's true brother wanted to know. "She is a woman of action too, seems to me; she has been spending a lifetime here; and she knew when to be decisive, I hope."

"Prob is, she ain't here," Dastra objected. "Even if by some miracle she were... heck, that temper o' hers might darn-well prove to be a snag; seen so many instances already, we have. How 'bout yaself, then, Bro? You are a prince, and ya were always taught to believe how princes are meant to lead... Can't say ya hadn't seen that comin', really."

"...Me?!" Ras gulped. "Myself against the Black Hand... without Akhi to breathe down my neck? What, are you outta your minds..?"

Rashid paused, looking around him again. It had grown very quiet, but for a certain maid's gentle whisper in his head:

Your strengths might lie someplace that your siblings have hitherto been unaware of...

"You have been warned, my prince," Mardan murmured presently with a hint of finality. "No guarantee you would like this; and so it is proving."