Before the men in the palace slowly dispersed, following much reveling in a celebratory mood, the two new leaders, wishing to further cement their coalition, embraced each other. They then announced to the onlookers to go out and spread the word throughout the settlement of an end to the leadership impasse. Zaria took the opportunity to cover herself with her clothing. She nodded to Tanzu Han standing nearby to wait, for which he intrinsically understood her purpose. Zaria was certain the two new leaders would now meet with her to discuss her duties instrumental to the new regime—all conditions she would assume deceptively, and ultimately for her designs.

She was asked to accompany Mesru and Lorant to a separate chamber, attended by several palace guards outside the door. Both men were still exuberant that the Pazyryk kingdom was now officially in their hands. And they continued to approach Zaria cordially, treating her as the positive catalyst she surely had been. They all sat on the floor, atop an ornate rug of hunting scenes, while a certain drink, made from fermented wild berries and honey—imbibed by the Pazyryk on special occasions, was called for.

"We are truly grateful for your return, princess," announced the elder Mesru. "For none in that room today doubted your magic . . .your power to bringing good fortune back to us."

"It is known to most that you escaped this palace under Sharvur's terrible rule," added Lorant. "And this can be easily justified. For this we are all fortunate that you have returned."

Zaria saw these comments as formative and advantageous to her deceptive plight, though she feared, however, when it would eventually be communicated that she was, after all, merely a slave there in her previous tenure. Surprisingly, I was not mentioned by either man.

"We must see this return as divine in some way," offered Mensu. "You are welcome to live here again in the palace where you belong. But it must be said, expected to show your abilities once again to the Pazyryk people under our reign. We must all demonstrate to them that their fortunes have been changed now."

"Yes," Zaria agreed. "I intend to do so. But with certain privileges. Conditions not granted me under Sharvur's control."

"We will be accommodating to you for this power you share . . ."

"And certainly not the same tortuous treatment or cruel sexual expectations I once endured," she added.

Both men looked at each other.

"This was Sharvur's ways, Zaria." Mesru said, comfortingly.

Lorant weighed in. "There would be no point to it, princess. For when it comes to entertainment . . . of a more acceptable type . . . we have at our expense many slaves for that."

Zaria was not impressed by the remark, however if it were true, it did alleviate much of her own present fear and anxiety. It was becoming obvious that there would be no mention of her virginity—the sole purpose she was kept so insulated and chaste under Sharvur's control. For she remembered how Krido had told her, on the eve of her escape, how he had fabricated the charade to the king only to try and rehabilitate him—for the good of their kingdom. This myth, that her powers were in some way mystically associated with her sexual purity—Krido never believed. Though Sharvur did, as his was an older, conservative and more superstitious mind.

So much of her misfortune and torture had been horrifically bound up by that premise, Zaria recalled. And now it seemed, neither Mesru nor Lorant had either never known of the false condition of her limited royalty, or were too progressive in their own thinking to reintroduce it with any validity. And so it was to her relief, simply not mentioned as any condition she must again have to live under. It seemed her reputation for some intrinsic power was good enough for these new leaders to exploit upon their subjects.

But Zaria had yet another issue she needed to clarify, before the terms of her role would be deceptively assumed by her.

"First of all," she said in a confidant and controlled voice, "I have not come to the palace alone on this occasion."

"Yes," Lorant replied, smiling. "We all witnessed this. Who is this straggling stranger who accompanies you here? He looks to be a product of the very soil itself."

"He is," Mesru said, more somberly. "I know of this man. He is seen across all the steppes . . . and over much time. No tribe molests him. It is for his wisdom and strange ways, they say."

"Yes," Zaria said, enthusiastically. "And that is why I trust him as a mentor. It seems your own murderous ways have unfortunately taken away someone like him who would have only helped and supported you in your new reign."

"Are you speaking of Krido?" Mesru asked.

"Yes. It was mentioned that he was killed when Sharvur was driven out. Is that true?"

Both men looked at each other guiltily.

"There was much confusion. Heavy feelings of the invaders of the palace to remove our monster king. Many of his servants and followers were killed by the insurgents. He died at the hands of the more foolish warriors, not knowing his skills and worthiness to us."

"So I see then the need for a new councilor, a wise man in this palace."

Both looked at the other, emptily.

"I propose to you that this Tanzu Han is just such a gifted soul. He has saved my life merely with his reputation. Is that not a power and reputation you both now seek for the kingdom?"

"You are right princess," said Mesru. "But is the old one willing to serve us here. In the capacity Krido once had?"

"I say you must ask the sage himself. He waits for me outside."

At Zaria's suggestion, Lorant, being the more energetic, got to his feet and summoned one of the guards to bring the hermitic stranger in to join them. After a few moments the old man arrived and stood before the two new leaders, now standing themselves in respect.

"We invite you to sit with us, Tanzu Han," said Lorant. "For your wisdom has been discussed today."

The old man nodded and sat among them. For several moments the two warrior kings looked him over as if they were in the presence of some grotesque and odd rarity of nature.

Mesru spoke cautiously. "I am aware of your wanderings, old man. Across the barren lands we occupy . . . and beyond. As a younger general I came across you myself on several missions. You had no fear of us. And rightly so. For you are the one they call "Man of all Spirit."

"You took away a great man here," the old sage said, accusingly. Looking critically into the eyes of both warriors. Killing Krido was a foolish mistake. This I know well. For when he was young . . . as was I long ago, he helped me escape the brutal father of Sharvur. Right here in this palace."

The two new kings looked at the old man with interest on their faces.

"We were of a like mind," the sage continued. "We both saw through the greed and folly of ambitious men . . . like yourselves. Krido spent his life here giving sound advice for the good of his people, in spite of Sharvur. And now you are without this gift of his wisdom."

Zaria broke the men's silence and spoke up boldly.

"Noble Tanzu Han. As the returned princess to this land, I ask that you stay. For as long as you are willing. To help bring order and calm back to this kingdom. These new leaders are without the counsel which you can provide. You have witnessed the rebirth of leadership here. It can use your wisdom to not fail the Pazyryk people."

Both men sitting across from the princess and old man, looked back at them quietly, realizing Zaria's request was sound and prudent.

"I for one, agree," said Mesru, the elder. "You could be of great help to us."

"Yes," quickly added Lorant. "I too see the advantages your experiences might give to us."

Zaria interjected again. "What say you, Tanzu Han? There should be no restrictions on your departure from us at any time. As long as you are willing to stay . . . the kingdom can only be richer. All the safer."

The old man hung his head in thought. His hands were seen to open and close during his brief meditation.

"As you know I have felt no restrictions upon my life since escaping these walls as a young man. And I have no intentions of living as prisoner here again. Killing me here and now would be preferred to that."

All three listeners were quiet. Hopeful.

"But I see you will need a gentleness here," he said. "A peacefulness to your ways to begin as kings. And to succeed where men like Sharvur and his father eventually failed."

The two new leaders and Zaria continued to watch and wait patiently for the old man's answer.

"Yes. I will stay . . . though I cannot say for how long. I see such a beginning is an opportunity to make a change in this brutal world. And it should not be wasted. Yes. I will stay and advise you."

The old man then looked over at Zaria.

"As long as the returned princess is treated well here."

One of the men breathed sigh of relief. The other just stared back at the old sage in disbelief.

"If my comrade agrees," Mesru uttered strongly, "I will grant those terms to you, Tanzu Han."

"It is agreed," the younger co-leader stated, with equal fervor. "The princess will be treated well. And we welcome your council."

At this point the members of the new leadership drank the sweet fermented elixir together, confirming their terms of the new order for the kingdom. It was apparent the Pazyryk palace would be run differently, and with the confidence and support the entire settlement outside—at least as an expressed goal, and no matter how briefly or deceptively, Zaria thought.

Though she was anxious to ask the two nascent kings of the whereabouts of her lover Tsudros and sister, Svetlana, Zaria knew it was a delicate issue. It would require her immediate settling in to the impenetrable stone structure once again,  so that she could better control all aspects of the search.

* * *