The Face of Evil

"We trailed him to a tavern near the city entrance. At first, we thought he might have been the target. We waited outside for him, but he never came out of the tavern. We saw you and your friend leave, though. One of us followed you secretly to the monastary. We later checked with the guild and figured out who you were from there. We decided to come back for you at night, when their guard was down."

I shake my head sadly. I am lead roughly into the palace. Sultan Arif himself is waiting for me, flanked by guards. They force me to my knees before him.

"Well, well, if it isn't the lovely slave Haria? Clever disguise, by the way. I was beginning to think we'd never find you."

"How...?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"After I became Sultan, one of the guards let me know that my order to have you killed was never obeyed. The collaborators were quickly rooted out. Munaf, you may be glad to know, took the secret to his grave. Usman, too, was not very cooperative, but we eventually found ways of making him talk. Do you know he has a wife and child...?" he trailed off.

"You monster!" I scream, making and effort to lunge at him. With my bound hands and feet though, I fall flat on my face on the marble floor. Several guards advance with their blades drawn. Arif holds up a hand to stop them.

"No, don't kill her yet." He smiles scornfully at me "I know you are not with child, and therefore no threat to my claim to the throne. No one will ever believe your lies, and on the record, the Sultan's killer has already been executed."

I summon the last of my courage and spit at him. I recieve a slap across the face for my trouble. Arif glares at me with hatred in his eyes. I return the look as best I can, but cannot hold his gaze. He speaks:

1. "Execute her at once!"
2. "We will make her a slave in the mines!" Is my vision going to come true?
3. "Send her back to the harem! In time she will learn to respect me!"

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