Munaf's Plot

Word from Usman is that the situation is bleak.

The majority of ministers accepted Arif's claim. Usman's guess is that it's because they're afraid of ending up like the poor Sultan if they try to challenge him, and frankly, that's probably reasonable. Arif seems like a man who'd be capable of anything. Besides which, Arif is a capable man. He's been a minister for a long time, and he'd been the Sultan's advisor for almost thirty years, since the reign of the Sultan's grandfather. Even if the child was born and took the throne, he'd still serve as regent until he was an adult.

When Munaf brings me this news, my heart sinks. What am I going to do now?

"I only see one option," he tells me when I ask him this. "We need to get you out of here, tonight. Usman and I have a plan. Sleep in a room in here where there's none of the other girls, and we'll come in under cover of darkness. We'll have supplies and a disguise waiting for you, don't worry."

"Where would we go?"

Munaf ponders this. "We can't go into the western desert. It's infested with raiders, who'd be only too happy to turn you in to Arif, if they didn't rape you first. Laralia presupposes we can get through the deserts. The coast cities to the southeast would be too easy to find you in, as they're so populated. Our best bet would likely be the Vale of Sarin, in the mountains to the north. It's a remote region, difficult to get to, and there should be plenty of villages where we can hide until you give birth."

1. I think it's a great plan, and I agree to leave tonight.
2. I insist that we stay here and try to find Don. I'm still worried about him.
3. I say that I don't want to go to the Vale, and want to try somewhere else.

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