Page 102 of Legacy of the Heirs
“It’s nothing,” Jabir mumbled. “Not with everything else we have going on.” Nyzaia glanced at Farid as she felt a wave of his concern wash over her. He watched Jabir intently. Not knowing when she would next have the opportunity to talk with her syndicate, Nyzaia prioritised her friend’s matter first.
“Tell me,” she commanded, organising the cards into separate piles. The room was silent as the men looked at one another. Eventually, Issam sighed and downed his drink; the table shook when he slammed it down.
“Things with the Red Stones are… uneasy,” Issam said.
“That’s an understatement,” scoffed Rafik, accepting the cards Nyzaia dealt around the table.
“Get to the point,” Farid said, watching Jabir over the rim of his glass, who smirked.
“Someone is sacrificing people,” said Issam. “Is that to the point enough for you?” He raised an eyebrow at Farid, whose hand had paused halfway from returning his glass to the table. Nyzaia froze in her seat and then reached for a card.
“What do you meansacrificingpeople?” she asked, frowning.
“Someone is taking a member from each pillar, tying them to a wall, carving their chests, and painting symbols around them for us to find the next morning.” Rafik relayed the events bluntly before silence weighed heavily on the room. Nyzaia absorbed his words.Why would someone sacrifice people, and who—or what—was the sacrifice for?She immediately thought of Isha and the symbols painted in blood across her room, yet they believed it was an attempt to contact the gods.
“Did you recognise the symbols?” Farid asked, and Rafik and Issam shook their heads.
“Which pillars?” asked Nyzaia.
“Courtesans were first, followed by dealers, spies, and alchemists,” answered Issam.
“Only blades and torturers left,” Nyzaia murmured. Given their areas of expertise, she assumed they were blamed for the killings.
“Any suspects?” Farid asked, and the silence answered his question, though the other men glanced between one another nervously as though scared to speak. “So, what happened to you?” Farid stared at Jabir, who shifted on the crate before glancing at Nyzaia.
“They said my arrival was odd timing.” He cleared his throat. “They believed it was the queen’s way of punishing them for forming a democracy and going against Red Stone tradition.” Nyzaia scoffed.
“That’s ridiculous,” Farid voiced.
“Clearly, the heads of the pillars do not think so, given Inarrowly dodged a knife thrown at my face,” Jabir said, his jaw clenched.Shit.Nyzaia rubbed her chin. If the heads of the pillars did not trust her, it made asking for support in the battle difficult.
“We have more serious things to discuss,” Farid said, sensing her worry.
“More serious than sacrifice?” Issam asked. Farid’s eyes were dark, and Jabir nodded slowly. “The talismans worked? Did you contact the gods?”
Rafik leaned forward as Nyzaia nodded, launching into the story of what they had missed while being separated.
***
By the time Nyzaia finished recounting all that had happened, stopping regularly to answer the men’s questions, the candles burned low in the room. She flourished her hand to reignite them as the men frowned, taking in all she had told them.
“So, you need the Red Stones to fight?” Issam asked, and Nyzaia shook her head.
“We have soldiers. I need you to clear Myara and get the people to Khami safely.” Rafik exhaled.
“That will be a hard ask when the heads are questioning your involvement in the sacrifices.”
“I am still their queen by the law of Keres.” She scowled, and Issam laughed.
“And other than you carrying out your father’s missions, when have the Red Stones ever listened to the crown?”
Issam was right. Jabir remained silent on the other side of the table, fiddling with the cards, but when Farid shifted on his crate, Jabir finally looked up. The two looked at one another, and Nyzaia smiled as she noticed the nod of encouragement Farid gave him.
“We could use this to our advantage,” Jabir said, and the others all turned to look at him. “Caligh’s arrival times well with thesacrifices. We could blame him, which gives the Red Stones a reason to help and turns their attention from you.” Jabir faced each of them, waiting for their nod of approval, as was tradition. Nyzaia nodded first, followed by Issam; Rafik hesitated before nodding, and finally, Jabir looked at Farid, waiting. Nyzaia’s heart warmed at including Farid in their traditions.
“Then what happens after? With the sacrifices?” Farid asked, not yet following suit with a nod.
“If all goes well in battle, we have time to investigate the sacrifices,” said Jabir. Nyzaia turned over the idea that Caligh could be involved in the sacrifices, or was there something else at play in the kingdom’s underground?
