Page 52 of Legacy of the Heirs
“No. It only took one woman to realise I prefer men,” Farid said flatly. Silence followed. “So, does that mean I get all thirteen golds on offer?”
Laughter erupted among the men.
“I expect better of you all. How could you assume he was only interested in women?” Nyzaia asked. Issam emptied coins from his pouch and handed them to Farid, who tucked them in his pockets.
“He has this ‘I’m tall, dark, and mysterious’ air about him,” Issam jested. “Women like that.”
“Men like that too,” Jabir said, having recovered from choking. A coy smile crossed Nyzaia’s face as Farid’s lip twitched.
A dark figure flitted high atop the rock edge. Nyzaia refrained from fully turning her head but did so enough to recognise the uniform of the Spies. She rolled her eyes. It was once standard to have a Red Stone trailing royalty, lords, and the wealthiest of Keres, but it was bold of them to continue such acts when she had become queen.
“I see him,” Rafik confirmed beside her before veering into the shadows. He kicked his horse into a gallop beneath the cliff edge, where the spy likely crawled.
“A threat?” Farid asked at Nyzaia’s side. She shook her head.
“Unlikely.”
The group continued their journey through the canyons while awaiting Rafik’s return. The mid-afternoon sun was sweltering, and although the forge would be hotter, the sun would have lowered by the time they arrived, offering a reprieve from the flow of lava as the metal workers finished their shifts.
A short scream echoed as the trail inclined, guiding the group to the top of the forge where endless recruits had trained over the years. Rafik would shortly be on his way with the spy in tow.
“A bet on how terrified the guy is?” Issam chuckled.
“No more bets! You are banned from betting for the rest of this trip, Issam!” Nyzaia scolded, and he rolled his eyes as they reached the summit to find Rafik waiting with his hands grasping the collar of a slight boy, barely eighteen. He was likely only two years into his training, which explained the ease with which Rafik had caught him.
“Do I want to know why you were spying on your queen?” Nyzaia asked. She dismounted her horse and passed Jabir the reins. The boy shifted on his feet, his toes scraping the red dust. Rafik raised him higher. The boy’s wide eyes scanned the circling syndicate, sweat beading on his brow.
“For your safety,” the boy gasped.
“Why would she need safety from you when she has us?” asked Farid, placing his hand on his blade. Nyzaia summoned a flame to dance across her palm, waiting for the boy’s answer. He gulped. The former queen of the Red Stones advanced until her flames licked the hairs on his arms.
“Okay, okay. The committee asked me to!”Too easy.
“The committee?” Nyzaia repeated. She walked towards the cliff edge to find the workers slowly packing for the evening.
“When no one replaced you, the heads of each pillar formed a committee,” said the boy.
“A democracy,” Nyzaia scoffed. “The Red Stones have never been run in such a manner; they have always had a leader.” Nyzaiarecalled the time she had challenged Tajana’s whereabouts, who revealed she had visited the Red Stones. They needed a leader, Tajana said, though it appeared her lover had lied again. The pillars had formed a committee. She turned against the setting sun to face her syndicate. Rafik and Issam wore matching frowns while Jabir focused on Nyzaia, waiting for further instruction.
“They said if you would not lead, then they would,” the spy added.
“They are constantly bickering; that will not work,” Nyzaia said firmly, and the boy stared at his feet.
“They said you abandoned them.”
Nyzaia narrowed her eyes.
“Abandoned?” she sneered. “Do you think I had a choice in this?”
“They said Arjun would never have abandoned us,” Nyzaia scoffed. She had once placed Arjun, their previous leader, on a pedestal, but that time had long passed.
“For the love of the gods! Stop digging yourself into a hole!” shouted Issam. Nyzaia took slow steps forward, elongating each movement as Rafik dropped the boy’s cloak. He landed, eye to eye, with Nyzaia. Flames engulfed her arms. The spy tried to step back but quickly collided with Rafik’s hardened stance.
“Arjun Qadir was greedy and power-hungry; he planned to leave you the second he had a chance. That is why he was killed at my hand.” Nyzaia’s voice was a deadly whisper. “You can tell your committee that I will pay them a visit, and they better be ready.” The boy trembled, and Nyzaia felt his shaky breath on her cheek. “GO!” He took off at a run.
“If that had been a bet—”
“Shut it, Issam!” Nyzaia commanded.
