Why were these questions even directed at a sultan? They were simple answers. His people didn’t need to confirm whether they could go out and do something that would make the kingdom better.
Sighing, he gestured the man away and placed a hand to his forehead. A throbbing headache pounded beneath his skull. Every sound echoed in his head with an answering thump.
One of his advisors stood, and it took every bit of Nadir’s strength not to stiffen.
Abdul was a good man. Nadir still believed that, but his actions of late were certainly suspect. The older man liked to voice his opinion a little too loudly and in the company of those who were far too susceptible to his prejudices.
He wore his white hair pulled back in a leather thong. His beard was carefully trimmed into a point, and his clothing finely pressed. In theory, he carried himself like a man who knew what he was doing. But Nadir saw through the mirage. Abdul was, as always, a man clawing at the social ladder hoping for more and more power.
“That will be the last of them for today. The council would like to have a word with you in private, Sultan.”
“In case you didn’t notice, Abdul, it might be best if I retire for the afternoon,” Nadir replied dryly. He could hardly keep his eyes open or his head up. What did the other man expect from him?
“You’ll wake right up when you see what we have to say.” Abdul held out a hand for Nadir to take. “Come, Sultan. There’s much for us to talk about.”
So it seemed he wouldn’t be able to rest today. He nearly groaned as he stood. Sometimes, he wanted to go back to the way things were. When the advisors had taken care of all the difficult things he now was responsible for. When he’d been able to laze the day away and do next to nothing.
Nadir didn’t take Abdul’s hand, but stood on his own. Albeit slowly, but he didn’t need to lean on his advisor. He had to hide the tired groan that threatened to escape his mouth, however.
He followed the train of advisors to a more private meeting room. He’d always hated this room with its floor to ceiling gold. Every ornate piece was beautifully hand carved, the attention to detail more than impressive. But it felt less like a room in the palace, and more like a museum where he couldn’t touch a single thing without worrying he might break something. Pottery of the highest quality stood on stands in many of the corners. Tapestries hung from the walls. And stained glass windows cast colored shadows on the floor around them. A table sat in the center, precious mahogany wood underneath a thick slab of quartz.
The advisors gathered in a flock together at the end, each whispering among each other while Nadir situated himself on a seat at the head of the large table.
He took his time deliberately. They needed to remember they couldn’t summon him whenever they wished. He was a busy man now.
At the thought, his chest swelled with pride. Finally, he could say that he was truly busy. His brother would have been proud.
Abdul cleared his throat. “Sultan?”
“A moment.” Nadir ran his hand down his red silk tunic and billowing pants. He tucked the fabric more comfortably around him, a waste of time certainly, but a reminder to the others not to toy with his time. “Proceed.”
The frustrated huff of breath from his advisor was more than a little pleasing. “We, as a council, have been considering the integration of Beastkin into our society, as you have requested.”
“Ah, yes. I did request that you work with me on assisting in easing public discomfort in the presence of Beastkin.” Nadir nodded sagely, but narrowed his eyes on the advisor. “However, I did not ask your opinion in whether or not we should do it. We’re moving forward with the idea. I didn’t ask if you thought it wise.”
“Nevertheless, it is our job to consider the health of the kingdom—”
“That is not your role on this council any longer,” Nadir interrupted. “Your role is to advise me on your thoughts, nothing more, nothing less. I’ve heard enough about Beastkin from all of you. I know your thoughts. I have listened. Now, I am sultan of this kingdom, and I choose to move forward in reintegrating them to Bymere. Your job is to assist me in that. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
Abdul’s jaw fell open and for the first time in his life, Nadir had successfully shocked the man.
If the iron in his voice hadn’t convinced them he was serious, then he didn’t know what would. Nadir planned on moving forward regardless of their opinions. He was married to a Beastkin. What else did they want from him? If anything, it was their mistake in the first place.
They were the ones who had requested he marry Sigrid. They were the ones who thought such an alliance would stop the war, although he now knew they had other intentions the entire time.
Now, they could live with the consequences.
Gathering his dignity close, Abdul straightened his shoulders and loudly sniffed. “We’re well aware of your opinions, and while we do not agree with them, we thought perhaps there is a way for all of us to get what we want.”
Nadir leaned back in his chair, noting the dark expression on Abdul’s face. What had his advisor planned out? “I hardly think that possible, advisor, but perhaps you can teach me something new after all.”
Abdul lifted a hand and snapped his fingers. One of the other advisors, a person who should have thought of themselves at the same station, rushed to the doors behind Nadir and opened them.
He would not shift. He would not move to look behind him until they brought whatever it was before him. A sultan did not have to move unless he wanted to.
The clanking of chains reached his ears. He didn’t know of any prisoners. Not yet, at least.
Nadir gritted his teeth so hard he could hear them, but stilled his body in anticipation. He could not show them any kind of response, because that was what they wanted. This entire council enjoyed playing games. It didn’t matter that it was another person’s life. A game was still a game.
His gaze locked with Abdul’s, then Nadir parted his lips in a sneer. “What have you done, advisor?”
“Only what you would have done, Sultan.”
Before he could ask what that meant, a woman walked in front of him, trailed by the other advisor who had let her into the room. There were two armored guards behind her, their helms gleaming and reflecting rainbows of light as they passed by the windows.
His attention didn’t stay on the guards, however, but the woman who walked in front of them. She must have been a beauty in her day. Her dark hair gleamed even through the matted tangles, and her skin was caramel smooth. Unfortunately, it was also dotted with hundreds of scars.
They’d dressed her in little more than a sack. It hung from her figure limp and loose, but the closer Nadir looked, the more he realized it wasn’t because she was thin or malnourished. Instead, the clothing was simply too big. Muscles bulged from her arms, impressive in size and strength.
This was no weak woman.
She glanced up at him, as if she felt his gaze, and her eyes seared him to the bone. There was so much hatred locked in her eyes, along with a desire to live that resonated within her soul.
Manacles encircled her wrists, connected with a chain that looped through a metal collar at her neck. The clanking sounds echoed in the room, but he didn’t care so much about the bindings. He’d seen many more people in chains than most would in their entire lives.