Crucible of Fate

man,” he said. “Have you met his champion?”
    “I have not, and when I ask, he only asserts that he has everything under control. Perhaps I should go talk to him now.”
    “I don’t know how you will accomplish this, as he has gone to Cairo,” Jamal quipped.
    “Cairo? What for?”
    He exhaled sharply, obviously irritable. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
    “Is Rahab in the villa with Elham now?”
    “No, but his arrival is imminent, as well as the men he brings with him, his sylvan and sheseru,” Kabore replied.
    I let out a deep breath, suddenly tired. “We better go welcome them, then.”
    “Yes, my lord.”
    “I must caution you to be very careful in your dealings with—”
    “I will be.”
    “My lord,” Jamal interrupted. “You must understand that these are two very powerful men who—”
    “I think I understand about power.” I insisted.
    He was quiet for a moment, apparently realizing what he’d said, before he bowed deeply.
     
     
    S ILENCE never failed me. When Elham El Masry stood in front of me with Rahab Bahur on his left, I waited.
    “We announce our challenge of your maahes,” Elham said to me, Mikhail, Taj, Jamal, and Kabore. He was talking about Crane, who was glaringly absent. “And call for it at midday tomorrow.”
    I waited.
    They were silent.
    My eyebrow arched slowly. “Is there more?”
    Elham glowered. “I would think that would be enough.”
    I cleared my throat. “My maahes, Crane Adams, accepts your challenge and will meet your champion in the forum at—”
    “We will need the main coliseum, my lord, as riding is a requirement.”
    I had no idea what that meant. “Of course,” I said, and I motioned for Taj. “Please see these men to their quarters and place members of the Shu on their balconies and doors.”
    Rahab cackled. “I had heard that you had acquired the Shu from the priest. When Elham is semel-aten, we will restore those men to Asdiel Kovo.”
    And there it was, out on the table.
    “You wish Elham El Masry to be semel-aten?”
    “I do,” he professed before Elham could grab his arm and stop him. “You’re an infidel and your reign is sacrilege. You are kadish and you make a mockery of all of us.”
    I took a moment to let that sink in, to let it fill the space around us, be absorbed by my contingent and his, so no one could ever claim he hadn’t uttered his treasonous words.
    “Did you hear me?”
    “I did,” I said, meeting his eyes. “And for those words, when Elham’s champion is defeated, I will send you into exile and make your heir semel.”
    Rahab scoffed, obviously very sure of Elham’s champion. “You do that, semel-aten.”
    I shrugged, letting him see I wasn’t worried before I flicked my gaze to Elham. “As for you, when Crane’s man defeats yours, you will renounce all claim to my mastaba, and Ebere and her children will never see or hear from you again.”
    His anger exploded out of him. “I’m her brother-in-law and an uncle to those—”
    “The children are mine,” I roared back. “They are claimed by me, acknowledged by me, and are as much mine as they were their father’s. I—”
    “They are Ammon’s, you son of a whore! You would not even know what to do in a woman’s bed! You’re a sodomite and—”
    “Silence!” Mikhail hissed. “This is the semel-aten you speak to so freely. He could have you—”
    “Your words seal your fate,” I interrupted, taking a step forward. “Tomorrow, when the champion of my maahes takes the field and wins, both of your lives are forfeit along with your man.”
    “And when my man wins,” Elham crowed, “am I allowed to claim yours, my lord?”
    He was really so sure of himself. “If you win and become maahes,” I said with a cold smirk, “then surely my days are numbered, are they not?”
    I saw his hatred gleaming in his dark eyes. “Indeed they are, my lord.”
     
     
    A FTER midnight, closer to one, I myself commanded a flurry of activity in Ebere’s chambers.
    The lady herself was irritated with me. “What will this accomplish?” Maids flew around us, packing her up quickly, readying her for imminent departure. “If Crane loses, I will belong to Elham regardless of where I am. I prefer to meet my fate at your side.”
    “Fuck no,” I growled. “You go back to Cairo, you get your girls, and if Crane loses, Kabore will call you and you get on a plane and you go to Logan. He’ll protect you.”
    “Yes, but—”
    “No but . There are