Crucible of Fate

I shivered with my need to protect and shelter and save. I had to close my eyes for a second, let the surging feelings roll through me so I could hold it together and not scream. The change I hadn’t noticed, had told everyone wasn’t me, had nevertheless taken hold. I didn’t just want to rescue Yuri; I wouldn’t be content to liberate just him and Garai Milar. I wanted to free them all.
    “May I ask a question?” Jin requested sweetly.
    “Of course,” Hanif said, and I could tell that Jin had him completely charmed.
    “Is the semel-aten’s mate fighting in the pit in panther form?”
    “No, my father’s new yareah likes to see men sweat while they fight, and so they fight in human form in the pit.”
    “That is not permitted by law,” Kabore informed the younger man.
    “Yes, I know,” he agreed. And I realized then how timid he was, that the curve of his mouth was a reflexive action done out of nervousness. “But that is how we do things in Ipis, in the tribe of Feran.”
    “Okay.” I cleared my throat. “My sekhem, he had a phone with him. We tried from Sobek but were unsuccessful in our attempts to reach him on it. Was it removed by your semel?”
    “Yes, my lord.”
    “His private property was removed?”
    “As I said, yes, my lord.”
    “All right, well then, please lead us to your fort, Hanif Tarek.”
    “Of course,” he said, but he didn’t move.
    My eyes narrowed.
    “Just as you do at home, my lord,” Jin said, his voice purposely high, “you must lead. No one moves unless you do.”
    But I had a question for Hanif. “Your father seems to have no use for propriety and observance of the law, so why do you practice it, along with those with you here, your tribe members and your khatyu?”
    “The people that you see before you now are all members of the shen faction, my lord. Their djehu, Chanzira Adjo, is a strict believer in the law. Also, the djehu of the peq, Ayaz Suyuti, he also would show you great deference were you to take a tour of any of the farms outside of town or higher in the hills. The djehus both agree on the law, and this is, I believe, another reason why my father has been unable to have them both sit down together and come to a resolution on the catacombs of Abtu.”
    “They don’t respect him,” Jin said.
    “No, they do not. They see him as an abomination and complained many times to your predecessor, my lord.”
    “But Ammon El Masry never responded?”
    “No, my lord, he felt it was something my father should deal with.”
    “Even though it was your father that they were complaining about,” I said, disgusted.
    “Yes, my lord.”
    “Okay.” I suppressed the urge to snarl. “Lead us. I’ll follow you.”
    “You seem upset, my lord.”
    “It’s fine. Please escort us to your home,” I said shakily.
    “Yes, my lord,” he said, big limpid brown eyes locked on my face.
    “Now,” I said sharply when there was no movement.
    “Greet the people,” Kabore coaxed softly.
    Twisting around, I lifted my arms, and everyone went down to their knees. “Thank you, tribe of Feran, for the warm welcome into your city. I am honored to be visiting with all of you here.” The applause and cheering was instant.
    Hanif gestured me forward. “Come, my lord.”
    We were followed, everyone walking with us, children bringing me flowers, people waving from the shops that lined the route, and young girls strewing petals onto the path.
    “My lord, we are so honored to—” Hanif began.
    “Tell me about the catacombs of Abtu,” I ordered the son of the semel.
    He was startled. “Oh, yes, well, the caverns, of course, are here right above Ipis in those hills you see there. The entrance is about 2.4 kilometers away and—”
    “I believe my lord would prefer to know why the land is being contested,” Kabore advised the younger man.
    “Oh, of course.” Hanif cleared his throat. “The title of the land was granted to the family of Ayaz Suyuti back in the time of the Crusades, which was when the fort that we call our home was built.”
    “Then what’s the question?” I asked, quickening my stride.
    “But from that time to now, there had been much mating between the two factions, until the last fifty years, when the lines between the two became quite distinct.”
    “So there are two people who have equal claim to the land.”
    “Yes, my lord. Both have equal bloodlines and can trace back to a common ancestor. Brothers, actually.”
    “Was one of the