slytherynn | Closed;

[ It's in the latest hours of the night when almost all the castle is fallen silent in slumber, that the small party of guards moves silently through the corridors of Balbadd's Royal Palace. Their passage goes unnoticed - as was intended - the prisoner cloistered between them looking roughed up but far from defeated, despite the way he is bound and gagged. Hands roughly grip his upper arms and a spear is prodded into the small of his back to ensure his behavior as he's marched along the marble halls to a small room deep within the warren of chambers and cells deep within the palace, where only the most elite few of the royal family have ever been allowed to tread.

Not that the prisoner would be aware of that, of course, and the guards didn't seem all that inclined to share that information. They moved silent and grim towards their destination until they reached a chamber filled with bookshelves and a single desk set on a plush woven rug. S fire burned in the grate of a massive fireplace, keeping away the cool bite of the desert night air.

The prisoner is pushed to his knees and held in place by firm grips and a reminding prod of a sharp spearhead, the bindings and gag remaining in place. For a moment, nothing happens.

And then a doorway slides open back among the bookshelves and a figure steps out - one dressed in a simple tunic and sandals. Unremarkable, really, his blond hair tousled and unruly and smudges of ink on his fingertips. Certainly not a commanding figure, despite the way that every guard waiting in that room immediatly snaps to attention.

The one in the lead is quick to dip into a deep, respectful bow. ]

Highness, we've located the figure you had us seek out.

[ Blue eyes narrow on the bound form and the king makes a quiet tsk of his tongue. ]

It looks as though he wasn't very willing to cooperate, I'm guessing?

[Cassim refuses to look up when he hears the door slide open, grimacing and shifting ever so slightly just to give the guards some hell without getting stabbed. Fuck them all. Fuck them all for ganging up on him, for being cowards, for thinking he won't be missed when they kill him in private--

But the second he hears the king speak he jerks up, eyes wide and horrified. What the hell, Ali?!]

[ The moment those eyes raise and lock on his own, Alibaba stills. And then straightens up a little taller, calling on that air of authority for a moment as he nods at his guard's reply in describing the hassle of the captures and the measures they took to keep this discreet. ]

I can take it from here, thank you, Captain. I will have no more need of you or your men tonight.

[ The Captain straightens in sudden alarm, his gaze flitting from the bound prisoner to his king again in concern. ]

Highness, I really don't think that's...

I know, Captain. [ Alibaba is quick to cut off that protest, still calm and assured as he meets the man's gaze and lays a hand on the man's arm. Something unspoken passes between them before the Captain bows low once more. ]

As my King wishes.

[ That said, he bowed and gestured to his men before the company of soldiers turn and march out of the room, leaving the king alone with his bound prisoner.

The king who then turns to crouch down in front of Cassim, giving him an unreadable scrutinizing look before reaching out to work the gag free from his lips. ]

You're a very hard person to find, you know that?

For a damn good reason. What the hell is going on?! King? Since when?

[ For a moment, there's a dark shadow in Ali's gaze as he leans back on his heels and studies the bound prisoner in front of him.

Then he heaves a quiet sigh and holds Cassim's gaze before replying in an even tone. ]

Since the night my father died in the fire.

[Cassim starts to snort but then what Alibaba said hits him.

And he just stares.]

I didn't mean for that to happen. I just needed money, we all did, I never meant to kill him Ali, please you gotta believe me--

[ There's still a lingering shadow of grief in his gaze for the man he'd lost, the mentor he'd had too little time with. But he cuts off Cassim's sudden panicked excuses by merely clapping a hand over his old friend's mouth. ]

I know why you were there. I know what you took. I saw you that night. But it was your command that started that blaze, and your command that resulted in the loss of the king.

[He can't speak like this, but he's clearly terrified. Cassim knows the punishment for kingslaying.]

[ He can see that fear in the prisoner's gaze and, satisfied that Cassim understands the severity of the situation he's now in, Ali takes his hand away. ]

My father named me his heir before he died - a move that's caused more than a little uproar and scandal among the nobles and his other sons. But it was witnessed before the court and verified into law so legally there is nothing they can do about it. But my grasp on power here is still very tenuous. And the fact that I know where you were that night is a dangerous piece of information - especially because I don't know if anyone else saw you in the confusion of that night either.

Of course, I could offer you to the court to sate their temper. A scapegoat to entertain them. But that's not why I had you brought here in the middle of the night. I have another option to offer you.

[Without hesitation, and in a voice that's still panicked:]

I'll take it. Just let me visit Mariam's grave before you do whatever it is. That's all I ask.

[ That shadow of grief deepens for a moment - almost as if the sorrow he feels for the loss of Cassim's sister is a deeper wound than the one left behind by the late king - but then he shakes his head and leans back on his heels again, still remaining crouched on the rug in front of Cassim. ]

I need someone to watch my back. I need someone who knows how to fight dirty and is aware of the dangers that lurk in the shadows. I know who you've been running with since I was taken to the palace. I know the skills you've learned and the kind of work you've done to get by with your crew. I need skills like that protecting my back right now.

[ A pause, as he glances away, eyes skimming the room for a moment, as if out of habit. ]

I've been back in the city for less than two weeks. There have been four attempts on my life already.

[Cassim stares at Alibaba is a vague sense of disbelief because that is an impressive number of assassination attempts.]

Already? Have they not caught the bastard?

Oh, they were different assailants. [ Alibaba just shrugs, his gaze coming back. ] None of them will be assassinating anyone ever again. But finding out who sent them? That's proving trickier. I have my suspicions, but the politics here are already tangled like a deep web. It could be someone I don't even know about yet.

And you think someone like me can do what your guards can't...why? I'm pretty damn recognizable, Ali, especially in this place.

I don't care if they notice you. But I do have a position that needs to be filled that would give you access to pretty much anywhere in the palace, grant you leave to be at my side at any time - day or night - and also make you untouchable to any of my rivals.

...you're not talkin' just a bodyguard.

[What are you thinking, Alibaba.]

[ Alibaba just shrugs, lips quirking faintly. ]

Making you one of my guards wouldn't do any good - they have too many restrictions and limitations on them, otherwise I'd be at the bottom of this already - besides, I think there's some among them I can't trust. I need you closer than that. So... I'm going to make you a concubine. It makes you virtually untouchable, and since no one in the court knows you, none of them will have any idea what you're capable of, besides looking pretty at my side when I want you to be.

[A long, long pause as Cassim waits for the punchline. When it doesn't come...]

You're serious. You're fuckin' serious.

[ For the first time, Ali lets a faint smirk twitch along his lips as he takes in Cassim's flabbergasted expression. ]

It comes with quite the extravagant lifestyle and quite a few perks, or so I've been told.

You want me--scrawny, scarred, still addicted to cigars--to be your concubine so you can find some idiot assassins?

The scrawny part I can fix, you're not that scarred - at least not anywhere that only I would be expected to see - and I'm not expecting these threats to be a temporary thing.

[ His expression turns serious at that, because Alibaba has Plans, and it's going to be a long time until things in his court are anything resembling peaceful. ]

Besides, this puts you exactly where I can keep an eye on you and it's more productive than tossing you into a cell somewhere to be forgotten or having a rioting crowd take your head.

...and better than being treated like a kingslayer deserves?

[ Alibaba just meets his gaze before looking down at the floor, and there's regret and guilt etched on his features for a moment. ]

You and I both know that I am as much to blame for that night as anyone.

Besides. You've always deserved a better deal than what you got handed. This might not be ideal, but... Cassim, you'd answer to no one in this city save me and could look down on all of them from this day forward. Every single one of them will be beneath you in status if you take this. Despite everything, I... I trust you. And I can't say that about many people anymore. I need someone I can trust at my back. Because sooner or later, one of these assassins is going to be faster than I am.

...get my men jobs in the palace or something. Kitchens, gardens, whatever. The more people I trust, the more people you can trust and the safer you'll be.

[ Alibaba tips his head and considers this for a moment. ]

Can they be trusted?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject