Coming soon the next set of judgments.
Desert Princess Sneak Peek
What have you to say of Dalal’s confession? Choose carefully your next words for your chosen witness, the chest, can condemn you or vindicate you or do both. I suspect in arrogance you offered the chest without thinking of the other dark secrets dwelling within it”.
In his hast to condemn Mellie Mousef forgot they are of one fellowship. Service to Doyle is enough to earn immediate death among the independents. The chest assures his death and the deaths of his men, except for Hassan his newest recruit. Dalal’s cathartic confession guarantees a painful interrogation prior to a severed head. He is a spy for the man who destroyed villages, murdered innocent woman and children, pillaged with a bloodlust unknown among civil peoples. The discovery of his alliance with the man of a thousand evils excludes in possibility mercy. However, ever the conniver and being of the same haughty selfish spirit as Mellie, he employs her proven deception of choice, kindred sympathies capped with suspicion.
“Dalal speaks truth. My life and the lives of my men are in service to Doyle”. Balkul hisses and Hassan shakes his head, Mousef has thrown them under the proverbial ox cart.
A roar of murmurs goes through the crowd. The infidel Doyle left spies among the victors. His thirst for power and revenge will never be quenched. He vowed revenge in the final days of his defeat. Many thought his words the rantings of a defeated foe but it is clear the barbarian intends to make good on his threats.
“How did you come to know Mellie?
“She approached me at the inn with a letter from Sultan Doyle shortly after you arrived for breeding season four years ago.
“Silence, Fitz bellows. You will have your say in due course. Hold your tongue wretched ajooza for the next time you speak out of turn I will have your tongue cut out”. Mellie draws back fuming. Although Mousef is speaking the truth, Mellie wants to appear to be a recent agent of the Sultan not a day one conspirator. She forgets the letters in the chest prove confirm Mousef’s claims.
“There are letters in the chest from Doyle telling me to expect Mellie and to relay any information she gives to me immediately to him, along with letters from Mellie asking for the elixir”.
Mellie digs her nails into her palms breaking the skin drawing blood. If Fitz does not put this fool to death the Sultan will. He is weak with all of the craftiness of dullard. He could have said the letters were written by Dalal, that she tricked all of us, that she alone is a puppet of Doyle. The dead cannot refute the living. But no, he spits out the truth hoping to save his cowardly flesh at my expense. No matter, Mellie thinks as she tosses her head rolling her eyes. The morrow’s augury is inescapable. Playing the dolt will not change the outcome of doom waiting in ready for each of them. A sinister smile graces Mellie’s face as she ponders the absurdity of Mousef’s testimony. They are all going to die, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but by sunset on the eve of the new moon they will take their last breath.
Fitz says nothing, he merely stares at Mousef with palpable contempt. His penetrating gaze and blaring silence unnerves Mousef. The fear of not knowing whether Fitz is about to lunge forward and take off his head, or if the jondi are about to run him through from behind loosens Mousef’s lips. He decides to take a chance by seeking a bargain.
“Is there no middle ground to be had? Does not my revelation of Amira Mellie's falsity deserve no leniency?’”
Fitz does not say a word, he lets his silence intimidate Mousef. He needs Mousef to further implicate himself and reveal all the conspirators involved in Doyle’s plan of revenge.
“Does not being the property of a tyrant excuse my actions? What do you know of living with a sword at your throat sunrise to sunset? The eyes and ears of the tyrant have eyes and ears. You walk among your people unfettered, sure no misfortune will befall you. Yet I walk among man with unseen chains, among an unseen legion of loyal followers dedicated to their master’s cause. My daily toil is one born of fear not allegiance”.
“If your tale be true why has no one come to your aid or sought your demise to prevent you from revealing secrets. Where is this legion you speak of? Has not the dawn passed thrice since you have been here?”
“I am insignificant, not worthy of rescue. The legion will attack only when ordered”.
“I think you are a liar. I think you are exactly what Dalal claimed, an overseer craving greater power and position”.
Mousef starts to blubber and whine, swearing he never told Dalal to kill Olivia. Her job was simply to keep Mellie in line and gather information. Evil deed by evil deed he recounts what he did for Mellie, from the elixir to the rape of Quinn for a bloodcloth. He even confirms Dalal’s testimony about the snakes. He even squeals like a pig on Doyle’s activities to a point. He is careful not to disclose the full extent of the assignments he and his men carried out as Doyle’s henchmen.
Fitz finally speaks. “So, you admit you are a jasus for Sultan Doyle. You admit bringing the snakes to this tribe for purposes of committing murder and you admit giving Mellie the elixir knowing its’ purpose. And you admit to having Quinn’s innocence brutally taken”.
Mousef falls to his knees, he gathers sand in his hands and pours it over his head.
“Can complete truth escape a corrupt soul such as yours? Has mercy ever been wielded by your murderous hands?”
“It is not I who is corrupt or the void of mercy. The ajooza you married has a stone heart, and a black soul. She is more cunning than a witch and deadlier than a serpent. She casts enchantments wherever she goes, blinding her prey to her true wickedness. Deception is her guise, deceiving us all with her honey coated words and the visage of an angel. My shortcomings are many, but partly of her devise”.
“So, it is your plea you bear no fault at all, for you were conscripted at one end and beguiled at the other?”
“Tell me most odious offender do I strike you a fool? Your woeful tale carries no sway. The chest of secrets will not prove you a victim but I am sure it will confirm you're a wretched despicable being.”
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