Herald of Steel

Hearing Alexander's hypothesis followed up with Seelima's pointing questions, Lady Inayah began to feel like she was standing on burning coal, her feet could not stand still.

Hence she quickly shot up from her chair, eyes glowing with excitement and rage, as she appeared unable to wait a second longer to rush to inform Pasha Farzah. In fact, she seemed just about to rush out.

"Calm down, calm down, Lady Inayah." Only the loud pleading of Alexander restrained her for a bit, as the man pointed out, "It is in the middle of the night my lady! Pasha Farzah must be already asleep. Let us wait till the morning, no one is going anywhere, right?"

"No! He needs to hear this now!" However the half crazed lady appeared too excited to care, repeating, "He needs to hear this now. I will go wake him up. I am sure he will want to know the truth."

For Lady Inayah, entering the Pasha's chamber and waking him up was of little consequence given their history. They had done things far more intimate. Perhaps that was also why Lady Inayah felt so strongly about this, wanting not to waste even a second.

Alexander's deterrence hence proved hardly effective.

"Wait, wait, my lady… do not go!" However that did not mean the man was ready to let the lady bolt out as is. Alexander felt Lady Inayah was jumping the gun here and there were still a quite a few plotholes with his story.

"Let us discuss this a bit further. That way we can answer any question Pasha Farzah might ask us. I am sure he will be very confused about how we solved something from so many years ago!"

"...Wha… what question will he ask? He will only thank…"

"Inayah… listen to him. Sit down, girl." It was at last the Queen Mother's cold, regal voice that finally managed to subdue the bullish lady, as the pregnant queen sent her friend a very commanding glare.

She was not speaking to her now as a close ally, but as the Queen of Adhania, her superior, the one she swore her fealty to.

"....." And meeting this gaze, Lady Inayah found her body freezing, unable to proceed.

Only her abundant chest kept heaving with great emotions, billowing out great puffs of indignation.

However as much as her heart wished, her head did not allow her to defy the Queen Mother.

Lady Inayah was well aware that even though they were the best of friends and shared even the most intimate of secrets… there was not even a single thing they had not seen each other do, their bare bodies being one of the most tame of such examples, but still, there were some subtle layers of separation between the two.

Seelima was undoubtedly the leader of the two, and in any dispute, her words had the final say.

"Mother! Is everything alright?"

This commotion was also loud enough to alarm her three daughters, who poked their heads from one of the distant rooms.

After finishing their meal, these girls had excused themselves to give the 'adults' space to talk, while they prepared themselves for their night with Alexander.

That was why Anisha, the youngest of the three, had a small twig sticking out of her mouth as she poked her head out of the door… she was in the midst of brushing her teeth.

Having had dinner, she was afraid of the possibility of any lingering odor in her mouth that might distract Alexander, and was thus busy scrubbing it off with ash and water, as both her sisters had already done.

What was professionalism?

This was.

Lady Inayah had really taught them well.

It was also her series of shouts that drew the trio's attention, and peeking out, they wondered if something unforeseen had happened.

"It… it's nothing, girls. Go back to your room." And sensing their gaze as well as facing great opposition from both her allies, Lady Inayah finally cooled down.

She slowly sat back to her luxurious chair and took a large sip of her wine to try and calm her raging heart.

However her daughters still kept standing by the door of their room, appearing skeptical as they knew their cool tempered mother rarely lost her mind. She might be a bit abrasive when dealing with them, but that was only out of her love.

With everyone else, she was very courteous. Not to mention, the two people she was talking with were very close allies. There should have been no reason for conflict.

This made them very curious to know the reason behind such a loud outburst.

"Don't worry, you brats. We were just talking. And some of our words got heated. Now go back to your room." And sensing this gaze, the black lady breezily waved her hands and lightly mused with a slight smile, feeling a bit uncomfortable with their gaze.

She felt she was being somewhat judged.

Thus when the girls still refused to budge, she quickly turned a bit aggressive, glaring at the three, and chiding,

"You girls... Anisha, you girl… what are you doing with the brush still showing out of your mouth! Are you trying to embarrass me to death? And Ezaya.. can't you control your sisters? Elia stop… "

Watching this light admonishment from the side, Alexanderx was glad to see Lady Inayah was reluctant to make a scene in front of her daughters, thus quickly losing her will to fight him.

Perhaps that was also why the Queen Mother made her next move, speaking up in a noble, inviting manner,

"Let them stay Inayah. You girls… have you not finished getting ready? Finish up quickly and come attend to Alexander. He has travelled so long, and you are leaving him all alone!"

"...." Alexander only lightly pursed his lips in amusement at the ask, while the three hurriedly bowed to Seelima, before scrambling back to their room and working to hastily put on their final touches.

Because they had heard Alexander and the others discussing all kinds of things with great enthusiasm from the other room, the sisters were initially content to drag their feet, gossiping and wasting time as they slowly prepared themselves.

Thinking the talks would last some while, they believed they had a lot of time on their hands.

So the sudden order proved difficult to complete quickly.

"Inayah… you are being too hasty. What Alexander said was only a theory. We have no proof." While back in the main room, the Queen Mother first turned her beautiful head to lightly chide her friend.

Although that made Lady Inayah appear more deviant and confused, "Proof? What do you mean we have no proof? Of course we have proof! Alexander said it himself. It had to be the horse. We always knew Mirzah had something to do with that death, and now we know for sure how he did it!"

Saying this with burning eyes and the utmost confidence, Lady Inayah then lifted her chin and with a ruminating gaze stated,

"In fact, now that I think about it again… I do remember there being some talks about a problem in the stables just before the race. I, of course did not pay any attention to it then… but now…. Anyway! We just need to ask Pasha Farzah about it and all will be made clear! We can get Mirzah!"

If before Lady Inayah's eyes were like hot, burning coal, radiating heat… now they were like a wildfire, threatening to burn anyone foolish enough to challenge them.

"...." And sensing this great blaze, Alexander lightly pursed his lips and wisely backed off, realizing there would be little point in arguing with her here.

Lady Inayah was utterly convinced beyond even the tiniest shred of doubt that they had found the ultimate smoking gun and all she would have to do was show it to Pasha Farzah and all would unfold perfectly as she wished.

This was the main reason Lady Inayah was so reluctant to listen to her allies, she just did not understand why they were trying to stop her from doing something so obvious.

"No you are wrong Inayah. Nothing like that will happen." It was perhaps also sensing this that her friend decided to pour some cold hard water on her, elucidating on the points where the Queen Mother thought the black lady was wrong,

"First of all, given how long that was... that horse has likely perished. I doubt we will find even its bones. And even if it exists, who can even recongise the beast now?"

"That stable boy responsible for looking after it too has been likely dealt with. If Mirzah really did have the horses changed somehow, there is no way he would never let such a huge loose end exist. So we…."

"No! But…." However despite the Queen Mother making some terrific points, Lady Inayah still appeared unconvinced, and so clenching her dainty fists, attempted to vigorously argue.

Fortantley for Alexander, she was cut off with an imperious wave of the regal queen,

"But nothing!" She stated with an offcious claim, her eyes then suddenly becoming cold and heartless,

"Even if… even if… even if against all the odds, by the divine might of Ramuh we can find both the horse and the stable… so what? Let us say we prove without a shred of doubt that Mirzah killed his brother… so what? Do you think Pasha Farzah can replace him? Who can he replace him with? Name him!"

"Farzah could not content with Mirzah fifteen years ago… he certainly cannot contend with him now. Give up, Inayah."