The Battered Lamp Chapter Thirty-Six: The Gamble of the Warrior - Sex Stories

The Battered Lamp Chapter Thirty-Six: The Gamble of the Warrior

... beneath his chin. His smile set Britney's teeth on edge. “Great Kyle,” he bowed, washing his hands together. “I am honored that you agreed to speak with me alone. I am Uthman, the humble servant of Sultan Rashid ibn al-Marid. Salutations to you and your illustrious house.” Kyle grew stiff, his arms folding beneath his muscular chest. “What is Rashid's message?” Kyle growled, not bothering to hide his irritation. If Kyle wanted to rule the Hidden People, he was going to need to learn subtly. He couldn't crash into every problem like an avalanche down a stony mountain face. “I shall conjure it,” the Emissary answered. “Have no fear that I will attack you.” Kyle grinned, his hand drifting down to Earthbones hanging from his golden sash. “You would not survive if you tried.” The emissary's smile slipped an inch. “Of course, of course. Your feats of strength have been heard all the way in Sahabah.” Rashid must be growing desperate, Britney surmised. The Sultan cornered, his allies falling to Kyle's cause. Nothing is more dangerous than a cornered prey. “Conjure your message,” Kyle commanded. Mist sprayed from the messenger's open hand, swirling in the air, forming into the image of a blue room. No. A sapphire room. Figures resolved. An old man, his beard white, sitting in rich, blue silks upon a throne of sapphire. A woman squirmed at his feet, chained and bound. A young Marid, a mad look in his eyes, held a knife to the throat of the woman. “Mom?” Kyle gasped, his hand ...

... squeezing down on the hilt of the sword, his eyes towards the emissary. Britney cocked her head. Faiza was dead. What did the Marid wish to accomplish by showing such a blatant falsehood? “How dare you!” Kyle bellowed, his sword flashing out into his hand. “Do you think to weaken me by showing me an image of my dead mother?” The grin vanished from the emissary's face and he stepped back, swallowing. “Your mother is quite alive. She is a prisoner of the Sultan.” “Say it!” growled the Marid holding a knife to Faiza's throat. “You better cooperate or Makerah will slit your throat,” Rashid declared, stroking his white beard. Britney studied the young Marid holding the knife to Faiza's throat. Makerah was the last Unbound that still lived to serve Rashid. Zaritha had said he was Rashid's own son who had been tricked into becoming Unbound by the Sultan so Rashid could preserve his own power. “Kyle!” the image of Faiza shouted. “Don't listen to what they say. Let them kill me again! I don't want you to get hurt.” “Mom?” Kyle asked, his voice warbling. “Be strong, Kyle,” Britney said. “Your mother is dead. You witnessed her death, remember.” “That is your mother,” the emissary assured. “Keep speaking, whore!” hissed Makerah, his blade pressing into her neck. “Say something so that Kyle knows it's truly you.” Faiza bit her lip, her face pale with fear. “Kyle. I am alive. Burke cast some spell. You only thought I was dead. The Marid found me and revived me.” “Give him proof that he cannot ...