Son of Suleiman

Azlaan's sabre swept toward Lucifer's neck.

"Halt!" The command cut through the chaos.

The blade stopped an inch from skin.

A man in black strode forward, soldiers spreading out behind him. "Lower your weapons. Now."

His eyes locked on Azlaan, then shifted to Lucifer—and widened.

"Lower it!" he barked at Azlaan. "How dare you draw swords in Bornia?"

Azlaan kept his blade steady. "This man will face justice for what he's done."

The man's face darkened. "Only I, Simone, Lord of Bornia, enforce laws. Only I pass judgment."

"Then your laws failed to stop this man."

"Who are you to speak of justice?" Simone stepped closer. "Release Lord Lucifer. Now."

Azlaan's gaze didn't waver from Lucifer. "Lucifer. What a fitting name." He looked at Simone. "Will you give the innocent justice? Will you punish this man?"

"You dare give ME orders?" Simone's voice rose. "I should punish YOU first, you lowborn savage. Give me your name!"

"I am Azlaan, Governor of the Northern Karshan Frontier."

Silence fell over the market square.

Simone stared at him for a long moment, then let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Governor? You?"

He looked Azlaan up and down—the road dust on his plain clothes, no fine silks, no insignia, the blood on his blade. "You look more like a mercenary than a governor."

"A gold coin is still gold, regardless of the mud on it."

Simone's jaw tightened. "Don't lecture me." He shook his head. "You're lying. There's been no Karshan presence in the north for years. No governors. No soldiers. You abandoned it during your war."

"We never abandoned it."

"Then where were you?" Simone's voice dripped with skepticism. "Where was Karshan when Chryssus took those lands? Where were your soldiers? Your banners?" He gestured sharply. "You expect me to believe you're a governor? You're nobody. A liar trying to talk his way out of punishment."

Azlaan repeated firmly. "I am Azlaan, son of Suleiman. And I have reconquered the northern Karshan frontier."

A man in a deep blue coat stepped forward sharply from beside Simone. "That's impossible."

Azlaan turned to face him. "And who are you?"

"I am Duke Caballarius. I personally oversaw the conquest of those lands. My commander, Thomas, reported victory just days ago." His eyes narrowed. "The northern frontier is under Chryssus control."

"Not anymore."

The Duke's expression hardened. "You expect me to believe that? Karshan was fighting a war in the south. Your empire was weakened, stretched thin. There's no way you could have retaken the north."

"Where did you receive that information?" Azlaan asked.

The Duke fell silent.

Azlaan turned to Saghir. "Bring my horse."

"No one moves," Simone snapped, raising his hand to his soldiers.

"Don't you want proof?" Azlaan asked.

The Duke placed a hand on Simone's shoulder. "Let him. When his lies collapse, we'll deal with him properly."

Saghir slipped through the line of soldiers toward the edge of the square.

The woman who'd taken Teo earlier stood beside the Duke. Her hair was startlingly white, yet her face was young. During the chaos, Azlaan hadn't gotten a proper look at her—he'd only seen her take the boy to safety. Now he could see her clearly. He'd never seen anyone like her before. Then again, he'd thought the same about Noor when he first saw him. She stepped closer and leaned toward the Duke's ear.

The Duke's composure cracked. His eyes widened, then narrowed with fury. He looked toward the burning poles, then back at Lucifer.

The Duke turned to Simone and spoke quietly. Azlaan couldn't make out the words, but Simone's scowl deepened. He shook his head, gesturing sharply toward Lucifer. The Duke's response was clipped, firm. Simone's jaw worked, clearly displeased, but finally he gave a tight nod.

Simone turned toward his soldiers. "Release those women."

"No!" Lucifer yelled, still under Azlaan's blade. "These women are witches! They must be punished!"

Azlaan looked down at him. "Be silent, you lying donkey."

"Lord Lucifer," the Duke said coldly, "even if these women were guilty—which has not been proven—there must be a trial before punishment. That is the law."

Lucifer tried to move. The sabre bit into his skin.

Hooves hammered across the square as Saghir led Noor forward.

Whispers erupted. Eyes widened at the impossible sight. The black stallion cut through the crowd like a shadow made solid, moving with an almost otherworldly grace.

Saghir stopped beside Azlaan and took hold of Lucifer. Azlaan moved to Noor's side, reaching into the saddlebag. He pulled out a sealed letter and extended it toward the Duke.

A soldier stepped forward and carried it to him.

The Duke broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. As his eyes scanned the contents, his face went pale.

The letter bore Lagos's signature—proof of surrender, proof of conquest.

The Duke looked up at Azlaan, disbelief clear in his eyes. "But how?" His voice was tight. "Karshan was supposed to be weakened."

"Your intelligence was wrong," Azlaan said.

"You broke the treaty," Azlaan continued. "While we fought our war, you took advantage and invaded our territory." He mounted Noor. "Now you will compensate."

"What do you want?"

"Ransom for every prisoner we hold. And Thomas. Immediately."

The Duke's hand tightened on the letter. "We can provide ransom. But what crimes has Thomas committed?"

"Ordering the murder of innocents."

"Give us time to investigate—"

"One week." Azlaan's voice was iron. "Come to Barzan Fort. Personally. Bring Thomas and the ransom."

"Now please excuse me. I have done what needed to be done."

Azlaan guided Noor toward the woman beside the Duke and extended his hand for Teo. The boy reached for him immediately. She lifted him up, and Azlaan took him, settling him on the saddle.

She'd helped when she didn't have to. He didn't know who she was, but her actions spoke clearly.

He turned to Simone and the Duke. "I'm taking this child with me. I trust you will bring him justice."

His gaze shifted to the woman. "And I trust you personally will see this through."

She met his eyes and nodded once.

Azlaan called to his men. They formed up around him and rode toward the edge of the square.

Simone let them pass.

Behind them, Lucifer's voice rose. "What are you doing? He offended me! He can't leave without paying—"

The voice faded as they rode away.

Teo shifted in the saddle. “Are we going to find Mama?”

Azlaan took a breath. “She’s gone away for a while.”

“Where did she go?”

“Someplace far. But she’ll be alright.”

Teo frowned. “What about her bread?”

“We’ll keep it for her,” Azlaan said. “She’ll want it when she comes back.”

Teo nodded, hugging the bread to his chest. “Okay.”