"Is that what you wish to be?" Nasir asked, reaching for a fig from a nearby bowl. He didn't really want to discuss the business of spying or what Ezra might have learned from Maksim here with too many ears listening.

"I will be what you need me to be," Ezra told him, tilting his head to peer around the servant.

Felipe suddenly swore, throwing the contents of his cup into the servant's face. The man lurched backward, a blackened knife drawn from the drape of his dark clothing, slashing toward the king.

The king was caught off-guard, slow to react, but quick enough to evade the knife, mostly due to Felipe's quick action. He had tried to be vigilant, but he had not expected an attack to come from one of his servants while he was visiting with his friends.

How had anyone armed come so close to the king in the first place" As the audience chamber erupted into loud chaos, it was the king's cousin and friend who acted fastest. Felipe laid hands on Nasir, pulling to drag him out of harm's way, but it was Ezra who surprised everyone. The man who had gained a reputation for scholarly calm lurched up from his seat to lock the assassin's arms in place, his own tucked beneath the man's armpits and his hands locked behind the head. The tip of the knife scraped against his temple, drawing blood, but by then the guards had reacted fully to their king in danger.

Though Nasir was fully capable of defending himself, the blade had taken him completely by surprise. His face paled as he was reminded of the augur's warning and the realization that he had come just a hair's breadth too close to meeting that blade up close. As king, he recovered his composure quickly, shouting orders to have the man taken away and to search the palace for any accomplices, but as his men rushed around to follow his orders, it became obvious to those closest to him how truly shaken he was. Still, there were things that needed to be done, and he could not afford to show any weakness.

"Felipe, go make sure Safiya is safe. Ezra, come with me. You're bleeding."

Felipe opened his mouth to remind his cousin that he was not permitted to enter the harem, and thought better of it. With everything that just happened, it was clear that offending the Queen-Mother and the ladies was far down the list of worrying events. He nodded to the king, snapping an order to the two Horse Lords with them to remain with Nasir until ordered otherwise by the king himself, and strode quickly from the audience chamber. Aaron Shanin, the chamberlain, had finally taken control of the situation, the erstwhile assassin disarmed and rendered unconscious by impolute means now being dragged from the chamber to the place of interrogation.

Ezra, on the other hand, was just a little shocked by the whole thing, blinking in surprise when Nasir pointed out he was injured.

"Bleeding?" He raised a hand to his temple, seemingly startled when his fingers came away wet with blood. "I hadn't even noticed. Lively court you have here, Nasir."

"It has been a challenge," Nasir remarked, not wanting to get into too many details of what court life had been like these past weeks since he'd become king. Challenging was probably an understatement. "Come, I will show you to the infirmary," he told his friend, just now realizing that he probably shouldn't have sent Felipe to see to Safiya, but it was too late now to belay that order.

"My word, I am honored," Ezra commented, moving to join his friend and king as he was ushered from the audience chamber. "A royal escort to have a trained physician wash my face." He was deliberately flippant; to take the attack seriously would mean to give the impression that the king was constantly in danger and could die at any moment. Whether that was true or not, gossip and rumor could be a terrible thing for a ruler to contend with.

"As well you should be," Nasir replied, as the two men made their way from the audience chamber. "It will not happen again. That I can assure you," he added, taking his friend's lead in being flippant. It would never do for his enemies to know how close that assassination attempt had come or how it had rattled him. "It is not quite the welcome I would have wished for."

"Certainly memorable," Ezra pointed out, his eyes reflecting a certain amount of worry for his friend even as he continued in the same light vein of conversation, acutely aware of the two enormous men following close behind them. "I fear I may have added a new thread to my unspeakably good reputation. By the end of the day, there will have been twenty assassins, and I will have been stabbed seventy times and saved by the hand of the Goddess."

"That is not necessarily a bad thing, Ezra," Nasir pointed out, though having an inflated reputation could work both in or against his favor. "I need quick-thinking men who are not afraid to face danger," he added, not entirely a jab at his guards, though it was their job to keep him and those of his court safe from such incidents.

"I hate to break it to you, old boy, but there wasn't much thinking involved," Ezra admitted candidly. "My friend was in danger. That is all I needed to know to act, and I am rather sure that if your cousin had not seen the knife, we would be mourning you right now."

"That is not a very comforting thought, my friend," Nasir replied with a frown. He did not want to speak of the diviner here, where too many ears might be listening. Perhaps now that the premonition had come to pass and the perpetrator captured, there could be peace in the palace.

"You need to reinstitute the guards' rights to search everyone who enters your presence and remove anything that could be deemed suspicious or dangerous from them before they are allowed to greet or serve the king," Ezra said. "It's draconian, but it makes a point, and you will be able to relax it after a few years."

"Yes, you are probably right," Nasir said, though he would have extended that search to include Safiya, whom he had unwittingly made a target when he'd proclaimed her Teliran. He frowned with worry at the thought of that, but he had already sent Felipe to ensure her safety. There was not much more he could do than that, for the time being.

As they reached the infirmary, one of the Horse Lords pulled one of the Valentin guards forward, silently warning the king and his friend to stay put for the time being as the infirmary was thoroughly investigated for any sign of treason or danger. Only when they were certain were the physicians allowed to open the doors.

Ezra rolled his eyes. "As I said, draconian, but workable."

Nasir only nodded, allowing his friend to take charge of his safety. A king could only do so much, after all, and his mind was focused on other matters. "Perhaps I should make you Captain of the Royal Guard," he said, half-jesting again. Whatever was decided, Ezra was assured a place in the king's personal circle.

The cut was, thankfully, not so deep as to cause lasting damage, though Ezra would likely have an impressive scar to pay homage to his homecoming for the rest of his life. As the physician cleaned and bandaged the wound, a commotion made itself known outside the doors of the infirmary, raised voices clearly audible to those within. One of those voices was Felipe's.

Teres blinked up at them both, looking a little in a state of shock, but whether it was because she now knew who it was that was offering her comfort or because of the attack on Safiya was unclear.

"Of course." Ezra bowed slightly as Nasir stepped away, turning back to Teres with a serious look in his eyes. "Now then, perhaps you can tell me why everyone is so concerned for the life of a single woman," he said, still speaking in that calm, gentle tone. "It is unusual for a king of Valentia to be so concerned over the health of a single Teliran, but Nasir is not a usual king."

As a woman of the harem, she knew she was forbidden from touching any man but the king, and yet, Ezra was no ordinary man, and she was certain the king wanted no one but Safiya. She glanced around to make sure no one else was watching before setting a hand gently against his arm to draw him aside. "He intends to make her his only wife," she whispered back, letting the implications of that sink into his brain.

The spark of interest that rose in his eyes was discernible only for a moment, a second of curiosity over what made this particular woman enough for a friend who had managed not to entangle himself with any woman for more than one or two nights for the majority of his life. "I see." Ezra considered this for a moment, studying the shadowy figures behind the screen before turning his eyes back to the young woman. "Forgive me, Suraan. I am Ezra Turzic, newly returned to Valentia to offer my service to my king." He bowed to her respectfully.

"You honor me, sir, but I know who you are," Teres said in reply, nodding her head in acknowledgment of his introduction. She had not known him a moment ago, but now that she knew his name, she understood why he had seemed so familiar - and she was not displeased thus far with the man that too-serious boy had become. "I am Teres Suraan," she told him, her eyes asking if he remembered her, even if she did not say as much out loud.

"Ah." His bearded face softened with an amused smile. "The ticklish bane of my teenaged years has grown into a beauty with intelligence to match, I see. It is good to see you, Teres."

"I see you have learned how to smile, my lord," she countered, a small smile lighting her face, if only momentarily. Remembering why there were there in the infirmary, that smile was short-lived. She was not fond of gossip, but what she knew of Raya she had learned from first-hand experience and from Sarifya herself. "Raya was one of the most beautiful in the harem to look upon, but that beauty did not transcend to her soul," she told him.

"I see," he said again, his own smile swiftly replaced with a frown. "How long ago was she banished to the Old Palace, Teres" Could she still have ties to the servants and guards in the harem?"

"Not long," she replied, mirroring his expression. "A few weeks. There was a-a conflict between them, Raya and Safiya. I was not there to see it, but I was told later. The Queen-Mother had her banished to the Old Palace. She is a hateful creature, my lord. She was jealous of Safi, but the banishment was her own doing. The king desires a peaceful harem, and there would be no peace with Raya there."

"She cannot be the only suspect," Ezra mused. "Though this does make her an obvious suspect. How widely known are the king's plans to be monogamous, do you know?"

"I am sure she has her allies, my lord," Teres replied. Though she could not say for sure who was involved in such a plot, she did know which women had been friendly and even sympathetic to Raya. Most of them had also left the harem to be given away as wives for some of Nasir's advisers. "The king has made many changes, and I would assume not everyone is happy with these changes," she said, only knowing what Safiya had told her and what she had heard whispered in the harem.

"I understand." He offered her a fainter smile, in an attempt to be reassuring. "I am sure we will uncover the culprits, Teres."

As he spoke, the younger physician stepped out from behind the screen, carrying a covered bowl.

"Pardon my impertinence, my lord, but it is good to have you home. The king needs loyal, trusted friends he can count on," she told him, one hand reaching to touch his before quickly pulling away. Her gaze flickered to the screen, that worried look returning to her face. "Will she recover?" she asked, holding her breath as she awaited an answer.

"We have given her the antidote," the woman said calmly. "She roused enough to vomit, but she is very weak. My colleague is still examining her. But it is hopeful."

"May I-may I stay here with her, please?" she pleaded, looking to Ezra, too, for support. "She is like a sister to me," she said, knowing the only one who really had the authority to allow or deny her presence was the king or the Queen-Mother.

"When the examination is complete, you will be able to sit with her," the young physician assured Teres. "For her own modesty's sake, no one may enter until the examination is finished. Excuse me, I have duties to attend to."

Ezra nodded, almost absently turning with innocent purpose to hold open the screen for a moment so that Teres could at least see her friend. Safiya was still listless in the bed, but her eyes were open and her cheeks flushed. She looked much better for having evacuated her stomach so soon. He let the screen fall closed after only a moment, however.

"Oh, thank the Goddess," Teresa whispered with an audible sob of relief, fresh tears springing to her eyes. She was still visibly shaken, her face pale and tear-stained, but she hoped the worst of the danger was over.

A soft square of pristine white linen was laid into her hand - Ezra's own handkerchief, excavated from his tunic with an understanding glint in his eyes. "Will you be well here?" he asked her gently. "I do not believe the combined anger of the king, his mother, and his cousin will be conducive to an effective interrogation."

She nodded, surprised to find herself wishing he'd stay. She had been raised in the harem and taught that her only desire should be to please the king, and yet, she found herself hoping for another man who might give her the same love the king was bestowing upon Safiya. She gratefully took his handkerchief, briefly grasping his hand as she did so. "You should go to him, then. My place is here with the Teliran."

He covered her hand with his own for a brief moment. "We will talk again," he assured her, inclining his head briefly before turning to go in search of the king.

She could only watch him go and hope. At least, she had not wilted like a flower at the slightest sign of trouble. She would see him again; she was sure of it. But for now, her focus had to be on Safiya.

As Ezra was leaving Teres to seek out the king, Nasir was in the presence of his mother and cousin. Shahista was pacing, agitated, infuriated, that anyone would dare to commit an attack on her son; that anyone would dare attack her son's heart. Terrified that she might be blamed for the lapse in security that had allowed a poisoner to target the woman he loved.

"Lady, please," Felipe was saying. "Calm yourself. As you say, the serving girl has told us everything she knows, and the culprit is being tracked as we speak. We may yet discover everything necessary in the face of the woman who has been summoned here."

"If such a confinement could be made certain, that would be a better choice," Ezra agreed. "For preference, in a different country, so there is no possibility of contact between herself and her erstwhile allies."

"This is all conjecture," Felipe pointed out. "We have no proof of anything as yet."

"No, we don't, and we have to be sure," Nasir said, agreeing with Felipe. "How do you wish to go about this?" he asked, looking back at his mother. "Shall I have her summoned here?"

"This chamber is suitable, yes," Shahista agreed. "The modesty screen is unobtrusive - you will be able to stand behind it without her knowing that you are present. Provided you boys can keep your whispering to a minimum."

Ezra bit down a smile, glancing at his feet.

"I am sure that will not be a problem," Nasir said, turning to look at his cousin and his old friend - one who'd become one of his most trusted companions and the other who had held that same place in his life many years ago.

Felipe was openly grinning. "If I promise not to whisper loudly, auntie dearest, will I get a treat?" he asked, earning a loud snort of laughter from Ezra as the man struggled not to chuckle too much at the way the Queen-Mother was talking to them.

"You will have to ask that of your Jane when you return home, cousin," Nasir interjected. He knew Felipe was trying to alleviate some of the tension with a little humor, but he was still too worried about Safiya to appreciate it. Still, he was trying.

The back door of the chamber opened, admitting the arrival of the senior female physician. "Majesty," she greeted Nasir, bowing low before him. "May I crave a moment of your time" Concerning the Teliran."

"Yes, of course," Nasir replied, turning toward the woman and gesturing for her to step aside with him so they could speak privately for a moment. He had already been told that the physicians believed Safiya would recover. He hoped they had not been wrong.

Speaking quietly, the physician nonetheless was very careful in the choice of her words. "Safiya Teliran is responding well to treatment," she told the king. "It was a potent compound of belladonna and poppy, the majority of which she vomited when encouraged. We have administered the antidote, but I should like her to remain in the infirmary until she has kept down some food and is strong enough for a second examination."

"Yes, of course," he repeated in complete agreement. "Whatever you need." He paused a moment before going on, brows furrowing in obvious concern. He had recovered his composure somewhat, but there was no mistaking his concern for the well-being and safety of his Teliran. She was, after all, not just a concubine, but the woman he loved. "She is of the utmost important to me. Do you understand?" he asked, hoping he did not have to explain his feelings any more than that.

"She is our utmost concern, majesty," the physician assured him confidently. "She is young, and strong, and I believe the poison did not affect her as was perhaps hoped. Further examination is necessary, majesty, but I believe Safiya Teliran is with child."

"With child?" Nasir echoed quietly, a confused look on his face. Was that possible" How could they know so soon' His thoughts returned to the prediction Safiya had passed along from the diviner. Thus far, the woman had been right. He found himself filled with excitement and unspeakable joy at the news he was being given, but it was tempered with worry over Safiya's well being. "Do everything you can for her, and please ....do not tell anyone anything just yet."

"As you wish, your majesty." The physician bowed to him, moving to leave the chamber and return to her patient, leaving the king to absorb what he had been told before he resumed his wait. And it was a wait. It was an insult that Raya somehow believed she had the right to delay a summons for so long.

Though Nasir had learned to conceal his feelings, it was clear he was agitated. He was glad Teres was there with Safiya, but he wanted to be there, too. He was anxious to see her; to hold her hand and touch her face; to kiss her lips and know she was his; to make certain she was well and would stay that way. But first, he needed to deal with the one person who seemed intent on keeping them apart. It was Raya, it seemed, who was really poisoned - poisoned in her heart and her soul. It was a shame, since he might have given her to a man who would have made a fine husband, but if she was truly guilty of this crime, she had no one to blame but herself for her future.

While he had been speaking with the physician, another guard had entered, speaking quietly with Felipe. The blonde prince of Pomerania looked grave as he rejoined the group. "The assassin is dead," he said quietly. "Poison, self-administered. He must have had a capsule hidden about his person. The poisoner, on the other hand, has been found - she was attempting to leave the palace in the guise of one of the cooks."

Shahista frowned. "What do we know?"

Felipe glanced at Nasir in concern. "She is a servant at the Old Palace," he said in defeated tones. "Though she has not yet spoken, it seems clear that this Raya may well be responsible for the attempt on Safiya's life."

"She has nothing to say for her actions?" Nasir asked, though that seemed to be what Felipe was saying. He could order her questioned - tortured, even - but what they really needed to know was who was behind the plot. Had it been Raya or had it not' It was looking far more likely, but if he was going to dole out punishment, he had to be sure. They were not only going to have to question Raya, but everyone who worked and resided in the Old Palace, it seemed. "Very well, Felipe. I trust you to handle things at the Old Palace," he said, trusting his cousin to do whatever was necessary to weed out the conspirators.

"She has said nothing yet," Felipe confirmed. "But there are ways to induce a person to talk that do not require torture or medicines." He had been a military leader on the border between Pomerania and Coimbra for several years; at least he knew he could do this. Noises from beyond the main doors into the chamber suggested that Raya had finally arrived and was waiting to be invited inside. "With your permission, cousin, I will see to that interrogation while you and your mother see to this one."

"You have my permission," Nasir confirmed with a nod of his head. "Ezra, would you return to the infirmary and wait for me there?" He didn't go so far as to say as much, but he wanted someone there he trusted to make sure both Teres and Safiya remained safe should there be more trouble.

"At your command, majesty." Ezra bowed, and together, the two men left the audience chamber to attend to their disparate tasks.

Shahista turned to her son. "If she is guilty, I will have it from her lips, Nasir, I swear it."

"Let us hope so, Mother," Nasir replied, his expression grave. He found this whole business distasteful and entirely unnecessary. Raya could have had a pleasant enough life, if she had not become so poisoned by jealousy.

She touched his cheek affectionately. "Hide yourself, darling. She has been kept waiting long enough to be irritated by now."

Despite what anyone said about his mother, he trusted her implicitly, knowing she had his best interests at heart. Somehow he needed to convince her that it was in his best interest to take Safiya for a wife, and that making her queen would not diminish his mother's status at court. But that was a matter for another time.

"Yes, Mother," he replied. Ever the obedient son, though he was now king, he found his hiding place behind the privacy screen and awaited Raya's arrival and subsequent questioning.

"It is not something we should lean upon, Nasir," she told him in a careful tone. "A little encouragement, perhaps, but I would not recommend making a habit of it. The population is superstitious enough without lending credence to allegations of withcraft within the royal bloodline."

"No, of course not," he readily agreed. "But no one needs to know but us, and it will not happen again," he assured her. A small smile tugged at his lips. "She said we would have three sons," he told her, hoping that, at least, would make her happy.

"And plenty of daughters to keep them under control, I hope." Shahista laughed, leaning over to embrace her son. "I am happy that you are happy, Nasir. Now why don't you go and see your beloved for yourself" I am sure she will be glad to see you."

"There is nothing I would like more," he said, moving to his feet, a grateful, relieved smile on his face. It wasn't often that he showed his mother how he felt about her, but he wanted her to know. He knelt before her, like a dutiful son, taking her hands and kissing each one in turn. "Thank you, Mother."

She leaned down, kissing his brow with a smile. "I am not a wicked queen-mother from a storybook," she reminded her son. "And I have never had a daughter. You may regret how close our friendship will become." She laughed teasingly.

"I doubt I could ever regret that," he assured her, wondering if things were turning how the way she'd hoped or even planned. Despite everything, he'd fallen in love with the woman she'd favored and chosen for him, and it seemed they would be having a child. What more could a mother ask for in a son than this" He leaned close to brush a kiss to her cheek, pausing a moment to whisper in her ear, "I do not say it often, but I do love you."

"As I love you, my son," she promised him, her eyes wet for a moment in memory of his father and brothers, taken away from them by her own half-brother's madness and paranoia. But it did not last, her composure returning as she squeezed his hands. "Go to her. You will not be easy until you do."

For the longest time, they were all each other had, but things were changing quickly, their circle of family and friends growing. "I will," he replied, feeling like a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders now that he knew both he and Safiya had her support. "Thank you again," he said, offering a respectful bow before backing away and turning to exit the room.

The infirmary was well-guarded, though Ezra was not inside the screen that protected the female side of the little room from the rest. He stood patiently, as though keeping a vigil over the women within, a faint smile on his face as he listened to the conversation. Nasir's arrival made his smile deepen, though he raised his finger to his lips to suggest silence for a moment. Safiya's voice was as strong as ever as she spoke to Teres.

"....told you that you would find a handsome man you would want for your own someday!"

Nasir opened his mouth to greet his friend, but closed it just as quickly as he was hushed to silence. He smiled in amusement as he heard Safiya's voice, presumably speaking to Teres, knowing they were very likely discussing Ezra. He put up a finger to let Ezra knew he understood and to wait a moment to see if anything else was said.

"Yes, but Ezra Turzic?" Teres was heard to say, following by a soft laugh. "I do not remember him being so handsome."

"Well, I do not remember Nasir being particularly attractive when we were small, either," Safiya answered her friend with disarming honesty. "But then, I was a chubby child with sticky fingers, and he seems to like me well enough now."

Ezra's smile tightened as he fought not to laugh. He'd been listening to this conversation quietly for several minutes already, gauging far more about the lovely Teres than she might have been ready for.

"But we were chosen for our beauty, Safi, remember?" Teres pointed out, a teasing tone to her voice. "As I recall, I was too tall and too skinny, and the Queen-Mother was always after me to comb my hair," she added with a girlish giggle.

"You are certainly not so skinny any more," Safiya teased her friend in turn. "No, I give you leave to like him. I do not think you could do better, unless you found another to love."

"Do-do you think I could love him?" Teres asked, almost hesitantly, as if she was afraid to even hope for that much.

Nasir frowned, still waiting for the right time to let them know they weren't alone.

"You will not know unless you spend time with him, maymun," Safiya told her friend gently. "Perhaps it can be arranged without embarrassment on either side."

Ezra met Nasir's eyes, somehow managing to convey with just a look that he would have no objection to spending more time with Teres Suraan.

Nasir nodded acknowledgment to his friend. Arranging time for them to spend together should prove a simple matter, and the fact that both were willing didn't hurt. Now that his mother had agreed to let him marry Safiya, there was nothing holding Teres back from finding someone else.

"I am just happy you are well, kardes," she was saying. "We were all terrified for you. The king was trying to be brave, but he was worried, too. You could see it in his eyes. He loves you very much, Safi."

"And I love him, from the bottom of my heart." Safiya's smile was audible as she spoke. "I can only hope the Queen-Mother does not take against me for my place in his life."

Nasir quietly stepped away, so that it might appear he had just arrived, and cleared his throat to warn the women of his presence.

Teres' head jerked toward the sound of someone arriving, her face flushing with embarrassment as Nasir came into view. "Majesty, your pardon," she said, moving to her feet so that she could give him a proper bow.

Safiya's face did not flush, but brightened with a soft smile that was for Nasir alone as he entered. She was sitting up against the pillows, comfortably garbed in her own shift and robe, and looking far better than she had just a few hours before. She may still have been paler than others might have liked, but it seemed that Raya's poisoner had not been very good at her job. "Majesty."

Nasir raised a hand to them both, "Please, don't get up," he said with the hint of a smirk, revealing that he did, in fact, have a sense of humor at times.

Teres looked unsure what to do, but bowed again, almost nervously, hoping he had not overheard their conversation. "Majesty, I will leave you two alone."

"Will you come back later, Teres?" Safiya asked, sure that she would be in here overnight, and that Nasir would not be permitted to remain with her.

"Yes, Safi. With the king's permission," Teres replied, looking to the king for confirmation.

"Yes, of course," Nasir confirmed with a warm smile. "I would not keep you apart."

"Thank you, Majesty," Teres said, as she backed away from her friend's bed. "I will see you later, Safi!" she added, turning and hurrying from the room only to run straight into Ezra Turzik with a thump and an "Ooof."

"Do you think they are not with the king?" Teres asked, a worried look on her face. She knew there would be those who did not want Nasir to be king and even those who might try to overthrow him, but hadn't most of the heretics been rounded up by now"

"I think there will always be dissenters, and the king has not yet had the opportunity to demonstrate that he is fully in command of the military," Ezra told her in his gentle way. "Idris will take care of that, I am sure."

"Idris," Teres echoed, furrowing her slender brows and searching her memory for a face that went with the name. "I am not sure I remember him," she admitted with a frown.

"He was not raised in the harem," Ezra clarified. "He was the son of one of the generals, raised in the barracks. Spent a fair amount of our training convincing other boys that beating me with a wooden sword was a bad idea."

"Then I owe him a debt of gratitude for keeping you safe," she said with a smile, her hand still resting lightly against his arm and liking the feel of that arm beneath her hand.

Ezra chuckled gently as they walked. "He is a good man, if a little imposing on first impressions," he said. "His father raised him with noble ideals, which is, of course, how he ended up being sentenced to death. His exile was more in the way of keeping himself alive than anything else."

"Exiled, like you and-and the king?" she asked curiously. She did not know everything that happened outside the harem, especially during the years when Nasir's uncle was king.

"Idris was in line to take his father's command when the general retired," Ezra explained to her. "In his madness, King Clovis feared that allowing a man raised by the military to command the military would result in a mutiny against him, and so, he signed Idris' death warrant. If his friends had not smuggled him out of the country, Idris would have died four years ago, before the king and I were ever exiled ourselves."

"So, the king is calling his friends and allies back to him. Even those he thought were dead," she said, a little amazed at what was no less than a miracle. The Goddess truly worked in mysterious ways. She had brought Nasir back to Safiya, for one. Teres would have never guessed in a thousand years that she'd find herself hoping for a future with Ezra Turzic. "What will the king have you do now you are here?"

"In truth, sweet rose, I do not know," he answered, seemingly unaware of the endearment that tripped so easily from his lips. "I returned to the capital only today, and so much has happened that I cannot truly predict where the king may find best need of my skills. Only time will tell."

"But he will keep you here, yes?" she asked, looking up to him with hopeful eyes. He had said as much, but she needed to be sure. "His cousin's wife is with child. He will be leaving soon," she said, making the case for the king needed more friends around him.

"I do not believe I would have been welcomed back so warmly, nor allowed to remain so close in these confidences today, if he did not plan to keep me here," he told her with quiet confidence. "I have much to offer him, but more precious than any skill is my friendship. My loyalty to the king is without question."

"Then you must help find our enemies so there are no more attacks on the king or his Teliran," she said, turning to face him again and finding her hands curling against his chest, her fingers toying with the cloth of his robe. There was a pleading look on her face, her fear for the king and her friend apparent.

Ezra hesitated, glancing about them for a moment before laying his hands on her upper arms, palms warm through the silk of her gown. "I have the means to do that," he allowed her to know, "but I cannot - I will not act without my king's authority. I will speak with him, Teres. His safety is my paramount concern."

"Thank you," she whispered, feeling a little relieved to know he would do his part to keep both the king and her friend safe. There was little thought for herself in this, though she felt some hope for the future now that Nasir was king.

"Do not trouble yourself so much, sweet rose," he assured her gently. "We will protect the king, and his beloved. I swear to you, it shall be done."

"I know you will. You are a good man, Ezra," she said, quieting her voice so that her voice did not carry. It would never do to have someone overhear her calling him by name or see her standing so close, but the times were changing, and soon they would both be free to do as they would - so long as the Queen-Mother agreed.

He smiled faintly at her praise. "I know I may not be the sweeping love affair you hoped for, Teres, but I will care for you," he promised her, his own voice as soft as hers. "I will love you, if you will allow me to."

"You are more than my heart could have ever hoped for," she assured him gently and would have kissed him then, if it were not for fear of someone watching. She lingered in that moment, reluctant to let it pass, though she knew it must ....for now.

He smiled at her then, a fuller smile that made his eyes shine for a brief moment, before again putting that distance between them to take her hand upon his arm once more. "Come, then," he told her. "I am sure the other women of the harem will be eager to know that your sister is unharmed."

Those who were left anyway; those who were their friends. She followed his lead, surprised to find herself trusting him implicitly. Was this really the same gangly boy she had grown up with in the harem' The one who had never smiled"

Time can change anyone, it seemed, and time had certainly wrought fair change upon Ezra Turzic. But he retained his respect for tradition and custom, refusing to even glance through the doors to the harem as they were opened to admit Teres upon the pair's arrival. The chatter from within stilled swiftly at the sight of a man with Teres, curious eyes watching before impatience made itself known in the voice of Sasha Suraan.

"Teres, come and tell these idiots that Safiya is not dead, and that you have not been in the king's bed beside her cooling body!"

Teres actually rolled her eyes at the suggestion that Safiya was dead and that she had dared take her place in the king's bed. "Don't be ridiculous. Safiya is safe, and I ..." She paused there, chewing at the corner of her mouth with a brief but guilty glance at Ezra. "Things are changing, my sisters," she told them, though she wasn't sure just how much it was safe to share.

"I will take my leave." Ezra stepped back, his smile hidden from the other women as he bowed to Teres. "Teres Suraan."

"Who was that?" another voice demanded, only to be shushed by yet another.

Teres frowned, but offered a polite nod of her head as he stepped back. "Thank you for the escort, my lord," she said, ignoring the other women as she watched him depart.

It was merry-faced, red-haired Tulin who gently touched her arm, drawing her back to the little group. "Why have your things been taken to the concubines' quarters, Teres?" she asked sweetly. "If Safiya still lives, the king will never turn his heart from her."

"Have they?" Teres asked, frowning to know she had sent Ezra on his way, when it seemed she would be needing another escort, but before she took her leave of them, her sisters deserved to know what had happened. So it seemed the Queen-Mother had agreed to her request. "I am only going there because Safi wants me to," she said, looking around at the faces of the women she'd grown up with and who were her closest friends. "There is so much to tell you ..." she said, stepping forward to disappear among them and share all of what she knew.

"I believe she is rather fond of you, sevgili," he assured her with a warm smile. "As am I," he added. "She is being very agreeable about my wishes. I believe she only wishes us to be happy."

"I would hope that she is happy with us, Nasir," she murmured, leaning toward him. "That you are truly happy, and not simply saying it to please me."

Nasir frowned to think she might not believe he truly loved her, even after all these years. "Please tell me you do not truly believe that," he said, clutching her hands close as he met her gaze, his eyes sad to think she might not believe he loved her. "When I heard you had been poisoned, I was terrified to the depths of my soul. Angry, too, at those who dared to harm you. I did not think I would ever find myself in this position, Safi. I did not think I would ever be king. I did not think I would ever see you again. But now that I am, I promise I will do everything in my power to keep you safe, and I will love you with all my heart. There is nothing you could ask of me that I would not grant, nothing you could do that would change my love for you."

"I do not doubt you, Nasir, nor your heart," she promised him. "But I know my own heart, and I know that for your sake I would smile and pretend happiness, to keep you happy. I have no need to now, because you love me and that is all I want. But I cannot help but worry for you. You will never be able to stop me from worrying for my beloved."

Nasir smiled at her own promises. Unlike her, he had spent some time away from Valentia and had seen other cultures, traditions, and ways of life. He had seen what a man and a woman could be to each other and what they could accomplish together. This was part of what he wanted for his own country, but he knew it would take time. "I believe that is what love is about, Safi. Caring for each other, worrying for one another."

Relieved that he was not angry with her, she leaned close, touching a kiss to the tip of his nose. "I was not so very stupid, was I?" she asked uncertainly. "To drink wine I had seen others drink from the same pitcher?"

"No, love," he assured her quietly, smiling as she kissed his nose. "You could not have known, but we will be more careful from now on." He paused a moment to kiss her lips, gently, as though she was made of glass, but tenderness and affection. He had not yet told her that Raya had admitted her guilt, but she had not yet asked.

"We have much to be careful for," she murmured back to him, her hand straying to the flat expanse of her belly hopefully. His kiss gentled her concern, lessened the tension she had been carrying since realizing her foolish mistake had endangered not only her life, but the life of the child possibly planted in her womb. "I will not do anything that will endanger your child, Nasir."

He settled his hand atop hers, beneath which their child might, at this very moment, be growing inside her. "The danger has passed, love," he assured her, touching a fingertip to her lips to gently silence her promises. "Raya has admitted her guilt. Arrests have been made. I trust Felipe and Ezra will round up the remaining guilty parties. There is no need to worry."

The shock on her face was palpable in the air as he named the person who had wanted her dead. "Raya?" she repeated, the word barely more than a whisper. "She hates me so much?"

"Jealousy has poisoned her soul," Nasir said, though it seemed Raya had hated Safiya for years before he'd returned to Valentia. "She will spend the rest of her days in a covent, where she can do no further harm."

"I never dreamed she would ....would go so far," Safiya breathed, horrified at the extent of Raya's hatred. "Why would she do something like that' I never meant to hurt her, I ..."

"I have no explanation, Safiya," Nasir said, sadly. "Nor does my mother. She could have had a happy life. I would have made sure of it, but hers was a hateful, vindictive soul. Perhaps she will find some peace in the convent."

"Or forced devotion will poison her further." Safiya seemed truly upset. She had never once even thought that Raya would go so far as to wish her dead, much less take steps to make that wish a reality. "May I see her, before she is sent away?"

Nasir's frown deepened. "I do not think that would be a good idea, Safi," he told her. The woman had attacked her, not once but twice, with intent to do harm. "No, I cannot allow that. I'm sorry, love, but I do not trust her, and I cannot allow her the chance to cause more harm." Even if that harm was not physical.

No matter how gently he spoke, the king's word was final. Safiya nodded, reluctantly accepting his decision. She would likely never know exactly how she had earned Raya's emnity, and perhaps that was for the best. "As you wish."

He was glad she did not argue with him on this. "You are a gentle soul, Safiya. It is hard for you to understand someone like Raya, but there are some who are filled with so much jealousy and hatred that they do not know what it is to care for anyone but themselves. There are some who only crave power and some who are poisoned by greed. Some, like my uncle, we think of as mad, insane. It is like an illness for which there is no cure. Raya is like that. The best we can do is pray for her soul and hope she finds peace," he told her, taking her hands in his once again.

"I am sorry that her spite has brought discord into your home, Nasir," Safiya murmured tenderly. "I will do better to prevent it in years to come." She raised his hands, pressing a kiss to each palm with fervent affection. "I wish I did not have to stay here tonight. I shall be so lonely without you."

"It is not your fault, beloved," Nasir assured her, following her kisses with kisses of his own, one to each of her hands in turn. A smile appeared on his lips as a thought came to mind. It was not the usual sort of thing, but he was king and who was going to argue with the king" "Then perhaps I should stay here with you."

"And what would we tell Teres?" she asked with a warm smile. "Or your ministers, who expect to be able to find you in case of emergency?" She laughed, pressing forward to kiss him affectionately. "We will survive a single night without one another. The next time we are together, we will know if there is a third to protect between us."

"That is true. I would not wish to upset Teres," Nasir agreed, chuckling, though he was sure there wasn't much he could do to upset her when he had practically already given her into Ezra's care. "I will make sure you are not alone, and there will be guards to keep you both safe."

She giggled, nodding her assent to his terms with ease. "I do love you, Nasir," she promised him, needing to say it more often than she needed to hear it. Needing him to know he was loved. "Thank the Goddess you were not harmed."

"I love you, too, Safi," he assured her, leaning close to touch a soft kiss to her lips. "You should rest now," he told her, brushing her hair back from her face with a gentle touch. "I will ask Teres to come spend the night here with you, and I will check on you before I retire for the night."

"Thank you, beloved." With a last kiss, she eased back to settle against the pillows, unwilling to admit how weak she felt after her exciting day with all its gastric surprises. But at least there was color in her cheeks, and a smile on her face. It could so easily have been much, much worse.

He leaned closer to kiss her again, this time with a brush of lips against her forehead. There were no words to tell her how much he cared for her; he could only hope she would see it in his kisses and caresses and hear it in his words of love. "Sleep, my sweet. I will be back later," he promised, waiting until her eyes were closed and her breath grew slow and steady before making his way from the infirmary, trusting in the physicians and the guards to keep her safe.

There could be no mistaking the importance of this Teliran in the eyes of anyone in the palace from this day on. No assassin would come within thirty feet of her, and anyone who allowed such a thing to happen would pay harshly for their mistake. Valentia had a new king, and it was about time Valentia learned what that meant.