Are you going to ask him about the terrible thing?

Yes, I am. There is no telling what else could be there, and you know we are both feeling compelled to go back.

I don’t want to go there again, but you’re right. There is something about that place that calls to me for a reason, if I could remember.

Deneve walked into the King’s quarters, not bothering to knock, but the King was dead asleep. It would be so easy to slit his throat, but she wouldn’t. She would not determine the political situation in this country.

The King woke a few moments later when he found his sheets were binding him to the bed. Deneve lit a couple of candles so the Monarch could see who had tied him.

“Deneve, I’m glad to see you, or rather I’m surprised with this impromptu late-night visit. If you wanted to spend the night with me, you could have just asked.” He reached to pat the bed, but bedsheets wound around him tighter. “I do prefer to tie up my women, but in your case, I’ll make an exception.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Deneve said coldly. She flicked the sheet up and raised an eyebrow sardonically. “For all your big talk, I guess being king makes a man a bit soft.”

Sahazad’s face fell as she walked around the bed, and he knew she was the predator and he the prey. “What do you want?” He asked.

“I have two questions, and if I don’t like your answers, I can guarantee that you lose more than your dignity,” Deneve stated.

Sahazad swallowed hard, but to his credit, he faced her. “What do you want to know?”

“Did you know the chamber was deadly?” Deneve asked.

“I had never been there myself. The castle was abandoned long before I was born,” Sahazad admitted, “I was told the chamber was deadly because of the artifact there. Grandfather called it the Halidom. The key will open it.”

This Halidom thing sounds familiar.

“And who else knows about this deadly artifact of destruction? “Deneve asked.

“Purajin, Barhan, and I,” He sighed.

Deneve nodded. The pieces were starting to fall into place. “Your father probably warned you and Barhan. But who told Purajin? It doesn’t really matter,” Deneve started pacing thoughtfully as sparks flew from her fingertips. “Then Purajin made Saya think that the key was there, and you told Manmehan the same.”
“I did,” he admitted. “I needed to find someone who could survive being in the room. I could trust their discretion.”

“Was there ever a key?” Deneve asked, or was this just some cover for you to get someone to do your dirty work and get out of your agreement at the same time.
“From what Father said, there was a key,” Sahazad said, “but it’s been lost.”

“I did find in the room was a box that required a key,” Deneve said.

“No one has ever survived going into the Cokro chamber,” Sahazad said with evident excitement. “I didn’t know about any box with a key.”

Deneve shook her head, “You realize I wasn’t alone.”

The King looked horrified. “Barhan or Saya didn’t go, did they?”

“Tsk, tsk, You’re the king, and you’re not even aware of where you’re family is,” she replied, shaking her finger at him. “That would be a tragedy now, wouldn’t it? Although either of them may have gone if I asked, I did not. However, it was someone I care for deeply, and I have yet to find him. You better hope I do.”

“I think you forget that I am the King,” he said.

“And I think you forget I could kill you with a snap of my fingers,” Deneve retorted. She snapped her fingers, and the sheet around his neck started to tighten.

Sahazad realized his mistake and tried to apologize, but his words were choked. Deneve snapped her fingers again the sheets loosened. “Now that you know your place, you are going to tell me everything about this key and the halidom. I personally detest killing. It’s a messy business.”

“I don’t know anything about the halidom other than it exists.” He said, “The key is another matter though you will need to go to Aakman and find Atosa. I’ve received word from today. They have the information you need.”

“So what pray tell did you plan to do with the halidom?” She asked curiously.

“Just having it would ensure my place as King,” He said, “but I hoped the ruins key was there as well.”

“Pathetic,” Deneve stated, “so worried about your power. You put control of it in my hands anyway.” Sahazad looked startled by her words. “Oh, don’t worry, I don’t care about your power. I don’t want it. All I want is for Mediah to remain free and have Valencia’s undying trade and military support. You have made your bed already, pun completely intended.”

Sahazad looked at her incredulously, “That is really all you require?”

“Yes, I guess that is hard for someone like you to comprehend.” She said as if talking to a child. “I care about people for who they are, not for what they can give me.” Sahazad nodded as if to appease Deneve. “You will do this whether I am successful or not. I will continue looking for your key until the ominous sign disappears one way or another. I know you didn’t manufacture that prediction.”

“Agreed,” Sahazad said quickly. “I’ll have the contract drawn up tomorrow and send it to Bareeds.”

“Fine, I’ll be going now,” Deneve said as the sheets loosened and she teleported away.