The Vizier had to be stopped.
No one knew where the man had acquired his snake-headed scepter - a wicked looking, ill-fated thing. But it was clear to all that it was the source of his new-found powers.
With it he had conjured spirits and fuddled minds throughout the kingdom. The Sultan was stuck abed, devoid of both wits and strength, and in a surprise move that shocked the lands - the grand council had ruled that the Vizier should assume control of the kingdom, despite Shaia's obvious capacities.
Princess Shaia had assets, though.
She too had acquired an item of power. An amulet that shielded her from the Vizier's tricks - enabling her to see through his spirits and left her clear headed even when all others around her fell under the Vizier's sway. It had arrived mysteriously at her rooms, shortly after the Vizier had returned from the desert with his snake-headed-scepter. At first she had assumed it was just a pretty bauble from some admirer of her beauty, but as the Vizier began his climb to power, Shaia had teased out its true use – and sent a prayer of thanks to whoever had secreted her this powerful weapon.
She had another weapon, too. A secret ally. Issam, a handsome, strong, lean, clever commoner who lived in the town in the shadow of the palace - though truth be told, it might be that many days and nights could pass between him spending a night in his own bed.
But always the Vizier's power was only growing. New taxes were levied, new powers were granted to him. The courtiers openly gaped at the obscene size of the Vizier's harem. His conjured spirits roamed the castle, ever less subtle. More and more guards - real and phantasmal. The odds of success ever shrinking. So Shaia and Issam needed a plan, and it had to be fast.
The plan that Princess Shaia and Issam had settled on was to leverage the Vizier's own vices against him. It was an open secret that the Vizier lusted after Shaia. Before he had acquired his serpent-staff, the Princess had often spotted him staring at her - and it was known that he had made a marriage offer to the Sultan. After his rise to power, his harem included many women who bore a striking resemblance to the Princess. It was even rumored that late at night, that the Vizier would use his dark powers to conjure spirits in Shaia's form to share his bed.
And so, Shaia would grant him everything he could ever wish. She would offer herself to him, purse her pretty lips and bat her long eyelashes, and wriggle her hips and thrust out her breasts. She had seduced men before. It was easy for her - she was beautiful and lusty in a way that she had always found men were powerless to ignore. Her amulet would shield her if the Vizier tried to fuddle her wits or to assault her with phantasms.
Meanwhile, while the Vizier was thus engaged, Issam, who would previously have hidden himself somewhere in the Vizier's chamber, carrying a long knife and a heart full of determination, would strike. He would knock the scepter away from the wicked man and then slit his throat. Simply done. Shaia would rise to power, pardon Issam, grand him a title and take him as a husband - or, at least, a consort.
Easy - Seduce, distract, incapacitate, assassinate.
Shaia deeply hoped that Issam would act swiftly, before she had to suffer the Vizier's caresses - before he thought to move in for a kiss - both plotters agreed that the plan would certainly not need to last any longer than that - nor could it. The pair, after all, was deeply in love. Shaia could not bear to give herself to another man, no more than Issam could bear to watch it.
On the set-upon evening, Shaia took extra care while preparing her appearance. Darkening her eyes just so, and reddening her lips. Dressing in light and loose silks - many of which were completely sheer - offering even a casual observer tantalizing glimpses of the smooth skin underneath. And of course, her amulet, a beautiful thing, nestled in the swell of her breast.
She approached the Vizier's chambers confidently. After all, she had no reason to be apprehensive. Her part was easy - the whole plan would prove to be simple to execute. Seduce, distract, incapacitate, assassinate.
Uncharacteristically, there were no guards at the doors to the Vizier's chambers. So Shaia knocked boldly, instead of being announced.
The Vizier himself opened the door. His eyes glittered slightly at the sight of her - he did not seem surprised to see her. Out of the corner of her eye, Shaia saw a wisp of a phantasm being dismissed. She couldn't help but think that it looked like a lithe, nubile woman. Shaia probably would have been inclined to scoff at the man's randiness, but somehow scoffing at the Vizier didn't seem right.
Instead, her eyes were drawn to those of the Vizier's. Though he was certainly not a bad looking man, she had always thought of him as too old - with his greying hair, too severe - with his penchant for dark looks. But today he seemed younger. Maybe even quite a bit younger. And he stood taller and stronger than seemed exactly right. His eyes were piercing. Shaia ordinarily would have thought this strange, or even alarming - but tonight she did not. Instead, she mused idly that perhaps this would not be so unpleasant after all - it might be unexpectedly fun to do her flirtatious work.
Wordlessly, the Vizier inclined his head and stepped back to allow the Princess an entry. Shaia stepped boldly in. She allowed herself a brief glance around the room, to try to spot where Issam would likely have hidden himself. She didn't see him, but she was captivated to see a strange blur in the corner. One of the Vizier's illusions or spirits? Before, she had always been able to see clearly through them. Perhaps this one was different?
Her heart began to beat faster. What if the Vizier was growing in power? What if he could conjure more powerful spells that would overwhelm her amulet? They hadn't considered that possibility - Shaia and Issam had assumed her amulet to be all-powerful. That mysterious blur seemed to hint at unexpected complications in the plan.
She tore her eyes away from the strange smudge in her vision. She didn't want to give the Vizier any sign that something was amiss.
He was looking at her serenely, smugly even.
"Good evening, Princess. I've been hoping you would stop by."
Shaia was pleased to hear that. She thought she heard the lust in the man's voice, and it was nice to be desired, even by an enemy you'd sworn to kill. She ran her eyes up and down him, taking notice of his broad shoulders, broader than she thought they had been, and the heavy bulge in his pants. A handsome, desirable enemy, she mused again.
Her heart beat a little faster.
The room was silent. Shaia realized that she should say something. She realized that she was staring. She realized that her mouth was slightly agape.
"Good evening, My Lord ... "
She struggled to finish the sentence. Shaia was surprised at how foggy she felt. It had been years since she had been tongue-tied in front of a man.
"I ... I am glad you are free to see me."
Shaia resisted the urge to shake her head, to clear her thoughts. Remember the plan, seduce him, distract him. She stood up a little taller and thrust out her chest. She raised her chin slightly, to show off her face to greatest effect, and she rested a hand casually on the flare of her hip. At least, she hoped it was casual. She pointedly didn't look at the serpent-headed scepter that the Vizier was holding lazily in his hand.
The Vizier took a step closer.
Shaia thought of Issam, hidden away somewhere in this room. Watching her and the Vizier. She guiltily thought of her fluttering heart and hoped that Issam could not tell how she felt. She carefully reassured herself that she would not be cheating on Issam. Things would not progress that far, and anyway, this was his plan, too. After tonight he would be a King. Or, at least, a consort to a Queen.
