Prince of Sand #3

Sheva slammed her fist into the table her delicate pearly white hand contrasting vividly against the rough hewn oak. “ The weapons were not delivered according to scheduled, and those that were, were of inferior quality!” She hissed in rage as the man leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “ Payment was delivered prior to receipt of the weapons as required, and were of the high quality of gem, and still, for the third time you failed. “ Burning violet eyes stared at her from the shadows the hood of the cloak cast. The mans voice was a clear tenor, educated and believable the pitch of his voice carried well throughout the room, “ The weapons were of the quality paid for, and they were delivered late due to inadequate protection along the roads, roads that you and I both know are under the protection of the Drakken high family.” Sheva started to wince but caught herself, “ The caravan is your responsibility until delivered, you charge exhorbant amounts for the clients to have to pay as well as provide protection, the Ahelmites have infiltrators as far as the Katanga Mountain ranges, that caravan should have had better protection!” The torches that lit the room flickered and Keba’s tail twitched. The black pupils from the lavender eyes flicked to the menacing creature drinking in the deep carroty fur and black strips that ran along the animals back. Keba was thirteen feet long from the point of his nose to the tip of his tail and was nearly a nine hundred pounds of lean ferocity. Sheva’s hand dropped to his neck, and the fur lowered slightly, the guards standing behind the chair tensed and their hands dropped to their swords but a flick from the cloaked figure stopped them. “ The weapons were of the quality paid for, and handed over in a timely manne..” “They were not! They were nearly two weeks late!” Once again the man raised him hand in a “stop” gesture, “Timely manner, the roads were unsafe and we were waiting for protection so the weapons would not be… mishandled…”

Sheva fumed, she couldn’t help but keep the emotion off her face and the flush on her fair skin was obvious. “ Lord Achan, the weapons were ordered to equip new recruits, their training fell behind nearly a month due to… “ Achan stood his robes whispering around him, “ This conference is over Lady Sheva, the material was delivered within the accepted time frame. If you wish to take your business elsewhere so be it. “ Turning he flowed out of the room followed by the trio of guards he had brought with him. Sheva stared as he strode into the rain, the guards pulling up hoods to keep the droplets from falling into their eyes. It had been raining for nearly five days and the rivers were rising, if it kept up like this the bridges were going to be washed away, and with Joshua gone… She strode through the back door, her green eyes staring hard into the gloom, the Kings soldiers were everywhere, and getting Achan to agree to meet her in person had been difficult. She had to be out of the city before sunset, or the gates would close and she would not make the rendezvous, she glanced at Keba and shook her head. She had not wanted to bring him along, it made her far to conspicuous, not terrible as large pets were common amongst the jungles, but a tiger still was enough out of the ordinary to be noticed, which is why, much to hers and Keba’s nose chagrined, she had come through the sewers. She still smelled of the waste that was flowed through the drainpipes was foul, but smelling wasn’t as bad as dying so she made do, the grate was a few blocks down and then down again. It would take her most of the night to navigate until she was outside of the walls and able to meet with her contacts that would arrange for her journey home, but for now, she just needed to focus.

The guard patrolling along the walks paused and nodded to her, she was a compelling figure, long crimson red hair flowed down her back partially covered by a forest green cloak. She was tall for a woman, five foot nine in her riding chestnut brown riding boots her silver spurs clinking as she walked. Her chainmail was a bluish tint, and light as a feather when compared to normal armor, and due to the fine supple leather beneath also bore the trait of being fairly quiet, sea green eyes and lightly pink lips with a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her slightly upturned nose. The ease in which she walked allowing the intricately carved long sword sheathed at her hip kept the interested guards away, of course the tiger stalking next to her made sure of it. There were many shops along the roads, all with their awning spread over the wooden walk, enticing aromas of bread, freshly grilled fish wafted from their open doors, Keba paused at a butcher shop and the butcher looked worried as he eyed the deer carcass that was hanging from the roof but a sharp whistle brought him to heel. Sheva shook her head, reaching back to tie the mane into what resembled a ponytail. “Come Keba… we’re almost there… “