LITMIR.BIZ

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skirted young females raced to their mistress, Abram drew out his large sword. He planted it in front of his large body. Now the back entrance to the private garden was guarded from any evil attack.

      After Lot got back from his harrowing experience, he told Abram that the uncle tried to buy him off after pounding him with questions about the number of guards in their mistress's household. Always quick witted, Lot had replied that there were still many guards, as the men of the dead husband's retinue had not as yet left for their home. As he suspected, this answer did not please his inquisitor. It was then that he was offered a bribe to be the eyes and ears of this wicked man. Lot pretended to go along with the deal, but was not convinced that his mistress was not any safer from his deceptions.

      Nodding,Abram told Lot to draw his sword then stand guard in his place. Abram then risked his mistress's displeasure by entering the garden. Azur came up to him to demand to know why he had left his post. But Sarai said in a calming tone,

      "I am sure Abram had a good reason for deserting his assigned place. Don't you Abram? You are still loyal, I hope?"

      Bowing his head to acknowledge his agreement, Abram said boldly,

      "Mistress there has been an attempt to bribe one of your guards. Your uncle has also asked him many questions about the number of swords protecting your household."

      Nodding, Sarai said,

      "So, now we see my uncle's intent. He plans to seize me to marry off to one of his own people. That would mean great loss of face for my father. My uncle may even try to use me as a hostage to force my father to abdicate."

      Sarai's mother nodded all the way through this surmise by her highly intelligent daughter. She said,

      "The army will only follow the one who possesses the jewel of power given to our ancestors by our most important God."

      Now Sarai was also nodding. Both women were so lost in their own thoughts that they were surprised when Abram said innocently,

      "Why then don't you steal it first mistress?"

      Azur scowled as Sarai's mother looked horrified at this sacrilege. But Sarai said this to placate her fears,

      "Mother in this Abram is right. We must pretend to steal the jewel then secretly return it to you. My uncle will race off hunting down the jewel but leave father in peace. It is the only way to stop his evil plan."

      Wanting to argue against a course of action that could only place her daughter in great danger, but knowing from her gift that this was their only chance, Sarai's mother said sadly,

      "I know he is right, but if I were to lose you then I could not live on this earth."

      Abram now spoke up to show his great promise,

      "Until the day I die mistress, no harm shall come to you."

      At this point Azur realized that Abram loved his mistress as much as he did so he added his own promise,

      "Little Sarai, I watched you grow year by year. No one will harm you as long as I breath. The two of us will protect you from your uncle."

      Smiling her gratitude Sarai said,

      "I thank you both. With your protection and a little cunning we will thwart my uncle's ambitions. Now mother, you must get the jewel and place it in your moon festival offering box. I will carry it out of the palace right under the nose of my corrupted uncle. And I will smile sweetly into his eyes when I leave his sight."

      Laughing mirthlessly, her mother said,

      "I will send my personal guard to secretly follow you home. If your uncle tries to send men to kidnap, you they will be in for a big shock.

      As Sarai left the palace she waved back to her mother and father. Fate is cruel but hidden. Sarai was not to know that she would never lay eyes on her father again. The jewel of power was now hers to protect. To do that she would have to avoid all the other dangers that destiny had in store for this proud woman.

      Abram strode on one side of Sarai watching the alleyways. Azur walked in front of his mistress daring anyone to try to do her harm. Lot brought up the rear often walking backwards to prevent any attack from the rear. Still when it came, not one of them saw the direction from which the attack was made. Suddenly they were surrounded by many knives. For now the three large swords kept these attackers at bay, but it was only a matter of time before fatigue made their arms drop.

      Things looked very dark as the swords got heavy in the hands of the three bodyguards. The leader of the attack saw his chance so he gave the signal for an all out attack. Just as the blades came flashing in to kill, screams rent the air. The attackers were being attacked. As palace guards ripped apart their bodies, knives fell harmlessly to the ground. None were spared. Soon weary bodyguards were sheathing their swords as Sarai thanked her mother's personal guard. They all left the scene before any more attacks could be launched.

      Back in her city house, Sarai had Azur check on the security measures he had installed to keep her safe. Calling Abram and Lot into her library, she had a brainstorming session on their next course of action. Finally Sarai decided on her only viable option. She said in a commanding tone,

      "We will all go to my mother's section of the palace. That attack came from my uncle. Unfortunately father does not see how evil his brother has become due to his lust for power. But my uncle is scared of my mother. We saw today how efficient her guards were in that alley. Besides, the gem of power is no longer safe here. I would not put it past my uncle to burn this house down then claim it was our street attackers exacting vengeance. Of course, his people would be here first to find the gem next to our charred bodies. I will call Azur, then we will all leave. Get some more weapons. We may have to fight our way through the streets. But no shortcuts this time. We travel down the main street going to the palace. I grew up there so I know every secret entrance."

      Abram and Lot went off to grab as many weapons as they could carry. Then Lot got an idea. He said to his uncle,

      "Let's load up the household colt with the heavier weapons. That way we can carry even more concealed weapons. No need advertising all our lethal assets."

      Abram agreed, so they fetched the colt and put a carry saddle on its back. A strong colt, it handled the heavy weapons' weight easily.

      Suddenly they heard a wail from the library. Rushing back to their mistress, they saw Azur on his knees crying as a palace slave girl spoke. Only able to catch the unfinished part of this slave's message, they only heard these words from her mouth,

      "........Sorry esteemed lady but there was nothing we could do to stop them. Your uncle must have seen my mistress's guards leave the palace. By the time they got back, he had already killed his brother then surrounded our section of the palace. We were trapped inside, then we heard a loud battle going on just outside. That was when the mistress sent me out by her secret tunnel. I was to race here to warn you. But the streets are filled with gangs looting. I had to scurry via my old neighborhood. There I got the information about where the gangs were worse so I went the long way around to your house...."

      Sarai tried to overcome the sorrow of losing her beloved father. She had to concentrate on the living. Time later to get her revenge on her uncle. So she said to the slave girl,

      "But what news of my mother? Is she safe with her guards? I must know the whole truth of this evil deed."

      Not short of bravery, the slave girl said,

      "If you order it I will go back the sneaky way I came then get in via the hidden tunnel. If that is your will mistress."

      Sarai thought only for a second before saying ,

      "It is my will. Now I remember your name. You are called Yamin. We played together as children. Sorry I did not recognize you at once, but you have grown into a beautiful woman. Be careful not to let my uncle's men see you. Now go with my grateful thanks..."

      "That would be futile" said Abram. "better she stay here or better yet she comes with us. She cannot return to the palace alive. Not now that your uncle is the new ruler."

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