Nawra was a mix of emotions as she traveled the streets of Labrad inside her shoulder carried carriage, time was quickly running out and soon she would be packed up and shipped off to Alzamard. For no less than two weeks she would be his prisoner though in all truth she was simply one more guest among several others. Every time she thought about going it made her stomach turn remembering what the ambassador had told her about his own visit. Fareed was ever the most gracious of hosts, perfectly cultured, civil and the utmost of gentlecolts that one could ever dream of.

Of course she knew the truth as did everyone else, he was simply mocking them openly while proving his superiority to them. She dreaded the coming trip more than being stuck in a room alone with her brother Jubril for a week, he could be tolerated and put up with. Even struck back at in little ways, but not Fareed. If anyone dared to cause a scene or confrontation it would result in first pain, then disgrace and finally, hopefully, death. He was not above sending a basket of melons back to the kingdom that sent the offending ambassador, of course their head was mixed in with the melons.

It would also be impossible to leave sooner as that would be an affront and humiliating to Fareed who had graciously invited them and something she wanted to avoid at all costs.

Just smile and grit your teeth, smile and grit your teeth...

No matter how many times Nawra reminded herself of this it just made matters worse. At least she still had time to indulge her other curiosities and take care of matters before being forced into allowing Jubril to have his way with the city and its environs. Today was one such day, free of the palace as her father had taken care of matters it meant getting out of the palace for a few hours. Even Jubril was off somewhere plotting and scheming; not that she could prove it. There was no great rush to get anywhere as the servants bore her along to the next destination, as such most of the day had been spent wandering the streets and enjoying the sights.

Nawra enjoyed passing through the markets and other public areas but such things were supposed to be beneath her station not that it ever stopped her. Peaking out through the silk curtain she watched as the peasantry hurried about or stood in long lines waiting on the overworked cooks try and keep up the frenzied pace. Their stalls were swarmed with bickering and arguing locals waiting on their food as the smell of the spices and other delicacies drew in ever more customers.

The powerful aroma assaulted her senses making her mouth water a little as such food was forbidden within the palace, the cooks were required to serve only the finest and best. Such "street food" as the locals called it was peasant food and thus not fit for the royal palette and should the cooks ever dare to make it, they would probably be flogged and then immediately dismissed for daring to serve it in the royal household. To her though it was a wasted opportunity and more than once she had pulled a little trickery to get her hands on the marvelously smelling food the peasants got to eat regularly.

Once she had even tricked the cooks at the palace into cooking a very small amount for the "servants" so she could "inspect" what the peasantry was eating. Not only did this avoid the risk of poisoning as she had stood there and watched but also allowed her to nick a little when no one was looking. It was too risky though so other arrangements had to be made not that it did not delight the staff.

"Princess, we are here."

Nawra lowered the curtain and waited for them to lower the carriage, a servant pulled the sides away allowing her to depart and walk into the harbor registry office. One little task she enjoyed was visiting the harbor every once in a while, all for the supposed purpose of examining the records and thus making certain everything was in order. The truth was she liked to keep tabs on her little projects by seeing them for herself and also because she simply enjoyed seeing the ships.

Rushing about like frightened mice the staff in the small building were belittled and berated by the overseer who had not been informed of her visit, he never was. Ever. Not only did this prevent a great deal of chicanery on their part but the surprise visits also allowed them to see what they were really up to on a daily basis. Visiting during the busiest of days at the worst hour possible kept them on their toes and helped foster greater honesty, not that she had missed their little attempts to get away with things.

Unlike Jubril however who had them carted off immediately for interrogation while royal tax collectors audited the entire registry system, Nawra had developed a different approach. She was no stranger to the fact that the smugglers operated out of the harbor as ships were more viable than wagons for slipping past checkpoints. Even the smallest of fishing boats had been caught once in a great while smuggling something or other past in an attempt to avoid either fee's, embargo's or even because the cargo was illegal.

Bribery was a problem when dealing with them but at the same time they were quite amiable if approached properly. Jubril strung someone up to make a point and while it was quite legal, understandable and even wise, Nawra preferred to deal with them. Cut them off and they would simply get more crafty at whom they bribed or how they smuggled their goods, but on the other hand if one convinced them that in exchange for following the law at large and avoiding certain smuggled goods new doors opened. One such deal had been struck locally and in exchange for her allowing them to operate their rather pathetic smuggling operation she had gained a rather handy source of information.

They might be pathetic in what they operated with by comparison to her own budget but for them it was quite lucrative, they could move their cargo and they would keep her well informed. Being a smuggler meant knowing what was going on and with whom at all times and where, information was a matter of life or death for them. Getting caught at Alzamard was a death sentence and as that remained one of her primary focuses next only to Jubril it had worked out quite well. The smugglers got to move their contraband and in exchange she more often than not had information a week before her parents did.

Standing there smiling at the overseer as he sweated so hard his clothes were become drenched the princess on the other hand waited quietly with her hand out patiently, guards tore through the documents scanning them quickly deciding which were worth her attention. They were not just muscle and protection but also quite useful in other ways and dropping the most recent papers the overseer had been looking over into Nawra's hand the guard went back to searching. Unrolling it she read over it very quickly before staring blankly at the overseer who began to spout a long string of excuses for the delays that were creeping up on her plan.

"It was simple enough, I give you the funds and you purchase the materials needed along with hiring the workers and engineers to repair and expand the harbor. Explain."

"I did as asked princess but the cost of iron is going up, the workers are plentiful along with some of the materials but with all the other projects it is getting hard to have enough material to go around! It does not help that the military recently procured by royal decree no less, a rather large sum of the iron that we had hoped to purchase."

"Are the iron convoys no longer coming?"

"Yes but with the fighting over the mines they are no longer regular but at best sporadic... To say nothing of the lumber."

Glancing at her guards as they scanned the paperwork one looked up and nodded to her before putting the record book down.

"I see, exactly how much material have you managed to produce then?"

"We have enough to begin right now but you must decide between the repairs and a small extension of the harbor or to forgo repairs and more extensions."

"Repairs first and then expand the harbor."

"As you command princess."

Jubril... He knew I needed the iron. Purchasing it himself through royal decree for the army makes perfect sense and father will not challenge his decision, but that also means I have to put my own plans on hold. Damn him!

Leaving the office grumbling to herself Nawra looked out at the harbor and marveled at the number of ships clustered into the small area. There were so many unique river craft and small ships that it was dazzling but neither did they all look the same. Some were unpainted and others were decorated in various ways, some with eyes on the prow while others were simply white washed and had patterns painted on here or there.

One stuck out to her though as guards were swarming over its deck, the hapless crew on the other hand was kneeling on the pier and heads down with spears to their back. Making a quick motion with her hand her accompanying guards gathered to her and they began walking quickly towards the medium sized river craft. She had no idea why they were tearing the ship apart so thoroughly but after getting closer the faint hint of an idea formed in her head.

Nawra recognized the crew and captain now that they were closer but not the ship, the ship was new but the captain was old. It did not surprise her one bit considering what this captain was up too but the fact his ship was being all but torn apart and burned by the guards gave warning.

"Under what authority and for what purpose have you seized this ship?"

Waiting quietly as the guards slowed in their task before halting completely the princess waited for a response from the guard in charge and after hesitating, approached with a paper. Giving it a very quick glance she waved the other guards away from the crew and held the paper up to the lieutenant.

"I take it you have found nothing?"

"Not yet."

"You have found nothing and yet to hold the crew as if they might bolt for... Where? Swim? Abandon their ship for good? Have you ever seen that happen before or heard of a crew doing so after capture?"

"We were ordered to take no chances."

"Of course not... And you should not but seeing as how you have yet to find anything remotely close who what this paper claims..."

"Our orders are exact, we are to search the entire ship from bow to stern."

"Are you going to rebuild their ship after you are done dismantling it? Perhaps you should have it towed into dry-dock." She waited on a response that never came before folding the paper back up and returning it. "You are done here, my own shall search what remains of the ship and if we find nothing this incident shall be noted. Dismissed."

Standing at attention quickly and giving a short nod the officer called the guards off the ship and moved them further down the harbor and thus returning to their normal duties. Walking up to the crew the captain spoke with the others quickly before moving them back.

"A pleasure princess."

"What are you smuggling this time?"

"Ahh... Well it is only just a little bit illegal..."

"The kind of illegal that I string you up for or..."

"Nothing that bad princess! I do not carry things like that, too dangerous but very lucrative... No, no we are not carrying that."

"Show me. Now."

"As you command..."

His voice was a little dejected at having to give in as both parties knew full well what was going on and refusing would only make things worse. Motioning for two guards to remain with the crew Nawra followed the captain onto his ship with the rest and below the deck into the cramped storage space. There was no room to move around and the space available was only because the guards had already removed so much in their searching. Stopping halfway the Arabian captain stopped and turned.

"We keep some secrets yes?"

"Not with me, that's the deal."

"Very well... Here then."

Removing a few false beams the captain exposed the tiny hidden cargo for her to see, giving a sigh at its quantity and less than threatening purpose she waved her hand dismissively. Smiling the captain quickly stored everything and put the beams back with practiced precision till they seemed to melt out of existence and blend in with the rest of the ship.

"How did someone know you were carrying this?"

"I do not know but these items were requested specifically by someone here locally, we simply deliver what was asked for, nothing else."

"New ship...?"

"Ah yes, we had to sell the last one as Fareed's guards were getting a little too wise you see."

"A sensible decision. You and your crew may go but you leave port immediately."

"Our buyer-"

"Doesn't exist."

"I see... A dangerous game you are playing and I do not care to be involved in it."

"No but it satisfies both parties, wouldn't you agree?"

"True, but while our deal is lucrative it is not worth my crews life. Even your worst punishment for this is child's play compared to the alternative and I know you are no Fareed."

"You are quite lucky then but I also know you are just as deeply involved in politics as anyone else."

"We like to choose our battles and not have them chosen for us."

"Very sensible but I fear times are changing and not for the better. I need iron."

"Quite the heavy cargo with very little profit to be had depending on where one sells it... My ship can carry a quantity but I also know from my associates that the iron mines are a field of carnage at the moment. Caravans dare not go there and the small harbor set up to handle this cargo is also a battleground."

"It was my understanding that this so called "harbor" was merely two piers and a few huts for the workers."

"You understand correctly but the various tribes and kingdoms are fighting over it anyway to see who gets to tax the iron. Not that it cant be sent over land thus avoiding part of the problem..."

"However, by boat is still faster."

"Indeed, thus they fight over two piers and last time I saw the place some twenty huts and a few storage buildings. They are not even on the map yet they fight over it."

"Can you get me the iron?"

"Eyyyy... I will do my best but I can promise nothing at this time. If you wanted a hundred camels yes, iron not so certain."

"What is a camel?"

"Some beast of burden being brought from the north by some merchants, worthless beasts though, oxen are better." The captain patted one of the beams. "Give me a sturdy ship any day."

"Hmm. Well do what you can and I believe even bronze would suffice for the time being in some tasks though not very much yes?"

"If I can find the iron I shall bring it, do you wish for me to pass your message along?"

"No, that would bring you a great deal more unwanted attention. I guess it is my good fortune that you have not organized yourselves."

"Organized smugglers? That would indeed be interesting but I imagine that too would bring us attention we do not desire."

"It would be a matter of weighing costs with advantages of such a... Gathering. Though one would hope you do not forget your friends..."

"We do not forget our friends nor allies, it is bad for business."

Nawra gave him a curt smile before turning and leaving the ship, the captain hurried the removed cargo back on board as she left and within the hour they would be gone from Labrad. Their temporary incarceration brought an unpleasant reality to her attention though, that her brother knew she was getting information from the smugglers and making deals with them. Whatever down payment his agent had made for the cargo was gone for good now so she could smile for that but it was a drop in the bucket, Jubril was trying to scare off her informants.

"Princess we should return, I do not care for these crowds."

"Afraid of an assassin getting to me captain?"

"Always."

"Well it is good I have you along then but yes, let us be on our way."

Returning to the palace was uneventful and left her plenty of time to contemplate her next move, if her brother was trying to starve her projects of resources she had more than enough contacts to counter his ploy. Any cancellation on her part would be a black mark in her book and no doubt he would swoop in to save his elder sister from disaster and thus be the hero. However, he had made enemies of every last smuggler in the region with his desire to have absolute control over things and while the military absolutely beamed at this tenacity and rigidness she knew the other half of it.

Looking at the palace as it got closer she twitched a little, being cooped up inside was bothersome. Not that she disliked it, the servants, private library and cushy lifestyle suited her very well but at the same time she liked to get out now and then. Nothing could make her trade the lifestyle of a royal but the sheer monotony got to her quite often.

The trip seemed to pass all to quickly and returned to her home Nawra walked back inside with her guards and a handful of doting servants scurrying after her. As always the poison taster was ever present at her side but she did not fear the assassins sent by foreign powers, it was her brother she worried about. It plagued her mind as to when he would cross the line of jostling with her politically and finally attempt regicide.

Jubrils only hope to ever sit on the throne was regicide, there was no other way for him to rise to power now. Even with all his scheming Nawra knew that he would have a near impossible time rounding up the support needed from the nobility to force her abdication of her title or the throne. There was just no reason for such a course of action to exist, not that it would ever stop him if Jubril thought he could get away with it she reminded herself. Killing her and framing someone else though would be much easier and even easily dismissed as it was always a very real possibility. Especially in times of war.

Nawra's pace slowed as a servant scurried through the main hallway sobbing and covering their face. The servants clothes were a mess and soaking wet, she recognized the serving mare and putting her hand out stopped them.

"What happened?"

What flowed was hard for her to understand but after calming them down a little the servants was able to speak somewhat intelligibly.

"I was carrying a tray to the Sultan and did not pay attention to where I was going, when I turned the corner I ran into one of the princes guard and some of the items on the tray fell on his robes. He had his guards flog me for my impertinence."

That sounds like Jubril.

"Return to your quarters and get cleaned up."

"Yes princess."

Watching them run off Nawra let out a sigh and headed directly for the families private chambers, waving the guards off she stepped into the room after the door guard opened it and picked out a spot to rest. Sitting on the cushions and stretching out a little she stared over at her brother and smiled before looking sideways to her parents.

"I did not know we flogged the new and inexperienced staff for such trifling mistakes."

Jubril twitched a moment before smiling back sweetly, "which is why they are trained but this one apparently did not listen to her instructors. It was but a mild punishment and you know servants have been punished for such before."

"That one was punished because he deserved it and besides... As I understand it the guard is who she should have apologized to not you."

"Which is why I had her flogged and apologize to him."

The way his voice hitched for just a second proved that such was not the reason, he was simply making an excuse.

"Yes and it would have been much simpler to have her clean his armor and clothes in exchange, now she is going to be far to ashamed and jumpy to serve properly."

"What a unique tone coming from you, rare have I heard you speak of the servants in such a way... So long as they are still useful hm?"

"And you having ships torn apart for no reason? That is also much unlike you, especially when there is no evidence."

"One can not always be absolutely certain dear sister, I merely played on some information and I guess it turned out wrong this time... Or did you intervene and allow them to get away?"

"The guards could find absolutely nothing illegal on that ship."

"Pardon the intrusion but we must clear the table."

The two stopped arguing as a servant entered in a hunched over state, eyes cast down. Their father who had been half listening to their argument nodded and motioned for the servant to begin, after hurriedly clearing the table another wiped it down vigorously. Both left and servants began entering the room and laid out various trays of food, Nawra watched them work quickly and once they were done the servers darted away. Sometimes the family would take their dinner in this private room as it was often times cooler than the dining room, it also had an excellent view of the gardens and the birds were more easily heard from this location in the evening.

As was custom the poison tasters took their lives into their hands and tested the foods and drink carefully by smelling, examining and finally testing them. Satisfied after waiting a short time but antidotes still handy the royal's began to call out what they wished to eat starting with her father and mother. Jubril went last as he was not the heir apparent but the minor prince, a fact that annoyed him greatly but Nawra reveled in taking her time just to see him glare at her.

Choosing her food slowly and carefully the serving stallion gathered the quantities asked for and moved them to small bowls and plates before delivering them. Satisfied with what she had ordered Nawra called for some of the flatbread and accepting the laden plate she began dining on the various dishes of fish, fruit, vegetables and hummus. Jubril on the other hand spent his time studying her carefully as he ate and smiling at him caused her brothers eye to twitch.

Picking up an olive Nawra was interrupted by her mother who asked what she had spent her day doing, pausing to answer the slippery object popped from her fingers and in an attempt to catch it she leaned over. A faint sound passed by her ear like a whisper and from the edges of her vision she saw Jubril already ducking and in the process sending plates flying, a loud yell filling the air.

"Shit!"

Realizing what had just happened she flattened out on the cushions as the others did as well, the dart had just barely missed her. No doubt it was poisoned but it had unfortunately missed her brother and embedded itself in a cushion, cries for the guards filled the air and within seconds the room was swarming with them and outside she could hear them as well. An assassin was on the loose in the palace grounds and somehow gotten close, too close. But how?

Heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst Nawra looked towards her brother with an accusing stare but he was already halfway out of the room while her parents were also being escorted away. She had not even noticed her own personal retinue of guards had already begun moving her to a safer place though Nawra already knew the assassin was probably halfway across the palace grounds by now and running for their lives.

Had her brother sent the assassin? It was obviously aimed at her but missed, then again he was almost hit in the process. He would not dare hire a poor quality assassin so was it her lucky day? Pure luck had been the only thing that had saved her today, had that olive not slipped from her hand the moment it did she would be dead. Why had she even leaned over to catch it? She was a princess! Things fell down and others picked it up, never her. What power had possessed her that made her lean over to catch it?

"Did you find the assassin?"

"No prince, we are still looking."

"Make certain they are not killed, I want to know who sent them!"

"Of course, guards will be stationed-"

"Yes, yes I know just find them."

Giving a quick bow the guard left his room and closed the door, Jubril worked his jaw back and forth before looking up at the ceiling and letting out an exasperating sigh.

Who the hell had sent the assassin? Fareed? No, he could care less... What about- No never mind that one was so far away they had no stake in things and the other was a slippery bitch but not crazy. Sending an assassin while already engaged in a campaign was not just foolish but moronic if they were captured. So who?

Jubril ran it over in his head over and over again trying to figure it out but not once did anything come to mind as no one could possibly gain anything from an assassination at this time. Still, whoever they were it would undoubtedly work in his favor as the assassin had aimed for his sister. The look on her face when it registered as to what was going on had been absolutely priceless and worth nearly getting killed himself. A look of sheer horror had been on her face upon realizing what could have happened to her if that one little olive had not slipped from her fingers, it was indeed her lucky day but luck ran out. It always ran out.

Stopping his pacing the prince ran the days events over in his mind, the attempt to capture one of her informants had not gone well. Nawra's timing had been impeccable thus saving the captain and his ship but the expenditure on his part had been minimal, no doubt Nawra knew it was he who set the trap but there was no evidence. On the other hand his scheme to cut off the resources she needed for her projects had gone quite well and while he could not procure the lions share of the lumber and building materials he had managed to take the iron away.

By handing the iron over to the army he had bought no small amount of favor amongst them at great cost but had also hampered his sisters plans. A small series of border wars were keeping the rich iron mines to the east shut down and what sources they had were largely undeveloped as it had always been cheaper to import it. Something to do with the quality of the ore and processing but he did not care, in due time he would open mines in many areas but not until his sister was left squirming.

Suddenly smiling he walked to his bed and sat down while looking out the window.

My dear assassin, whoever you are, wherever you are and whoever sent you... I would like to first thank you for at least trying and for allowing me to see that look on her face But if I ever catch you then I will have you gutted for failing.