27 Heartless

"How did you know?!" he said not knowing why he said that in a whisper. But back to the topic, how did she know that he is Persian!

No one knew about that except Captain Jaffar and the Pharaoh!

"What a clever move you made back in Korea." She said not caring about giving him his personal space, her voice came out like sweet poison that sent chills down Azar's spine.

"Honestly, I was impressed." She smirked finally pulling back from him leaving a safe distance between them.

"What are you talking about?" he frowned not liking the sound of this or what's about to happen.

She laughed out loud making Azar flinch.

Is this woman crazy? He thought closing his eyes trying to keep his composure.

"Can you at least start with introducing who the hell you are?" he sighed.

"Oh, silly me!" she covered her full tinted lips with her hand, "I'm Aleah." She smiled reaching out her hand for a handshake but pulled back when she saw that Azar had no intention of shaking her hand.

"Okay," she raised her hands in protest, "let's get straight to the point since it looks like you have no intention of losing up that frown on your face." She faked a pout that was too cringe making Azar shrug.

"Join us Azar."

For his surprise, he knew exactly what she meant.

"So that's what this is about?" he scoffed crossing his hand over his chest.

"Smart boy," she smirked, "as you know loyalty is a luxury we can't afford. We work for whoever pays the most." She narrowed her eyes as she talked letting go of that façade she created a moment ago.

"And what does King Farzad promise me that the Pharaoh doesn't have?" he rubbed his chin considering her offer.

"Wealth and glory that you can never have by working as a hound for a rich king." She said trying to provoke him.

"Why should I work for someone who has already thrown me out ones?" he raised one eyebrow. He was raised on the streets, this silly pep talk wasn't going to have an effect on him.

"Come on Azar, you know better than holding grudges." She said walking back and forth through the room.

He didn't reply. The atmosphere was quiet except for the hassle that was going on outside in the hallway as the men started coming back into the dorm.

"Finally someone came," he smirked at her, "I was getting bored here thinking that the Persians are that dumb to think that I came here with a good heart to serve." He chuckled darkly in a low tone.

The sudden change in character caught Aleah off guard, she wasn't expecting him to turn like this. Honestly, she was thankful that she didn't need to convince him because from what she is seeing right now, he didn't need any convincing.

Thinking back, she thought that he was playing with her this whole conversation which made her feel like an idiot.

He walked passed her and sat down on the bed with a thud, supporting the weight of his upper body with his hands resting on the bed on either side of him.

"So what is it that I'm supposed to do." He said making sure that she noticed that he was getting sick of her.

"Well, nothing much. We will meet once a month and you will report to me everything that happened to the Pharaoh." She said raising her eyebrows, "And don't try to find me I'll will get to you when it's time."

He hummed nodding his head. "Now, if you don't mind getting out now so that I can enjoy the rest of my day off."

"Easy boy," she scoffed, "What short temper you have!"

Without another word she left through the door.

"Guess she is a professional spy." He sighed lying down on the bed using his arms as a pillow for his head.

"This is going to get interesting."

~~~~

The long table with only a hand full of people sitting on it. The table which is like a game of chess to most of those who sit on it.

The council table.

King Farzad siting on the furthest chair on the table, with the rest of the council members sitting around him. The only light source was the colored glass windows on the walls that made split the light into its spectrum colors forming a rainbow on the flower.

That rainbow that was formed on the ceramic floors captivated Javid's eyes making him daydream as he looked at those colors, not paying attention to what his brothers or the king or the Captain were saying.

They are probably taking about the same things; the repealing nobles and the starving peasants.

He honestly thought it was their fault for such things, he has gotten sick and tired of telling them to take action against the nobles who think the city is their courtyard and to reduce the taxes that apparently none can pay.

He was the only one taking action against the whole city, even the king couldn't care less about the people of his country.

But there is only so much he can do when the king is busy trying to conquer the world when he can't even keep the bellies of his people full.

He sighed finally taking his eyes off the ground trying to catch up with what they were talking about now.

"What news do we have from our birds in Thebes?" King Farzad asked rubbing his bread that was turning gray with age.

"We just received words from our birds in the Palace that Azar has agreed to help us." Bijan said sitting directly across Javid.

Wait what?

Azar…that name sounded too familiar to Javid's ears but he couldn't get hold on who that is.

'How nice of you to know my name Your Highness' that phrase slapped him across the face making him immediately know who that is.

"Mind filling me in on what's happening?" Javid looked back and forth between his father and Bijan.

"That soldier that the Pharaoh saved back there, he is now one of his men." His father was the one to answer.

He hummed then his eyes shoot right open looking at his father. "What?!"

"Is something wrong son?" he scoffed mocking his son which didn't affect him what so ever, he has gotten used to it a long time ago.

"Are you sure that he won't betray us again Your Majesty?" Hooman the second prince said, sitting on the left side of Javid.

His father faked a laugh. "That boy is way cleverer than any of us here. He knew that we would reach out to him once he has made his way to the Palace and who would've thought that he would be one of that Monarch's guards."

Javid remembers clearly that day where Azar was going to be beheaded. That look on the young man's face was pure anger and hate towards Javid and everyone who was related by blood to him.

How can he change so fast and forget what the Royal Family almost did to him?

"Even if that is true Your Majesty, we need to take care." Hooman said faking concern, "After all, we still owe him a head." He narrowed his eyes as he turned to look at Bijan, while Bijan just ignored him.

"That's true." The king said sighing, "We should think of what we are going to do about that as well."

"Let's call it a day." The king said kicking his chair back while standing and everyone copied his move filling the council room with the cries of the chairs on the floor.

Javid was the first to reach the door after the king who was followed by Bijan.

His mind wondering about that young man Azar, not quiet believing what he has just heard.

He was bought back to Persia when he heard the faint groans coming from a small red headed figure that just ran into him.

"O-Ouch…" Ashkan said rubbing his nose that went straight into Javid's pelvis bones.

"I-I'm sorry I …" the words got stuck in his throat as he looked up to see who he bumped into.

He didn't know how to react because ever since they were back Javid has turned back to being ice-cold towards him that he started to doubt himself that what happened in Korea was even real.

"I-I'm so sorry lord Father!" he stuttered bowing down deeply, fear can be heard in his small voice.

"Watch were you are going boy." Javid spat out as he glared holes into the little boy.

To be honest, he missed the days that he spent with his son back there in Korea as well. Now, he is back in the wolves den and loving his son is a luxury he can't afford.

"Hey, take it easy on your son, Brother." Ervin his second brother said making sure to make the word son stand out.

"It's not his fault that he has such a heartless father." He spat over his brother's shoulder and kept walking down the hallway, leaving the father and the son standing there all alone.