— No regrets to die for such eyes! – said Amelik feelingly to a sister of Eyshan. The Al-divas were at dinner, and Amelik was visiting Iskander.
Eyshan watched Enefeya so that she wouldn’t blurt out something at the table. They had a scandal about the name of Enefrey.
"If I hear you call him Frey," Eyshan had told her then, — “I will initiate him in a madham name! There will not be that name at my husband's house!
Enefeya had a grouch. She secretly talked to the boy, and he didn’t give her away, the stories of great-grandmother were too interesting. Jallal also loved stories about Northern warriors, but the way his younger brother was telling them, not the proud Princess of the North. Jallal and the company could listen to Enefrey for hours.
“When are you leaving?” Ashid asked.
“The Sultan is waiting for us tomorrow, we are not far from the Palace, and we’ll go tomorrow morning,” said Amelik.
"Osnan wants to see the heir," Ashid said with a warm smile.
"Yes," Amelik said, smiling proudly and called, “Enefrey”.
The boy looked up at the father with his blue eyes, as if he was calling to him. The boy now carried a dagger, and Iskander taught him how to use it, and how to defend himself without it. Jallal liked these lessons as Enefrey did. But if Jallal took the science with rapture, joy, then Enefrey was serious, focused, as if some secret weight was already on his shoulders, which could be removed with the help of this science. Iskander brought a breakdown from the captivity, Enefrey seemed to be born with it.
“Let the kid play with the kids, you’ve smothered him with caresses like a kitten," Iskander replied.
Enefrey turned away and stayed sitting next to Enefeya, who’d sat down on the porch.
Amelik and Iskander with his children went to the Sultan's Palace for a long time. To divide the conquered lands, to discuss the consequences of a peace treaty with the savages, there were many questions to be discussed.
“You won't take me with you?” Eyshan asked for the fifth time since the messenger arrived with the invitation.
“I want you to wait for me here. And I will send the children soon.”
The woman sighed. For weeks after the incident in the office, she had been sucking up to the husband, trying to anticipate his desires, and had never left him in case he needed her. Iskander was burdened by such attention, but he endured it, determined not to offend his wife. Eyshan's gaze was pitifully loyal as if the Sheikh were terminally ill. Iskander didn't know how to react to it, and he fought a fierce frustration.
Amelik stayed the night at Iskander's house, for the sake of Eyshan's sister Leila's beautiful black eyes.
“Take everything, my cruel love, and again I say...”
Iskander remembered Amelik as long as he remembered himself. And Amelik kept humming that only line, never further. This has given out the excitement or anxiety.
The friends entered a palace, Osnan, it was said them, was already waiting for them.
“I like to come here,” Amelik said, watching girls of the seraglio scurry through the corridors. Sheikh Al-Tol liked trips in general because he liked new experiences, even the Northern island of Iceland didn’t frighten him.
Jallal looked around and saw some children at the end of the corridor. Children were rare in the palace, so the boy got happy. It was a pity that he had to wait for the greeting to end.
“When you become Sultan, cancel the greeting for children,” Jallal said to his brother, trying to see from afar if a girl was beautiful.
Enefrey pulled the corner of his lips. He followed his brother's gaze. He unlikely would be able to meet them. The Sultan wouldn’t let him go, all that time until the father sent him back home.
Osnan smiled at them as they entered the room. The sheikhs answered the greeting. Jallal and Enefrey also said hello.
“Come to me, Enefrey,” — called the Sultan.
Amelik shook his head, it was to be expected. The boy looked at his father and went to the Sultan. Jallal smiled proudly, being glad that his brother would be Sultan. Iskander let out a dissatisfied sigh, he didn’t like the popularity of his son. But the Sultan's wish was law.
“The konung has sent his family to us as ambassadors of goodwill and to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.” – Osnan got up without letting Enefrey from his hands, - “First breakfast, then rest for you, I have a few matters of state to attend to. Then our common affairs.”
A couple with children entered the dining room from another entrance, from the rooms of the Palace.
“Meet our friends. Frey and Tristakinniya Torisaz.”
The Mediterranean sea splashed in the well known frosty eyes.
“Iska?” - Frey smiled brightly, raising an eyebrow.
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