Zhenjin, Huaizong, and Mahintha walked toward the assigned quarters of the Madjapahits. Queen Gitarji, Queen Mother Gayatri, and Prime Minister Zalir—seated at a table—rose to bow as their host, the Khazan Zhenjin, entered, followed by Huaizong and Mahintha.

  RajiDewi bowed to Zhenjin, then suddenly threw herself at Huaizong. He caught her, pleasantly surprised by such a public display of affection. He hugged her back before becoming conscious of Zhenjin’s presence and gently pushing her off, ever so slightly. He smiled at her, and she beamed back. For a moment, the conservative Madjapahits looked appalled at RajiDewi's abandon, but every man in the room was a warrior who had faced death; they understood the value of a brief moment of joy. They all sat down for tea.

  "We are sorry to cause you trouble, Khazan," Gitarji apologized.

  "No trouble at all, my lady," Zhenjin replied.

  "We are not enemies of the Khan," Gitarji stated clearly.

  "He knows that," Zhenjin assured her.

  "Durjana is an evil man," Gitarji warned. "He tried to recruit followers from the Khmers and the Ayuthaians, but he was booted out. Even the Chams do not trust him. Neither should you."

  "My father knows Durjana cannot be trusted."

  "You must tell the Khan that I have every intention of taking back my throne," Gitarji repeated firmly.

  "He will be glad to hear that," Zhenjin noted. "It will make you a more welcome guest, especially if you pledge allegiance to him."

  "Why does your father hate Annam so much?" Gitarji asked.

  "Because they are a tiny kingdom," Zhenjin admitted with regret.

  "Forgive me, but that is hardly a good reason," she countered. "I cannot give allegiance to a man who wages war on another small kingdom. But my allegiance I give to you, Crown Prince. We praise the Khazan for abandoning the suttee."

  "Thank you, Queen Gitarji. I consider it a great honor to hold your regard. Please, give me a chance to reason with my father."

  Gitarji continued to defend the small nation: "The Khan will never succeed in taking Annam; the mountain trails are a natural fortress. The Lotus Throne is in the clouds, and visibility is poor. You cannot command an army where you cannot walk three men abreast or see through the narrow, crooked ravines."

  "I know," Zhenjin said softly.

  "Malaygascar is also a little kingdom," she added. "Does he not recognize my right to rule? Are the Khans not royals themselves, answerable to God? You understand how this makes us—and even Dwarka and Rajasthan—uneasy."

  "Queen Gitarji, please give me a few days." Zhenjin took his leave.

  As the three princes walked through garden paths lined with hundred-year-old roses, Mahintha noted, "We failed to talk to Zalir about the Brotherhood."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Yes, we must ask him when his Queen is not present," Zhenjin agreed.

  "Did you hold hands with the gorgeous RajiDewi under the table?" Mahintha asked playfully.

  "I... well... yes," Huaizong admitted, turning shy.

  "You have killed men and been to every bar on the outskirts of town, yet now you are so shy?" Mahintha wondered with a chuckle.

  "Help!" Huaizong squeaked desperately.

  Zhenjin, Huaizong, and Mahintha arrived at the Temple of the Five Masters. On the steps, they met Zalir, now hooded in his monk's garb. Lady Sumita, Dusshela’s handmaiden, was dressed in striking gold that showed quite a lot of her form. Tan Po, dressed in the grey pajamas of a newbie acolyte, opened the door for them. Both Huaizong and Mahintha sighed as Sumita glided by

  "An unlikely doorman," Zhenjin observed.

  "You'll never find one more handsome," Tan Po replied.

  "Or more unsuited to the task," Zhenjin quipped.

  Inside, two long tables faced one another. On the higher table sat the five Temple Masters. On the lower sat Zhenjin, Huaizong, Mahintha, Zalir (representing Queen Gitarji), and Sumita (representing Queen Dusshela).

  Tenger glowered at Zhenjin. He was still angry about the destruction of his Opera House at Ulaanqab, though he held a paternal attachment to the princes.

  "Where is Faizi, adviser to the Devi Tara Bai?" Tenger demanded. "He ruined my Opera House!"

  "Present," said Faizi, stepping out from the wall itself.

  The room jumped in surprise, save for Zhenjin’s party. "Donkey's ass! He came out from nowhere! Don't you use the door like everyone does? Knock?" Salkhi asked.

  A loud knocking suddenly sounded at the door. Tan Po opened it, but no one was there. "I knocked," Faizi said, taking a seat at the table.

  there is momentary confusion as things don’t quite connect.

  "Let us get on with it," Zhenjin suggested kindly.

  "We want to hold a Khuriltai to announce your marriage to a proper, unmarried royal," Tenger stated. "You cannot sleep with three Queens anymore. It is scandalizing everyone."

  "We'd like to sleep with all those Queens, but they are more circumspect than you give them credit for," Huaizong replied, suppressing laughter.

  "My marriage to whom?" Zhenjin asked sternly.

  "To the unmarried Queen Gitarji or to the unmarried Lady Sumita," the masters suggested.

  Zalir and Sumita stood up to object. "This is deception," Sumita said. "This is not why we are here."

  "Queen Gitarji is a royal," Zalir added. "Her consent is not mediated through a third person. This is unreasonable."

  "The Princess RajiDewi..."

  "No!" Zhenjin said forcefully.

  "Urduja from Tawalesi..."

  "Urduja is a child!" Zhenjin lost his temper.

  "So?" Mod shrugged. Zhenjin gave him a look so sharp that Mod practically shrank under the table.

  "Master Tenger, allow me to speak," Faizi interrupted. "Allow the three Queens to sponsor the Khuriltai. Invite the eligible ladies from the seven nations and the four kingdoms by the sea. Let the three Queens choose a suitable bride for Zhenjin."

  The masters liked this idea. "We can even have a Queens' Parade with floats!"

  "The Queens will sponsor it?" Tenger asked.

  "Every cowry shell, every gold daric!" Faizi promised. "I will personally pay for the Opera House as well. No expenses spared."

  "Everything is settled then!" Tenger skipped with joy. "The three Queens will pay for it all!"

  "I am not a sack of beans you barter in a bazaar," says Sumita . "The next time you try to marry me off, I'll have your head".

  “And I?”, avers Zhenjin “am I not to be consulted about my own marriage?”

  "Consider this the Queens' way of thanking the Khan," Faizi whispered conspiratorially. "Queen Tara Bai is more than happy to construct a nine-floor pagoda by the Peace Bell Tower. And Zhenjin, you aren't committing to a marriage—just a chance to meet a potential princess."

  "Oh, he lies so brazenly," Mahintha whispered.

  Faizi vanished into the wall again. The door opened and slammed shut by itself, leaving the masters quivering in fear.

  "I suggest you get used to it," Huaizong said.

  Zhenjin bristled. "I'd like to retrieve Tan Po. He is a member of my Khesh. I need his help to plan this coming Khuriltai. My best tactician is currently doing laundry."

  "Those errands ennoble him," Tenger sermonized.

  "Sure. But I am leaving now, and I am taking Tan Po with me."

  I’m gonna try to post those images my AI created from my story.