Interlude - Zakar
Colonel Zakar Sidek adjusted his uniform as he prepared to enter the office of King Adbeld. He was sweating, but that had more to do with his uniform than the heat of the day, with the fact that he no longer felt comfortable in his jacket.
The soldiers guarding the door nodded to him, and Zakar nodded back. They opened the double doors and the first thing Zakar saw was the empty desk where King Adbeld was supposed to be. Sitting on its corner was a very tall, skinny man with pale skin and brown hair, his eyes golden.
In his heart of hearts, Zakar felt an instant sense of natural attraction to him, but he suppressed it instantly, knowing that dealing with foreigners was a dangerous game in an age where even embassies weren't safe.