//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Striving to Prove // Story: The Sandstorm King // by PioneeringAuthor //------------------------------// “All our evidence is still circumstantial,” Alem pointed out to the others as they were gathered in the meeting room. “CIRCUMSTANTIAL? THEY HAD TRAITOROUS TEXTS HIDDEN IN THEIR ROOMS! WHAT MORE DO WE NEED?” Ghayth shouted as he stamped one of his cloven hooves on the table. “Ghayth, please… remain calm,” Jaffar reminded him politely in a soothing voice. Ghayth snorted and sat back down, trying to compose himself better. “Ghayth does have a point--we do have a good case, but Amal is also right: King Khayri would not approve of us rushing in without absolute proof,” Zahir sighed as he reached up a hoof and smoothed his blonde forelock away from his eyes. “Which means you shall have to restore the memories of the servants,” Jinan quietly affirmed with a slow nod. “Are we absolutely certain those servants were memory-wiped, though?” Avram interjected in a worried voice. “I tested them many times, and the results were the same: magic interference,” Zahir explained one last time, “It’s not even been two months since the assassination--they should remember that night better-- and there are more recent event memories that are missing.” “We are willing to help in any way, Zahir,” Jaffar assured him with a brave smile. “I may be merely an Oryx without magic but I do have a head for knowledge,” Alem added quickly. “I will help you as best I can as well, Zahir!” Qadir piped up as he snapped his wings quickly, “Just say the word and I shall get you whatever you need, or offer advice!” “I have many magically-inclined herbs, if you need them,” Jinan interjected with a smile. “I may not study magic as much as economics, but I can still help you as well,” Kalil offered as he tossed his white head to the side to get his pale mane out of his face. “...I’m not even entirely certain if I can make a spell to restore memories… others have tried for centuries… how could I do what they could not do?” Zahir sighed, staring at his hooves in contemplation. For a moment, no one said anything. Considering Zahir’s words, they realized that they may never get absolute proof; they could execute the wrong creatures… and yet, it seemed so obvious now to all of them who the traitors were…. “I sent them away for three weeks; it has already been three days,” Karam finally broke the silence, “You have until then to find absolute proof. If not… I’ll banish them instead of kill them.” At that, everybeast turned to Karam in surprise. Certainly, he was strong and brave, but… he was… not the type to suggest banishing. In truth, many of them felt Karam couldn’t emotionally handle the duty of executing the traitors and that somebeast else would have to do it--perhaps Ghayth. Now here was Karam, saying he’d doom them to death in the desert heat. Then again, these traitors killed his father. Besides, he was king; if he did not want to dirty his hooves, he did not have to at all. “I shall work day and night,” Zahir declared as he stamped one of his black hooves on the table. That is exactly what he did. Days passed, and Zahir stayed up far too late into the night attempting to make the spell. With many herbs he experimented, and with many combinations he labored. He fell asleep every so often, and no beast disturbed him when sleep finally came. If it wasn’t for Kamal forcing him to eat at least once a day, he probably would have fainted somewhere. Indeed, it was not long before his room was filled with papers of failed tests. By his side were Alem, Jinan, Jaffar and Qadir, all working together and attempting to help. Unfortunately, the only Unicorns among them were Zahir himself and Kalil, hence none could provide any deep magic help. Heydar was by far the most magically-inclined, but of course he was one of the suspects sent away for the time being. Kalil, although he was willing to help, was never very talented with magic. His magic mainly helped him do his work of maintaining the treasury. King Karam was willing to help, but had no idea of what to do. Although he studied much magic, he mainly focused on honing his own abilities with wind, or basic spells; he was still young and didn’t want to accidentally unleash something, and did not wish to ruin Zahir’s progress. Hence, Zahir did almost all of the spell-making himself. All the advisors were willing, but none could provide what he needed. As Zahir worked, thoughts came into his mind that ate away at his heart: what if they were all wrong? What if someone else was the traitor? What if those books had somehow been planted? As these thoughts quietly came, answers came to them: No! They WERE right. No, it had to be Afzal and Heydar! It made too much sense the more he thought about it--they both had ambition and if they had been deceived by the papers… Those papers were NOT planted, they were NOT! They had to be right, they had to… they had the right suspects, they DID. Days passed, and as Zahir worked, he hoped they were right. There were a thousand signs pointing to them all being correct, and yet… after remembering all they had been through… all the years of devoted service… could Heydar and Afzal really betray the king they served for so long? No, Zahir must NOT doubt. Not now, no. Days passed and Zahir steadily strived for some absolute proof.