Several hours had passed since Yusuf had fallen asleep.
Yusuf's magnificent tent, though temporary, stood out even from a great distance.
The area around him was densely packed with guards, magicians, masters, and even assassins, all of whom were tasked with protecting the Padishah and carrying out any number of unsavory deeds.
Yet Yusuf was a hundred, even a thousand times more important than the Padishah, who lay dying without even opening his eyes.
Still, a black shadow moved leisurely through the heavily guarded area, evading both surveillance and guards.
Despite the impossibility of going unnoticed, the shadow bypassed all obstacles, aided by a honeyed voice whispering softly in the darkness.
The meticulously designed perimeter defenses collapsed before the mysterious force. However, the closer the shadow came to the center, the more frequently its voice was needed to bypass the intricate barriers.
