But such was not to be the case for Si'Wren, declared Ibi sternly.
Si'Wren strove always to follow Ibi's orders, and as time passed she
had learned to appreciate the shrewd wisdom of his directives, and in
the end, Ibi's peculiar ways had somehow come to actually inspire her
willing and enthusiastic devotion and loyalty, where before he had but
only commanded it.
Si'Wren was appearing solo in public for the first time today. That was
because Ibi had not been feeling well lately, and had remained back in
his private palace chambers to try and rest. His body, he complained,
could not 'get heat'. Si'Wren gave him a look of sympathy. She would be
fine by herself.
And she was. Today the roaring crowds cheered her on with the rest of
them as she paraded past. Behind her, a twin-column of murderous
mounted camel soldiers, cut-throats all, brought up the rear and she
felt quite safe in their immediate presence--in public at least. In
private, she would not have permitted herself the extreme risk of being
left alone in the same room with a single one of the filthy scum.
When they came to the outer walls of the city, Si'Wren was already
engaged in turning repeatedly from one side to the other as she waved
grandly at the noisome, chaotic sea of faces, and chanced to look down
upon a cluster of elders, sitting in the city gates.
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