Impressions 4. Despicable People

Impressions 4. Despicable People

Panting heavily, Abbas threw the vase against the window, reveling in the clamor of broken glass and pottery. He glared around the room, seeking something else to throw. A chamberpot caught his attention, and he wasted no time grabbing it and heaving it across the room out of the broken window, spilling the contents across the carpet as it flew. His nostrils flared at the stench of piss, and he shouted for a servant... Then snarled and kicked the pillow laying nearby as he recalled the latest indignity visited upon him by his father. The very idea that there were no more servants to attend to his needs was preposterous. So he ordered that man's face beaten with chains, so what? It was that damn wretch's fault anyway for having a face reminding him of northern king, let his progeny rot alive. That insignificant should have praised Abbas for giving him a less shameful visage!

He fumed helplessly, taking his anger out on the bedding as he thought back to the whole mess. Taking away his servants was just the latest in a long string of unwarranted strictures and humiliations. Damn his father for doing this! And damn those northerners for not kneeling in supplication as they rightfully should have! And damn his father again for lacking the courage to defend them! That thrice-cursed White Witch entered the palace like it was her own hovel and Salaadin did nothing to rebuke her! Worse, not only the hostage was taken back, but two of their own were taken in retaliation! And all that his father dared to do was to cover in fear and escape in the carriage as soon as he saw the witch! Abbas pointedly ignored the fact he had outright lost control of his lower body out of terror in the same encounter. It was not to his liking, therefore it did not happen, so there!

Abbas kicked the ripped pillow across the room, feathers spreading around like a little blizzard. Gods damn it, why could his father not give due respect and appreciation to his efforts? They had the damn princess and everyone knew northerners are ignorant of woman's proper place and value. They could have forced that king to hand over the witch to properly deal with! If only his father was not such a coward, that very witch could already be the property of Abbas as it should be!

He threw himself on the ruined bed, howling in dudgeon. UNACCEPTABLE!

"He... what?!" - Abbas was flabbergasted and terrified at the same time. What was just whispered to him was abominable to the highest degree. He was already sore with his father's shortcomings, but this? Oh, that was the feather to break the camel's back, so to speak. The men across the table from him dipped their heads deferentially. Farouq ibn Hafiz and Yusuf ibn Muhammad were up and coming firstborn of beys close to the court, closest supporters of Sultan really. Their fathers served his father, and they would serve him. In fact, they were already serving him just now. No doubt Salaadin did not intend for Abbas to know this much for now. No, certainly not. To think his father's cowardice extended that far.

"That's what we were able to find out so far, most glorious emir." - Yusuf simpered - "Nazrudeen al-Hoja had been summoned by his eminence sultan himself, and given vast instructions in the northern tongue. There is no doubt that he was tasked to parley with the barbarous northerners."

Abbas rubbed his face, his earlier plans to find a fault with some commoner woman disappearing amidst the sickening worry. He suddenly felt himself in no mood to enjoy his power over the little people. The only reason why his father would discuss things with that dotard vizier without involving Abbas himself would be a decision to give in. To placate the White Witch with gifts and concessions. Rank cowardice and failure, that's what it was! To think, his father sagged so low as to kowtow to a damn WOMAN! Gods and their mercy, at this rate Salaadin would find himself being ordered around by his own harem! UNACCEPTABLE!

___

Having lost his yen for relaxation, Abbas returned to the palace early. A fact he was reminded of when he saw his rooms still being in quite ravaged condition. To think that servants were so lazy as to not even start on them yet. UNACCEPTABLE!