Cultivating Plants

Even though it was well within her capabilities, Aloe didn't flinch at the blade's movements. Through its course left her bewildered.

Naila's tulwar danced in front of her face, the edge dangerously close to her eyes, but the tip directed back at the sultanzade. In a blink, the dual blades were sheathed.

"This pathetic woman poses no danger," Naila said. "Right now."

As she heard the young princess' words, Aloe remembered she hadn't breathed in a long time and her chest started to hurt. The air filled her lungs rapidly, collapsing from the surprise.

The emir remained petrified for a pregnant moment, but Rani was if not a master of masks and recovered her composure the instant the scribe exhaled her breath.

"I can understand the points you have remarked, but such language will not be tolerated toward me." Her words were harsh, yet Rani's tone lacked any gravitas. They didn't have the might of a governor behind them.

Aloe remained silent, not contributing a word or gesture that could be taken as a response.

"Alright, we got how it is impossible for her to be a spy," Fatima interjected, "but the most important subjects are yet to be addressed. How do you know of Nurture and can practice it?"

The odd wording made Aloe ponder for an instant if the sultanzade were even aware of how simple it was to learn to detect vitality and perform infusions, whether internal or external, but she discarded the idea instantly as she doubted the sultanzade was that dim. Instead, Aloe began weaving her web.

Now I'm sure that Karaim was connected to the assassins, so I can't just mention him. Their hostility to the assassins is real. Her grandfather's dying will may have taught her what she knew of Nurture, but if she didn't choose her words correctly, the sultanzade may investigate the man and find a trail that may, somehow, connect her with the assassins. I can't allow that. I need to misdirect them.

"Well? We are waiting." Fatima remained on top of the table wavering her nonchalance, though Naila had moved away from Aloe and now was pouring herself a glass of wine next to her sister.

"I have been taught by no one," Aloe admitted, which could be considered truth.

Naila rose a brow at the statement, but the girl was so tired with the charade that she just focused on her wine.

Fatima crossed her legs and slumped her body forward. "I smell a but there."

"I have learned my Nurture from… documents."Truth. Never outright lie. Mix reality and fantasy together. Those advice from her father made the man look more like a con artist than a banker.

"May I inquire about the origin of said documents?" Rani interjected before Aloe could explain herself.

The scribe didn't show any displeasure and simply continued. "They were made by an old partner of Aaliyah."

"Oh!" Fatima jumped from the table. "Now this is getting interesting. Are these documents why Aaliyah hasn't killed you?"

"Yes." Half-truth. Not because she was lying, but because Aloe had yet to divine the reason behind Aaliyah's antics, if there even was one.

"May we see these documents?" Rani inquired.

"No." Aloe instantly refused, getting a look from the three princesses. "I have burned them," into my mind. The scribe told herself.

Another trick is to tell truths to yourself. It doesn't really work as a lie, but it can mentalize you for them. Most lies fail because the speaker didn't believe them. Perhaps it was overkill and paranoiac to think like her father's words proposed, but at the same time, she could see the sense stance shining in Fatima's eyes.

"Then that was why Mother made you into a mess." Fatima guessed, ever-so-quick to form her own truth.

"No," Aloe interjected. The fabrications of that woman were what got her into this problem in the first place and she couldn't allow them to continue. "Aaliyah very much just used me to pleasure herself."

"Then what? If Mother was interested in those documents and you burned them and that was not the reason why she did all of that to you, then we are back at the starting point."

Aloe took a deep breath and weaved her reality. "Aaliyah was not interested in the documents, but in me as a person because I was the descendant of the man who wrote them."

"The one who was an old partner of hers?" It was Rani who spoke.

The scribe of commoners nodded. "That man was my grandfather, and Aaliyah taught him Nurture."

"Nince-damned bitch!" Fatima stomped on the ground. "The fucking woman acting all high and mighty about how we have to keep secrecy and maintain Nurture pure but, offff course, that does not apply to her. Bitch." She sputtered the words with unadulterated hate.

"So Aaliyah knew of your Nurture?" Rani maintained her cool as she questioned her.

"Not from the beginning, but as soon as she met me in her office she knew," Aloe confirmed.

And with that, she knew they had been trapped in their web. Not an outright lie, but now their minds were poisoned with a mysterious item and an even more mysterious relationship. Aloe wasn't a player on the tabletop for them, but a piece that happened to be trapped on the battlefield.

A clap reverberated across the patio. Aloe's attention was now solely focused on the source, Fatima.

"That settles it." The woman announced.

"Does it?" Rani inquired with a frown.

"But of course." Fatima snickered. "The sheer fact that Aloe is alive means that she has Mother's permission for Nurture."

"Logic's sound," Naila muttered over her wine. "That woman relies on actions more than words for her commands."

Aloe's shoulders slumped at the sound of those words; she could finally relax. She felt as if her heart threatened to burst out of her chest, and she couldn't feel her legs. If it wasn't for her wheelchair, she would have met the ground a long time ago.

"This resolution does not fill me with joy," the emir started, "but I shall accept it. The one pushing for her pardon was none other than myself, and if Aaliyah herself decided to spare you, then I am no one to overrule her." It was clear she didn't mean the words, but that was alright with Aloe.

The fact that now two more sultanzade knew of her capabilities was problematic, but Aloe admitted it was bound to happen at some point or another.

Silence led the patio, and it was only then that the lack of servants was noticed by Aloe. Considering how they have been shouting… they must have scared everyone. They wouldn't have talked state secrets with such fierceness otherwise. Someone needed to break the silence, and the scribe was led to the conclusion that it should be her, no matter how awkward it may be.

"The reason for my summon has been nulled then, Princess Fatima?" Politeness wouldn't help her now, but striving to not make the situation worse was enough. "I may be a cultivator, but I am not related to imperial business."

"Hmm…" Fatima grunted, her hand resting on her jaw. "It is true that this meeting was thought with sultanzade in mind…"

The princess slowly walked forward toward her, dread setting in the petite scribe. Please don't ask me to stay. Don't ask me to stay. Aloe wanted to run away as soon as possible, unable to handle the heavy atmosphere. Fatima placed herself next to the wheelchair and snaked one of her thick and powerful arms behind Aloe's neck, the hand resting at the scribe's shoulder. The gesture sent shivers down her spine.

"Now," Fatima faintly whispered in her ear. So weak was the sound that Aloe feared she wouldn't have heard it if it wasn't because of her acuity. "Do these girls know about our deal, or what your product does?"

Aloe straightened her back and put on a smile.

"I must deny your offer, princess." She said aloud. "As much as I would like to try the many delicacies on display, I lack the appetite to gorge myself on this feast."

Get the message, you dimwit. Aloe cursed at the woman behind her mask, her smile standing strong. The intent behind such a charade was twofold. First, so the other sultanzade didn't know what the original message was. And second, so she had an excuse to leave as she had politely declined the princess' 'offer' to stay.

Fatima separated from Aloe, placing herself in front of her as she did so, and gifted her a smile now that her back was facing the sultanzade. Oh, thank heavens, she has understood it.

"A shame you must leave us, but it is for the good. Better to leave the meeting imperial-only." The princess said. "Though I will not deny I would like to see you more in the future."

"I… of course, princess Fatima." Aloe bowed from her wheelchair. "I will take my leave then."

But before she could get her hands to the wheels, someone interrupted her.

"Hold on," Rani ordered. "I still have a question for you."

The scribe of commoner's visage soured. "Anything for you, Rani."

"Tell me, how do you have that much vitality?"

Fuck. Fuck! FUCK! Aloe trembled in the confines of her mind. Have they discovered my increase since I came back? No. Think calmly, my vitality is staying the same as always right now. Play it safe.

"I am having issues with that question." Aloe acted confused. "What do you mean with it?"

"You have thrice the vitality of a commoner, must I suppose you have reaped people from my city?"

Is that a threat? Is she mad at the possibility I stole her cattle? The chances of that were unknown, but she couldn't agree to that barbaric tradition even if it may be the right answer. I need to say something else…

"I am unable to engage in rapi- reaping." That slip wasn't intended.

"How so?" The emir frowned.

Aloe's mind couldn't think of anything else than the fact that the princess may be now seething at her intrusive comment.

"I am not versed in… the arts of the flesh. And it was not until Aaliyah explained to me reaping that I knew of its existence. I have not had the chance of performing the act due to my hindered state, and if I could…" the image of the colossal woman materialized in her mind, her resistance totally futile, "I would rather avoid it. My vitality is… produce of my birth."

Lie. An outright lie. Pride had won over Aloe. She opted to risk it all for a needless lie before being tagged as a rapist like them.

"I see…" Rani commented deep in thought. Has she bought it? "Such is a possibility I already thought of, but there are still some shades of doubt I would like you to illuminate. The first time I met you when I summoned you after your mother's death, you only had a fraction of that vitality. Twice of a person instead of thrice, can you explain that?"

"Uhm…" Aloe's feet curled in dread. An excuse, fast! Her whole body drummed at the beat of her heart. "When I was summoned at that date… I must admit I was during my cycle, and I had lost a heinous amount of blood. My vitality may have reflected my weakened state."

Half-truth. A perfect mixture of deceit and objectiveness. She had been severely weakened, but not enough to portray a loss of a third of her vitality.

"I guess it is possible…" Rani admitted with a lack of impetus uncharacteristic of her. Though as always, she composed the next moment. "That was all, you are dismissed, Aloe."

"Of course. Your Highnesses." She bowed to the three princesses and grabbed the wheels to escape as fast as possible from the death trap that they were.

"Oh, and Aloe!" Fatima shouted and the scribe turned to face her. "Scrub hard during the bath, you reek of urine."

The words slapped hard on her eardrums as suddenly she became aware of the warmness and wetness of her crotch. "Ah." A pathetically weak yelp escaped her lips as she reddened like blood.

Without thinking it twice she shifted into strength and departed the scene with all her might.