Despite Sai’s pride that he had managed to keep Yousef oblivious of his presence, dread filled Navia and they had rushed to the throne room together. While they went, Sainan had described Yousef’s tone toward Théadan with her and they agreed something was wrong, that the alarming rush Navia felt to be at Théadan’s side was not unwarranted. The guards outside the throne room door only cemented it for her, for the instant they saw her enter the grand foyer, their spears cross protectively before the door and they told her she was not welcome. Sainan was denied access was well, but they both spun to try another route at the same time, wordlessly knowing they would try to enter the throne room through Kazim’s study instead. Luckily that had not been considered and the siblings rushed into the space and to the door leading out to the throne room. Sainan motioned for Navia to remain silent with a finger to his lips, but she silently made no promises, knowing she would do whatever it took to keep Théadan safe.<br/><br/>The door was opened a crack, just enough for them to peek through. Everyone’s focus in the other room was on Théadan though, and they were behind Kazim’s throne, so no one paid any mind to the door opening slightly. They peeked through together and Navia bit back a gasp of alarm when her eyes landed on Théadan on his knees in the center of the throne room, flanked by guards and another standing nearby with a large axe in hand.<br/><br/>“Kazim wouldn’t have him killed,” Navia hissed incredulously at Sai, her expression full of her disbelief that her family would be so cruel.<br/><br/>“And risk getting blood on his perfect white floors? Not a chance,” Sai shrugged, though it definitely did seem like that was his cousin’s intention, “Don’t go out there just yet, Navia. Wait and see what’s going on.”<br/><br/>Before Navia could protest, Kazim’s voice boomed through the room, “This barbarian thinks himself worthy of my audience because of a title given to him by our greatest enemy! He thinks himself worthy of speaking to me!” Kazim stood from the throne and thundered down its steps to address the nobility he had demanded be present, “Before you is one of the three masterminds behind our country’s ruin! He claims to have remorse for it, but have we seen it? He insists he brought our<i>Sitvati </i>home to us, but he is the one who caused her suffering in the first place! He uses his title as a prince, but states he has severed ties with his family. This man has come to Khlurios with nothing as his own but a horse and the clothes on his back! Clearly he is seeking power here because he cannot at home and has poisoned our Duchess’s mind in the process!” Kazim paused to look back at Théadan with a derisive expression, “No Mes’Mo’Tanian is welcome here, especially one with as much Khluri blood on his hands as you.” He gave his fingers of one hand a snap and the executioner stepped forward.<br/><br/>“Navia, wait—“ Sai hissed when Navia tried to pull the door open and expose them, “Let Yousef take care of it. He knows you love him.”<br/><br/>“He doesn’t care,” Navia answered and shoved past Sai to step into the throne room, “I have to help him.”<br/><br/>“Let this be a show of our strength to those around us,” Kazim went on, oblivious to those behind him, “Let the world know Khlurios will show no mercy to those who have wronged us so savagely. Let them all bear witness to our might as we rebuild!”<br/><br/>Yousef saw her before she could reach Théadan, but Navia was quicker, skirting just enough around his lunging grasp for her to stumble in front of Kazim and place herself between him and Théadan. “No,” Navia said loudly, making sure all gathered in the room would hear her before she squared her shoulders and glared up at her boasting cousin, “No, Kazim.”<br/><br/>The slap was loud and instant, an action that occurred in haste, on impulse. It sent her thick black hair rioting around her and Navia was unprepared for it, causing her to take a couple unbalanced steps backward, the back of her leg bumping into Théadan’s shoulder. She recovered quickly however, her defiant expression turning furious as her hand rose to gingerly touch her cheek, “What—“<br/><br/>“You have betrayed us enough!” Kazim yelled at her, his own features irate and his need to show power before his nobility egging him on, “You bring this murderer into our home, demand he is to be welcomed with open arms, and continue to defend him when his own brother made you a widow! And he has you so twisted in the head, you would defy me in front of our nobility!” He turned and addressed a remorseful Yousef, making a grab for Navia’s arm at the same time, “I’m giving you this courtesy because she is my flesh and blood. Remove her before I change my mind and her head is rolling on the floor after his.”<br/><br/>“You will do no such thing, Yousef,” Navia barked as she dodged Kazim's grab at her, “My place is by Théadan’s side, no matter what Kazim thinks.”<br/><br/>“It is unnatural and offensive!” Kazim protested anyway, giving Navia his opinion despite her lack of interest in it. Deciding to try another tactic, he glared over her shoulder at the man she was protecting, “Tell me,<i>Avezana</i>. If you had not delivered our<i>Sitvati </i>as a gift to your father like the slave you had forced her to be, could you live happy lives together in your palace? Would your family welcome her with open arms and forgive any of her sins against your country? Would any of it be allowable in Mes’Mo’Tan?”<br/><br/>“We are not in Mes’Mo’Tan!” Yousef protested, having stepped forward to try to drag Navia away before she wound up dead as well. She fought it, but he managed to get ahold of her wrist and pull hard. She ended up stumbling into him, but with Kazim’s focus on pelting Théadan with demanding questions, she looked up at her brother imploringly, knowing if anyone could help, it was him. She had angered Kazim too greatly for him to listen to her. He would go against anything she said just to spite her. But Yousef was his confidant, his favorite cousin since childhood, and someone who had been trained to be most loyal and trustworthy to the king. She was asking her brother to go against that training, to be loyal to her instead. But Navia knew Yousef was the key to it all. It was he whom could save Théadan. “Please, Yousef.<i>Please</i>.”