Following the attempt on Bahram’s life, the city of Ctesiphon entered what could only be called a ceasefire. The two brothers emerged from their holdings to discuss the matters between them like men. Narseh stood across from his elder brother with a smug look on his face as he called out to the man as if he were triumphant in the whole ordeal.

“I see you still have your head intact brother, you must be blessed by the heavens to survive that assassination attempt!”

This remark only caused Bahram to scoff at his younger brother before lecturing the boy on his actions.

“Sending assassins into your own brother’s home? How will you be able to face our father in the afterlife? Let’s cut the shit and get down to business. The streets of Ctesiphon are in chaos, and our sister is missing. I propose a halt to the hostilities between us. In exchange for my peace, I want you to give Mitra to me. You have clearly demonstrated a lack of ability to protect her!”

Narseh looked around at the setting in front of him. On one side was his brother, surrounded by his guards, on the other side was his own army. At any moment, the war could resume, and the ultimate victor would be their eldest brother Shapur.

Despite this reality, Narseh would never just hand over his sister to Bahram. It was the same as selling the girl into sex slavery. Thus, he responded with a confident tone in his voice.

“You think I would sell my sister into slavery like some common whore? You think too little of me, brother. If not for your attempt on my life, she would be safe and sound within my villa. Yet you dare to blame me for her current state.

Everyone knows how you feel about our sister, and I will be damned before I hand her over to you. You know she wants nothing to do with you, right? So why persist? Are you truly incapable of finding a woman to be your bride?”

This remark did nothing but cause the enmity that existed between these two brothers to grow. Bahram curled his fists in rage as he ground his teeth. Thinking of all the insults he wanted to hurl towards his brother, and yet he forced himself to remain calm.

“For the sake of our mother, I will give you one last chance. Agree to hand Mitra over to me when we finally find her, or prepare yourself for total warfare!”

Despite this threat, Narseh did not budge in the slightest. He was already willing to die before he allowed his sister to fall into the lecherous hands of his older brother. Thus, he simply turned around and walked away from Bahram. All the while, the man cursed him out from behind.

“So it is war, then! Fine! Prepare yourself brother, for the next time we meet, it will be on the battlefield! I will have your head for this disobedience!”

Even with this being the result of their negotiations, Narseh did not grieve, instead, he needed to make preparations. First, he had to secure his villa with an appropriate amount of defenses and troops. Then he needed to search for his sister, in another game of cat and mouse. If Bahram managed to get his hands on the girl after all of this, it would be a disaster.

Once Narseh returned to his bedroom within his palace, and closed the door behind him, a pair of dainty armed wrapped themselves around his back. He turned around in shock to see Mitra staring at him with a cunning smile on her face.

“Did you miss me?”

Narseh was indeed surprised to see the missing minx, who had caused so much trouble in the capital of the Sassanid Empire, and was quick to interrogate her about her whereabouts during this crisis.

“Where the hell have you been?”

Naturally, Mitra evaded the topic as she released her hold over her brother before sitting down on his bed. She crossed one leg over the other and countered her brother’s interrogation with one of her own.

“Nevermind that. It’s not important. What I need to know is how did Bahram act after your little ceasefire?”

Narseh felt exhausted after his little meeting with his older brother, and quickly fetched a pitcher of wine, which sat neatly in one of his cupboards. After drinking more than he probably should, he wiped his mouth before answering his little sister’s question.

“He demanded I hand you over. I refused, so it is war. Bahram is forcing my hand, it appears as if things have become incredibly complicated.”

A look of anxiety formed on Narseh’s face as he dreaded the idea of going to war with his brother. Despite his words, Mitra seemed completely calm while she snatched the pitcher of wine from her brother’s hands and drank her fair share before commenting on his worries.

“It’s not a problem. I know some people who can get us connected with mercenaries. As long as you don’t mind paying a ransom of gold and silver to some barbarians from the west, then you will be fine. When the time for war actually comes around, Bahram won’t know what hit him…”

Naturally, this confidence that his sister held unnerved Narseh, who was quick to inquire about who her contacts were.

“Barbarians from the west? You wouldn’t be talking about Germans, would you? Just who do you know who can get us in contact with them?”

Once again, Mitra deflected the critical question, as she explained in detail just who she would be able to hire.

“Vandals, to be exact. As for my contact, that doesn’t really matter. What is important is that their word is as good as gold. I promise you, for a proper price, you will have a group of battle-hardened, and bloodthirsty warriors who will be more than willing to kill Bahram and his supporters. Just say the word, and I will arrange it.”

After careful consideration, Narseh sighed in defeat and nodded his head in agreement with his sister’s suggestion before voicing his thoughts aloud.

“Alright, set it up. I better not regret this.”

Mitra smirked before standing up and leaving the room. As she departed, she left behind one single sentence, which did not do anything to ease the worries in her brother’s heart.

“Leave it to me!”