After camp of Elisheba's army had been broken up the troops started to march into Opal.
When Elisheba entered the palace on her way to the throne room she was approached by one of ibn Arabi's Shadow Walkers. Her body guards immediately drew their swords, but the man said he meant no evil.
He just wanted her to read a letter that was sent to different people in and out of Opal.
The letter was nothing less but a plea to crown Maryam Empress of their father's empire. Maryam used the argument that Elisheba would do the same but instead of Arabs and Persians take up the Occidentals in all positions of power.
"Tell your boss that I have no intent to become Empress. Tell him to inform Maryam that I want to meet with her and divide the Empire in an Eastern and Western part. I'll meet wherever she wants, as long as it is not in Babylon."
Soon after ibn Arabi informed queen Maryam of the counter proposal of her sister.
Maryam grabbed a map and spread it out on her desk. "Here is where we will meet...on the border of the mountain people's home and the desert."
"See to it that she gets the message. And try to find Pakal. I would feel safer if he and his army were there as a peace force." "I will see to it personally, milady." "Oh and Arabi, I want to meet the man who handed the letters to my sister. I want to know where and who he got them from."
"I am afraid that will no longer be possible, your highness. The man was found in Neopolis, sitting dead in a small alley. We think he died of poison or drugs. Hard to tell."