Arkan stood in the shadow of a massive stone pillar, his arms folded across his chest. He has his usual stoic discipline face, but internally, he was questioning every life choice that had led him to this corridor.
The secrecy was not particularly convincing.
The council chamber was nearby. Inside, three ministers and the Minister of Trade were waiting for the Khan. They had been waiting long enough to become nervous. Soon, that nervousness would turn into gossip. In a palace, gossip was dangerous.
Normally, the Khan was a man of perfect timing. He arrived early. He wasted no movement. He never left important men wondering if their ruler had forgotten them.
But today was not a normal day.
