The Lion's Den

My eyes rapidly adjusted to the candlelight inside the windowless room. There were three men present around a round table stacked with drained bottles of wine. Two of the men were not wholly unfamiliar to me, though I had not yet met them in person. The remaining individual I knew quite well, and had once trusted like a brother. I wish I could say he thought likewise, for his recent actions had revealed quite a different outlook

"Aziz. You're looking well", I stated simply. As always, my presence had a rather sobering effect on the occupants of this room. Bottles and earthenware mugs clattered as the men jerked to their feet, like marionettes held by a palsied hand.

"Sir? I wasn't expecting you back so soon," he stammered, his way of apologizing. I waved him off, forgiving him his indiscretions, as I often had before. I had other, much more important things on my mind, than to be distracted.

"No matter," I said, meeting his gaze. "We have much work to do."