chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except my OC. No profits gained. Promise to put everything back after I have finished playing.

"You had what every man could ever dream of… Love, respect and family, but that wasn't enough for you, was it ?" Dastan spat disgusted at his uncle's treachery and with one final shove he pushed himself up from the ground. Leaving his uncle lying on his back still panting from their duel. With baited breath the soldiers around them were waiting for what was to come next. The stunning revelations of the youngest member of the royal family had silenced them all. The man everyone considered a wise counsellor had revealed himself to be a lowly traitor not only to his family but even to the Empire itself. The sentence for such a crime was death even if the accused was a member of the nobility. After his public execution his possessions would all fall to Empire, his name would never be spoken aloud again. History would forget him. Realization crashed down on Nizam. There wasn't a way out of this any more. He had miserably failed, sacrificed everything for nothing. Dastan had been right, he would always remain in the shadow. A irrespressible anger build up in his chest. He hadn't spoken his last word, yet.

Freed from the weight pinning him down, Nizam withdrew a carefully hidden dagger from the sleeve of his robe and leapt to his feet launching himself towards the three brethrenwith all the force of his desperation. His carefully planned rebellion against the curse Sharaman represented had been thwarted by this piece of thrash from the streets of Nasaf. If he couldn't fulfil his dreams of power, neither would Sharaman. There would no longer be a bond between three brethren and thus no sword to defend the empire…

Everything then happened in the blink of an eye. And none of the witnesses of the scene would recollect it in the same way.

Dastan sensing the movement behind him, instinctively turned, using his already legendary feline agility to escape the deadly blow. Almost at the same moment the dagger scraped along his leather breastplate and with one swift push entered between the leather straps holding the armour together… Time seemed to slow down. Tus, still recovering from the shock of all that had been unveiled by his younger sibling, didn't react until he saw the flash of the sun reflecting on the blade of the dagger. Instinct then set in. It took him only seconds to draw his shamshir and push it through his uncle's body in a desperate attempt to protect his little brother. Tus stood frozen shoulders slumped, as he watched his uncle's body slowly slide to the ground, his sword still embedded in it, fascinated by the dark red stain that spread on the precious silk of the blue tunic. He watched life fading in his uncle's cruel eyes, his expression at first a mix of surprise and disbelief. Then a tight smirk settled on Nizams lips even as his head lolled to the side and his eyes lost their focus.

The crown prince hesitated to turn around afraid of the scene that might display before him. There was only so much luck that his brother had been able to avoid the treacherous blade… His precious skills couldn't save him in such a situation. No one was that fast, not even the now famous Lion of Persia. He wasn't prepared to lose one of his brethren, at least not this way… in battle perhaps, but not at the hand of a murderer. An assassin coming from his own entourage. With a sigh he turned to see Dastan supported by Garsiv. The blow dealt by Nizam had made Dastan stumble forward towards the middle prince, who had caught him even as he fell forward, blinded by an overwhelming searing pain. The fire now spreading in his body was all encompassing. Not good, he thought.

Dastan was leaning heavily on his brother, his face contorted in pain and his skin was rapidly covering in a sheen of sweat. "Not so bad, " he panted, trying to quench the flames of pain coursing though his body. He even managed a half-smile, trying to convince Garsiv and Tus, whose worry was clearly etched on his face, as much as himself.

"Some stitches and I'll be as good as new…" His voice didn't sound convincing, not even to himself. But he wanted to show them he was as strong as they were so with the remnant of his energy he pushed himself away from Garsiv, only to collapse on the ground trembling as the world started spinning sickeningly around him.

Tus instantly knelt down next to him to examine the wound, careful not to jostle the dagger until he had made sure there was no danger in pulling it out. The blade was made of finest damascene steel. The intricate lines of the metal shimmering with blood as Tus held it in his clenched fist. A gasp escaped Dastan even as darkness surrounded him, momentarily taking all the pain away. His last conscious thought went to the princess in the Temple and he felt comforted that she was alive and safe …

Both, Tus and Garsiv's looks met, aware that their brother was fading fast.