[ names recited from memory. a prince, no matter what manner of heart he possesses, is forced to confront the limitations of the human body and mind when recalling the names of every subject in his domain. it then confirms alhaitham's suspicions that each lokapalan had been selected based on their connection to the royal palace itself. he considers the perspective of the eremites - they would have been ordered to choose and select the best and most viable slaves for serving the vissudha palace. what better quality of slaves to choose than individuals who once served a palace themselves? he considers, and rejects, the possibility that azar would have given orders to the eremites directly as to where the slaves must be sourced. communicating little details like that to eremites, the scourges of the desert and mere dust beneath his heels, would be beyond him.

alhaitham knew that he could use this. there were a few elements to be confirmed, but the facts slot into his pre-existing plans with the neat click of a chess piece in place. alhaitham looks at kaveh, still defiant, chin jutted out in a contemptuous lilt, and rests his chin on the heel of his hand as he thinks. ]

The young woman who was brought in with you, with long light hair braided along her left shoulder. Purple painted lips, gold foil on her eyelids obscuring the reddening of her eyes, extensive bruising beneath the make-up on her right arm, and the tri-coloured bangles on both wrists - which of the ones you named was she?