Nazar

13x19; Digital
From my Gold Star series:

Ibn Nazar took great pride in his name. It had accompanied his family lineage since before written history. Generations past of secret keepers, knowledge seekers, and protectors shared the same blood as he. What would they say of him now, if they could? Ibn Nazar, who in creating the astral gates spurred mankind into a new era of discovery, yes. For this accomplishment, though, he had payed a great price. Rather, they had paid him. A debt that would never be paid imprisoned him and his family under lavish rule. At the beck and call of the Gold Star council as their personal lap dog. All this and more plagued Nazar as he worked, and was then flung to the back of his mind as he heard a door open below. A familiar anxiety crept up. They’d summoned him.