by Elm Vince
Spirits. I’d forgotten Kassim’s older sisters would be traveling home for the wedding from their husbands’ kingdoms. I’d have to meet them later, too. And so would Lalana...
“They’ve just arrived. Safiyya’s greeted them,” said Namir.
So only my family had been attacked. The three men fell silent, staring at the map.
“Obviously someone is trying to sabotage the wedding,” I said, and six eyes trained on me. I stepped back a little as Elian lowered the map. “The only guests attacked so far are my family. As you know, Kassim must hold hands with one of my parents as part of the ceremonial rites to make our marriage legal. If they were delayed or injured, we’d have to postpone the wedding.”
“Zadie’s right,” Kassim agreed. “This might only be one attack so far, but it seems calculated.”
“And whoever arranged it knew Namir’s men would be stationed in Persylis,” said Elian, raising the map once more, “and they obviously knew my scouts go as far as Hashara. They coordinated their attack in the narrow gap between the two.”
A dark look crossed Namir’s face. “There’s only one other person who knows such details of our forces.”
“Hepzibah.” There was a hard edge to Kassim’s voice. He exchanged a look with Elian and Namir.
I toyed with the edge of my sleeve. “She never wanted us to marry. It makes sense she’d continue her vendetta, even now she’s in hiding.”
“The question is,” Namir tapped his foot, “is it a personal vendetta? Or is Hepzibah working on behalf of the Phoenites to prevent the Astaran-Khiridesh alliance?”
“I don’t know,” Kassim admitted. He let out a low, frustrated sound. “We still don’t know her motives, or her allegiances – beyond the fact she’s worked with Phoenitia in the past. We don’t even know the real extent of her powers.”
I let my eyes roam the map, across the golden lands of Astaran, to Khiridesh in the south, then back up north, to the mountains and the shadowy land of Phoenitia. Who knew where the vizier was hiding, or what she was plotting?
“Hepzibah’s a sorcerer who’s controlled spirits in the past,” I said. “Remember the spirit who posed as Prince Cao? That was her doing. She could have spirits at her disposal again.”
My gaze momentarily flicked to the gathering storm on the horizon. It was out of season for storms. Could this unusual weather be the doing of sorcery, too?
“She knows everything about the palace. The layout, how Elian’s and my men operate.” Namir ran a hand through his mop of curls. “If Hepzibah has set out to sabotage the wedding, we can’t treat her like a normal enemy. She was your closest council, Kassim. Even closer than us.”
Kassim leaned forward on the edge of the wall, his broad shoulders slumped.
I moved to stand at his side, resting a hand on his arm. I shot a stern look at Namir. “But we can play her knowledge to our advantage. We have a treasury filled with powerful spirits at our disposal, and Hepzibah knows that. She’d be foolish to attack the palace directly. She knows she’d never overpower us.”
“True.” Elian gazed down at his men, who strode with purpose across the courtyards below in full Astarian armor. He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “But she could still attack any number of our guests on their way to the palace, or our own people.”
“And are we prepared to use the spirits if she attacks?” Kassim straightened, sliding an arm around my waist. He tilted his head down to direct his next words to me. “Hepzibah knows we hesitated before, in Hidu. Perhaps the attack on your parents was a test to see if we’d retaliate.”
“I don’t know.” I chewed on my lip, watching the Astarian soldiers below us. If Hepzibah attacked us with magic, their strength and skill still wouldn’t be enough to protect the palace. “What’s the bigger danger? An enemy sorcerer with unknown powers, or several hundred possibly volatile spirits?”
“We can make that call when the time comes. If the time comes. But we must act fast. The rest of our guests will be here by this evening, and Zadie and I are supposed to be greeting her family at lunch right now.” Kassim dropped his arm from my waist and turned to face Elian and Namir. “Elian, double your guard in the outpost towns, and send your palace guards to accompany our guests from the moment they cross the border into Astaran. Act like it’s a common courtesy, though. I don’t want anyone thinking Astaran is unsafe.”
“That leaves fewer men to guard the palace,” Elian said cautiously, his gaze flicking back to me.
“I’ll have all of my eyes working inside the palace walls,” Namir said, crossing his arms. “And like Zadie said, Hepzibah is aware of what we have inside the palace. She’s more likely to attack where we’re weaker, in the distant reaches of our lands.”
Elian gave a sharp nod and stepped to one side. A thin man with a large bow strung across his back and a heavy-set woman in full armor walked up to receive orders.
Kassim’s gaze settled on the heavy, dark clouds on the horizon. “You think it’ll reach us?”
“I’ve already sent out warnings of possible flash floods,” Namir answered, lips pressed together.
Desert storms were short and fierce, and I’d hoped the deluge would hit in the middle of the desert to spare the people of Kisrabah. But a storm was the least of our worries.
“Come, Zadie.” Kassim tore his gaze away from the horizon. “Let’s greet your family. We have a certain someone they need to be reacquainted with.”
Spirits, with the news about the attack on the road, I’d almost forgotten about the drama surrounding Lalana. How would my parents react when they found out Kassim knew she was still alive? Not to mention we’d have to tell Kassim’s family, too.
“I want all of our men on high alert for anything suspicious. Report to me immediately if anything happens, Namir.” Kassim reached an arm back for me. “Ready, Zadie?”
I hesitated. “Wait. What about the people in Kisrabah?” With Elian’s guards accompanying guests and Namir’s men keeping lookout in the palace, who would protect the people of the city as they prepared to celebrate the royal wedding?
“I’ll ask Aliyah to keep an eye out,” Namir replied.
I scrunched up my face. “No offense, Namir, but I’m not sure Ali and her thieves will answer to you.”
“She’ll help if I say it’s a favor for you,” the spymaster replied, a dark look crossing his eyes.
Something in my chest loosened. Yes, she would. I felt better knowing Ali was keeping an eye on the city. Although I was sure plenty of revelers would still find their pockets picked.
My stomach growled, and Kassim’s lips quirked up for the first time since he’d discovered Lalana. “Let’s get you to lunch. I can’t have my bride-to-be fainting on me.”
I managed a weak smile in return, hitching my gown in my hands to take the steps down. Kassim’s hand trailed along my hips as I slipped past him.
“I saw that!” Elian called after us, standing at Namir’s side once again. “Spirits. Save something for the bridal chamber tomorrow night, please.”
Kassim made a rude gesture to his captain over his shoulder.
I took a deep breath. The only thing standing between me and a good meal was the small matter of introducing my supposedly dead sister to my parents and my new in-laws.
What could possibly go wrong?
5
I wished I could squeeze Kassim’s hand underneath the table, but he sat at the head at the opposite end, and he felt leagues away.
Between us, the orange-gold afternoon light streamed through the windows, throwing long shadows across the table and the royals gathered around it. Along one side sat my family – Umar, Mother, Lalana, and Father – and along the other, Kassim’s two elder sisters, Kira and Auriya, sat to either side of Safiyya.
I shifted in my chair, wetting my dry lips as I tried to catch what Kassim and my father spoke about. My parents had acted surprisingly calm when we reintroduced Lalana and told them our plan to blame her disappearance on the
vizier. Father still looked ashen and hadn’t stopped apologizing to Kassim, even though he had reassured him the alliance would still go ahead.
“You seem well recovered from your attack on the road,” Kassim’s eldest sister, Kira, noted, taking a long sip from her goblet. “I’m so glad no one was injured.” She was a handsome woman, with a long, straight nose and sharp, golden Astarian eyes. She reclined back in her chair, the swell of her pregnant belly visible through shimmering cream-and-blue robes, the colors of the Kingdom of Akyria.
She had married an older prince, and at twenty-seven had already produced four heirs, with another on the way. Kira had traveled to Astaran alone while her husband remained to tend to state matters. She seemed shrewd, if a little calculating.
I hoped she didn’t have any more questions about Lalana’s sudden reappearance.
“Actually, several of my father’s men were injured.” I ran a finger around the rim of my goblet.
Father shot me a look before returning his gaze to Kira. “Thank you for your concern. We are very grateful none of the royal family was injured in the attack. Although Indira’s nerves are quite frayed.”
“If it wasn’t for the extra protection I arranged this morning, we would have surely been killed.” My mother’s eyes were wide, her hand shooting to the amulets hanging from her neck.
“Extra protection?” Auriya, Kassim’s middle sister, asked. She swept her bangs from her face, which was made up in traditional Qusharan style, with thick flicks of black kohl giving her hazel eyes a catlike look. She had married a handsome nobleman from Qushara several years ago. “You traveled with additional soldiers?”
“Spirits no.” Mother gave a breathy laugh. “My new amulets.” She bunched the necklaces in her fist, letting the pendants swing and clack together so the rest of the table could admire them. “If I hadn’t had the foresight to wear them all, we’d probably be dead.”
Auriya laughed politely, then when she realized my mother wasn’t joking, cleared her throat and suddenly looked very interested in the food before her.
A spoon clinked against my plate as Umar sloshed a huge spoonful of spiced lamb stew onto it. “Eat, Zadie. You’re not eating.” My little brother frowned up at me.
The steaming scent of warm spices and coconut reminded me how hungry I still was, despite the awkward family meal. I delicately scooped a forkful into my mouth, savoring the sweet and salty flavors bursting on my tongue.
“Want more?” He reached forward and piled flatbread next to my plate. I glanced up the table. Kassim’s sisters talked amongst themselves, Lalana exchanged words with Mother, and Kassim and my father had resumed their conversation.
I tried a mouthful of mango rice next. Spirits, either I was starving or this was the best food I’d ever eaten.
“You eat fancy now, like Lalana.” Umar pouted. “And your clothes are all sparkly.” He tugged at my cuff strung with tiny pearls.
If I’d have been sitting at the dining table in Satra, I’d have probably filled my cheeks with stew until they bulged, just to get a laugh out of my little brother, but in front of Kassim and his sisters, well… It didn’t seem like something a sultanah would do.
“That’s because I’m a queen now,” I replied, tearing the flatbread into small triangles. “Well, nearly.”
“You’re definitely marrying him?” Umar jabbed the serving spoon in the direction of Kassim, spraying droplets of sauce across the table.
“I am.”
My little brother wrinkled his nose. “He looks serious. And pretty, like a girl. His clothes sparkle, too.”
I repressed a smile, gazing at my betrothed. Umar was right. Kassim was very pretty. It really wasn’t fair one man could have such long, dark eyelashes, smooth skin, and shining hair.
As if he could feel our gazes on him, Kassim looked up and gave Umar a small wave. My brother ignored him, glowering down at his plate and muttering something to himself.
I leaned over, nudging him. “Hey. Once we’re married, Kassim will be your brother. You always wanted a brother.”
“Did not,” Umar huffed. “I have you. Even though you live far away now.”
I stifled a smile. “How about tomorrow, before the wedding, I show you my new horse, Bandit?” I raised my eyebrows conspiratorially. “And my new sword. It’s an elij, so it’ll be light enough for you to hold.”
Umar perked up. “Really? You can use a sword?”
I nodded, although my wish to know everything about sword fighting had left me, so all I had were my few training sessions with Elian. I hadn’t tried to fight since, so I had no idea how good I’d be…
Laughter roused me from my conversation with Umar. Kira, Auriya, and Safiyya were all laughing at something Lalana had said.
“Truly?” Auriya dabbed a tear from the corner of her eye without smudging her liner.
“She attempted to dance in it, too. Can you imagine?” Lalana tossed her glossy hair behind her shoulder. “The veil caught on her shoes and came right off.”
Kassim’s sisters laughed again. Kira looked from Lalana to me, her demeanor becoming frosty once more.
“So, Zadie.” Kira interlaced her fingers across her belly. “I must say, I find my brother very changed.”
Everyone at the table stilled, except Umar, who tore into a flatbread with reckless abandon, shoving the bread into his cheeks and ignoring everyone else.
“Oh, I agree,” I replied, meeting her gaze across the table. Kira blinked twice, the only outward sign my words surprised her. “Kassim seems a very different man than the sultan who collected me from Khiridesh. In the short months I’ve been in Astaran, I find he has learned to put his trust in the right advisors. A lesson he learned the hard way.”
Kassim pressed his lips together, suppressing a smile. “Such glowing praise from my new bride.” He turned to his sisters. “What Zadie means is that I started listening to her. From the moment she left Khiridesh, she was very vocal with her opinions about my actions and politics–”
“Zadie,” my mother hissed, sounding exasperated.
“But she has already helped Astaran in more ways than you could know, Indira.” Kassim addressed my mother, and her face instantly melted into a soft smile. “Your daughter warned me not to trust the vizier…”
“Ah yes, the vizier.” Kira’s voice rose. She tapped a golden fork against the table. “Terrible for you to lose a daughter that way, Sultanah Indira. And you, Lalana. Trapped for months. Where did you say she kept you again?”
The tone of Kira’s questioning set my teeth on edge.
“In her tower, I think,” Lalana replied brightly. “She never let me out of my shackles, so I can’t be sure.”
“I see,” Kira replied. Her eyes drifted to Lalana’s hands, still bandaged from when she’d struggled with the assassin during the storytelling competition. She frowned, as though in disbelief it really might be evidence my sister had been held hostage. “I can’t believe she would keep you where you could be discovered. Namir seems to have eyes on every inch of the palace.”
“The vizier was a sorceress,” I spoke quickly, raising my voice so I could be heard all the way down the vast table. “She probably kept Lalana veiled with her magic.”
“Hmm,” Kira replied, pushing a piece of lamb around her plate.
“It must have been terrible for you, too, Zadie.” Auriya sounded more genuine than her sister. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to lose a sister, only to find out she’d been living with you all this time as a prisoner. And your parents…” She gave them a heartfelt look. “You have my deepest sympathies, Sultan Shapur, Sultanah Indira.”
“The sultan and sultanah have graciously accepted my apologies.” Kassim’s deep voice was genial, but he gripped his knife a little too tightly. The conversation verged on dangerous territory, and we’d agreed to tell no one the truth about Lalana. Not even his sisters.
“Yes, of course,” Father hurriedly agreed, his voice light. “No harm done.
Kassim didn’t know his vizier was scheming against him. And we have our little Lana back, safe and sound.”
Lalana reached over to squeeze Father’s arm as the sun went behind a cloud.
Kira’s eyes shifted from Lalana to Kassim and back again. “Now Lalana is back, I assume you’ll be reinstating the original betrothal?” She arched an eyebrow, and my blood chilled. “You owe the Khirideshi royals a great debt, Kassim. It seems only right to apologize for the treatment of their firstborn by ensuring she becomes Astaran’s next sultanah.” The words were light, but it felt like she’d stood and screamed them at me.
“Oh yes, do that!” Umar cried, banging his fork on the table. “Then Zadie can come home with us!”
Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance, filling the silence that followed. My parents froze, unsure what to say. Even Lalana looked panicked.
A high, tinkling laugh rang out. Safiyya leaned forward to help herself to an almond tart from the platter before her. “Kassim won’t change his mind now, Kira. Like you said, he’s changed. He doesn’t care about fusty old traditions anymore. And he’s desperately in love with Zadie. Aren’t you, Kassim?” She took a huge bite of the tart, looking pointedly at her brother.
Kassim’s eyes widened, then his face broke into a grin. “My littlest sister knows me too well.” He turned to my parents. “I hope it pleases you to keep the Khiridesh-Astaran alliance in place with my marrying your youngest daughter.” He shifted in his chair. “Safiyya is right. What started out as a political alliance has become a love match between us. Not only that, but I believe Zadie will make a wise and fair sultanah. My people will be lucky to have her.”
My heart swelled inside my chest at Kassim’s words, but Kira simply frowned. She probably suspected there was more to Lalana’s story than we had shared with her. Or perhaps it was just clear to her that Lalana made the better sultanah, by traditional standards anyway.
“I’m happy for you, brother.” Auriya tilted her glass of iced lime water toward Kassim.
“As am I,” said Kira stiffly. “But you do realize when your guests hear of Lalana’s return, they’ll all assume the same thing.”
