by Elm Vince
“Let them assume.” Kassim lounged back in his chair. “I’ll tell them the same thing I told you. I’m marrying Zadie tomorrow, and wild rocs couldn’t stop me.”
6
“It’s really quite extraordinary what happened to your sister.” Sultanah Farideh held out her goblet to be refilled by one of the many servants fluttering around the reception room with large ewers of wine.
White-and-gold banners billowed from the high ceilings, and with the soft hiss of rain on the roof, the immense, guest-filled room actually felt quite cozy in the lantern light.
“However,” she continued, adjusting the emerald green silks stitched with bronze thread that bared her trim midriff. “From what Diyan has told me of your Royal Vizier, it sounds entirely in character.”
Next to his mother, Prince Diyan shuffled on the spot and made a non-committal noise. I noticed he had a book tucked under his arm, no doubt waiting for the next opportunity to slip away somewhere and read it.
Out of all the guests in the reception room, I was most excited to meet the Sultanah of Nahraj. In her fifties, she was a tall, intelligent woman with sharp eyes and a quick tongue. Twin sections of silver hair were pinned back from her face, while the rest of her midnight locks cascaded down to the backs of her knees.
“I’m very lucky to have my sister back.”
We both gazed over to the opposite side of the throne room, where Lalana, dressed in a purple gown, was surrounded by my family, all three of Kassim’s sisters, and the real Prince Cao, who looked identical to the spirit-imitation I’d met previously.
“If you listen to court gossip, you’re apparently very lucky to still be engaged to the sultan, what with your elder sister’s sudden return to court,” Sultanah Farideh observed, her shrewd gaze never leaving my sister. “She’s just as charming and beautiful as the tales. I’ve heard more than a few whispers Kassim will re-establish the original betrothal.”
My eyes snapped to the older woman to find her already looking at me. Her words, although delivered mildly, stung.
A smattering of applause floated up in the distance, then the soft, warbling notes of Lalana’s voice rang out through the room, accompanied by a simple melody played by Prince Cao, who had somehow sourced a lute.
“Lalana is very talented at many things,” I replied, my throat a little tight.
“You know, I knew Kassim’s mother, Nayana, well. She was also a beautiful singer and raised all of her children with a love of music and song.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice to reply. Even Sultanah Farideh, a woman who ruled her queendom alone, and who had fueled my dreams of becoming a sultanah one day myself, thought Lalana was better suited to the Astarian royal bloodline.
“However,” she continued, playing with the large, emerald-studded discs hanging from her ears, “I’ve not found charming guests to be a requisite to ruling my country. Nor has being tone deaf ever held me back from being a fine sultanah.”
Prince Diyan smiled at me from his mother’s side. “I told Mother all about you from our time together.” He untucked the book from beneath his arm. It was bound in glossy leather, the words embossed in what looked like real gold. “This is my mother’s personal copy of Sultanah Bena’s Manifesto on Kingdom Alliances. It’s your wedding gift.”
I took the book from his hands in stunned silence.
“From what Diyan has told me of you, you’ve probably already read it.”
“It’s a favorite of mine. But this edition is stunning.” I turned the book over in my hands. “Thank you.”
“Zadie.” Sultanah Farideh put a hand on my shoulder. “A great sultanah has many traits, but strength, wisdom, and compassion are by far the most important.” Her dark eyes flicked over my shoulder and narrowed. “I wish you luck, but if you’ll excuse me, I think now is perhaps the best time for us to leave you to entertain your other guests.”
With a frown, I turned to see what had caught her attention, only to be faced with two people garbed in so many jewels I was momentarily blinded.
“Princess Zadie, I don’t believe you’ve met my dazzling new bride,” Prince Rishi drawled, waving his arm at Princess Makani like she was a prize camel.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Mak smiled and swept into a curtsey, the tiny gems on her flowing pants twinkling in the light. Her high ponytail was fastened with a thick cuff of gold, and her earlobes dragged under the weight of the cascading jewels strung from them.
“Likewise, princess.” I returned the gesture with a small smile. Rishi had no idea Mak and I had met in her home of Hidu. Or that we’d faced molten caves, wild rocs, and enemy armies together. Despite our shared adventures, I wasn’t sure if Mak was even a friend, but I liked the princess far more than her current betrothed.
“I feel quite lucky actually.” Rishi flicked his deep yellow cape over his shoulder. “Now I can see them in the same room, Princess Makani possesses ten times the beauty of Princess Safiyya. And she’s a woman, rather than a girl.” His eyes fell shamelessly on her breasts. “Our nuptials will be taking place imminently.”
I pressed down the irritation flickering in my chest. “Princess Safiyya is soon to be my sister-in-law,” I replied brightly. “I think she chose the correct prince. However, I do agree that Princess Makani looks as exquisite as the jewels she wears.”
“She is a jewel personified.” Rishi leered at his betrothed with a too-wide smile. “And I dare say the most beautiful woman in the room…” His eyes scanned the crowd, as if to verify his claim.
Rishi’s gaze settled on my sister singing in the background, a crowd gathered around her. “Well,” he mused out loud. “Perhaps second most beautiful… Your sister is quite the rare beauty, Princess Zadie. You mustn’t be too upset Kassim has chosen to honor the original betrothal.”
My body tensed. “Actually, Prince Rishi, Kassim and I are still to be wed.”
Rishi tore his eyes from my sister. “Really? That’s not what everyone’s saying.” He shook his head in disbelief. “He’s upholding a match to a younger sister when he’s quite within his right to have the first? As a man of royal blood, I find that quite odd.”
I clutched the book behind my back, my nails pressing into the leather. I’d quite like to shed some of Rishi’s royal blood right onto the marble beneath his slippered feet. “Perhaps you’ll believe it tomorrow when you witness our wedding with your own two eyes,” I replied, my teeth bared in a smile.
Rishi wouldn’t be so openly rude when I was sultanah of an entire kingdom. Even when he was married, he would still only be a prince-in-waiting to his own throne.
“Now Lalana’s back on the market, Kassim’s loss will be another’s gain.” He stroked the sparse hairs on his chin thoughtfully.
Mak’s eyes snapped to her betrothed, as if she, too, was considering smacking him around the face. Instead, her hand tapped the huge ruby around her neck.
“It looks like Prince Cao already seems very interested,” she purred, slinking slightly closer to Rishi’s side. “One of the unattached princes in attendance will no doubt propose to her before the evening’s out.”
“If you’ll excuse me.” I touched Mak’s arm, before taking the opportunity to escape the last in a long line of awkward conversations I had during the evening.
When we’d announced Lalana’s return earlier, I thought we’d been clear about the situation. But almost every royal guest here seemed to be confused as to which sister would be marrying Kassim.
Everyone clapped as Lalana finished her impromptu performance. I slipped past Safiyya and grabbed Kassim by the arm, tugging him to one side.
“Can’t keep your hands off me?” He twined his fingers with mine, his amber eyes dancing in the lantern light. “Tomorrow night we can leave the celebration early, but tonight, I’m afraid we’ll have to stay to entertain our guests.”
I chewed my lip, glancing back over my shoulder to where Lalana laughed and joked with Auriya and Safiyya.
�
�What’s wrong?” Kassim’s fingers slid underneath my chin and turned my head back to him.
“Nothing,” I lied, then instantly remembered my promise not to keep anything else from him. I sighed. “Everything. Everyone seems to think you’ll marry Lalana now she’s back. I’m trying not to let it bother me, but I came pretty close to smacking Prince Rishi with my new book.” I gestured aggressively with it, and Kassim took a step back. “How can people talk about me like I’m so disposable? They’re here for our wedding. Me and you. Not the Sultan of Astaran and whichever princess takes his whim that day.”
“I know exactly which princess I’ll be taking for my own.” Kassim grinned.
I slapped him on the arm with the book. “Stop joking. I’m serious.”
His grin fell away. “So am I.”
He tugged one of the large hairpins from the top of my head and my wild waves dropped down, brushing my shoulders. He clinked the metal against his goblet. The babble of chatter and laughter stilled so only the rain on the roof could be heard.
“Esteemed guests.” Kassim’s voice echoed through the chamber. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you all here, and how appreciative. You have all journeyed far to celebrate my union with Princess Zadie tomorrow. As you all know, we have already received the best wedding gift of all – finding the lost princess, Lalana, who I will be blessed to call my sister-in-law after tomorrow.”
A low murmur swept through the room.
“While I can’t compete with the timely reappearance of a lost sister, I do have a wedding gift for my new bride.”
I glanced at Kassim, but he didn’t look at me, still addressing our guests. “Princess Zadie will rule at my side with both wisdom and courage. She has already proven herself to be the most remarkable, passionate, and capable woman I’ve ever met. It’s no exaggeration to say she has changed my world and how I see it. As our wedding gift…” He held out his hand. Namir appeared at his side and handed him a scroll, before melting back into the crowd. “I have changed an old law to reflect a new era in Astaran.”
“Kassim, what–”
He handed me the scroll, and I read the words, my mouth dropping open.
“From today,” he continued, “the rightful heir to Astaran will be our first-born child, regardless whether the child is a boy or girl.”
For a moment, the crowd looked aghast, then applause broke out. Someone whooped loudly. Tears filled my eyes as I scanned the crowd. Even Kira was clapping.
I turned to Kassim to thank him, but he was already at my side, sweeping me backwards.
Before I could protest, his lips were on mine, kissing me in front of everyone.
7
When he finally let go, I staggered back a step. “Show off,” I gasped as the cheers intensified.
Kassim opened his mouth to reply, but a loud boom rang out through the chamber, shaking the floor and drowning out the sound of the cheering.
Applause turned to cries and shouts as an explosion outside filled the room with light. The area lit up so brightly it could have been the middle of the day. I twisted around, squinting through the rain-covered windows as another round of bangs, pops, and high-pitched squeals rang out, the entire sky lit with colorful patterns of fire. The guests’ initial shock turned to gasps and squeals of delight.
I’d heard of this before.
Fireworks…
Kassim was full of surprises.
But when I turned to the sultan, he was also staring out of the window, his brows just as high as mine, his mouth quirked up. Mak and Safiyya threw open the doors to the gardens. As one, we all swarmed forward to get a better view of the fiery lights in the sky, stopping just inside the doors to avoid the downpour.
“Did you organize this?” I breathed, clutching the sultan’s hand.
“No. It must have been Prince Cao.” Kassim twisted to look around. “Fireworks are made in Lyani, and it’s tradition to have them at celebrations. I should find him and thank him…” Kassim squeezed my hand, then pushed through the crowd in search of the Lyanese prince.
My eyes were drawn back to the doors as another round of squeals caught my attention, before bangs lit the sky with crackling color.
I’d never seen anything like it.
Lalana appeared at my side.
“Isn’t it amazing, Lana?” I only cast a quick glance her way, not wanting to miss anything.
“Who organized them?”
I shrugged. “Kassim thinks Prince Cao.”
Kassim reappeared at my side. “I was wrong. Prince Cao said he had nothing to do with it, but that it’s one of the finest displays he’s ever seen.”
Elian and Namir wandered over to join us, both admiring the fireworks in the gardens beyond.
“Elian, did Safiyya arrange this display?” I asked. The princess had been in charge of the decorations, and I had no doubt that if anyone could source such high-quality Lyanese fireworks for a display, it would be her.
Elian shrugged, not tearing his gaze from the lights, his eyes glittering. “I don’t think so. Maybe. She never mentioned it…” Pain flashed across his face as he reluctantly cast a look toward where Safiyya stood next to Prince Diyan.
When had Elian been talking to Safiyya?
I hoped the captain wouldn’t suffer too badly for her engagement to the prince. Maybe I could find him someone else who might help him get over her...
Lalana tugged at my elbow. I turned away from the captain, letting her pull me away a few steps. “I don’t like this, Zadie.”
“What? The noise?”
“No. This.” She gestured to the crowd gazing at the fireworks, a dark look clouding her features. “I’m worried. There was supposed to be a display like this in Yadina after the city was freed. But because the weather was bad, it had to be called off. It shouldn’t be possible to have fireworks in so much rain.”
I chewed my lip. “So what’re you saying? You think someone arranged this display using magic?”
“I don’t know, Zadie.” Lalana’s liquid eyes were wide. “But I think you should warn Namir. Especially if the organizer is still a mystery. What if it’s just a diversion?”
A diversion? But a diversion for what?
I glanced outside again. All of the guards on the surrounding walls had turned to watch the display, and I could see several gold turbans admiring the colorful skies with the rest of the royal crowd. I nodded, letting her know I would speak to the spymaster. Lalana’s unease was starting to rub off on me.
“Namir,” I said as I approached, while Lalana hung back. “We’re worried about the fireworks. Lalana thinks they shouldn’t be possible in the rain. And if no one here claims to have arranged them, perhaps they’re a diversion from something else....” As the words left my mouth, my stomach sank. “The lamps,” I half-shouted, raising my voice over the banging and cheers. “It could be a diversion to get into the treasury. To get to the lamps.”
Namir gave me a sidelong glance. “You shouldn’t worry about that, Zadie. The lamps are safe. I promise.”
“But perhaps someone should check the treasury, just in case? Can you get Elian to send more guards?”
Namir shook his head. “There’s no need, Zadie. They’re safe, and the treasury is fine. Just enjoy the display.”
I nodded, but looked out at the fireworks with new eyes. They were loud, and almost every pair of eyes had been trained on them ever since they started. I dropped back to join Lalana once more.
“What did he say?” she asked.
“I said I thought it could be a diversion to get to the lamps in the treasury. But he said they were fine and not to worry.”
Lalana’s dark brows lowered. “How does he know that?” she shouted, her words punctuated by a series of high-pitched pops that drew another chorus of amazed aahs from the crowd. “We should go check ourselves. I think someone is making this happen using magic, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing…”
I looked between Lalana and Kassim.
“Please, Zadie. Someone should check.” She pulled me toward the door.
Unsettled by her concern, I let her lead me.
* * *
My slippers skidded on the smooth stone as we hurried through corridor after corridor. The palace was a maze, but luckily, I knew my way around by now. When we ran past the statue of a djinni I’d hidden behind before, I knew we were close.
I slowed slightly. “It’s just here, around the...” The words dried up on my tongue as I turned the corner. The doors to the treasury were splayed open, drooping limply from the hinges like wilted petals from a flower.
I was too late.
Lalana gasped as we slowed to a walk toward the glowing, cold light emanating from the treasury. Someone must have lit all the lanterns for it to glow this brightly.
I held my breath as I crossed the threshold. Inside, the towers of gold coins, jewels, and expensive fabrics were all still there, glistening and untouched. But something far more valuable was missing.
I pressed my hands together, resting them against my nose as I took in the empty space closest to the door. I’d watched Elian’s men unload the crates of treasure from Hidu in this exact spot last week.
“They’re gone?” Lalana rubbed my arm.
I nodded numbly. It must have been Hepzibah. She knew where the lamps were, and she probably still had a key to the treasury.
“The spirits are gone,” I said, my voice disbelieving. “Someone’s taken all the lamps we brought back from Hidu.”
“Well, you’re partly right.”
We spun to see Namir standing in the doorway, closely followed by Kassim and Elian.
The sultan frowned at the glowing torches on the walls, and Namir bent to examine the smashed doors.
I crossed my arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Lalana hovered at my side as I took a few steps closer to Kassim. “The spirits from Hidu. They were here and now they’re not. I told you. It has to be Hepzibah. She was the only other one who knew–”
