Throne of Sand (2020 Reissue)

by Helena Rookwood

  Grinning at the prospect, I thrust another pair of pants into my bag. “I know.”

  Safiyya patiently removed them and handed them to Mehri, who folded them into a neat square before replacing them again. When I’d told her I’d be away with the sultan for a few days, my handmaid had nodded thoughtfully, then lined up a comb and series of cosmetics to take with me…which I knew I would never use.

  Jevera had been less helpful. After commenting that the desert was no place for a princess, she’d retreated to the far corner of my room and began fixing loose threads on one of my veils with a ferocity that made me fear for her fingers as the needle flashed between them.

  “Have you ever even slept in a tent before?” Safiyya handed another item of clothing to Mehri. She didn’t wait for an answer. “I’d just be so bored with nothing but sand and soldiers for company all day. And I wouldn’t know what to do without my handmaids to dress me in the mornings.” She put her hands to her shining locks of black hair, lotus flowers strung through it, as though worried she might suddenly have to go into the desert herself.

  I rolled my eyes. Safiyya might not long for life without being clothed and cosseted, but I did. “I coped just fine without handmaids fluttering around me in Khiridesh. I’ll cope fine without them again.”

  Too late, I caught sight of the hurt spreading across Mehri’s face. Jevera looked up from her needlework, a dark scowl stamped across her face.

  “Uh… I mean, I’ll obviously miss them,” I added hurriedly. “I’m sure I won’t look half so much of a princess without them to guide me.”

  Actually, how would I look without them? Kassim had hardly ever seen me without the makeup they carefully applied each morning. There would be no paints to adjust the shape of my nose and widen my eyes. No coconut oil to tame my wild locks.

  A sharp knock rapped at the door.

  Jevera jumped to her feet and stomped over to fling it open. She sank into a small curtsey before announcing, “The captain of the guard,” then swiftly returned to sulk in her corner.

  Safiyya let out a little squeak. Her cheeks flushed pink and her hands froze in midair above my bag.

  I turned to where Elian stood in the doorway. He swept into a low bow. “Princess Safiyya. Princess Scheherazade.”

  “It’s Zadie.” How many times would I have to say it before the palace was comfortable addressing me as such?

  “Ah, of course.” A little smile twisted up the corners of Elian’s mouth.

  “Captain!” Safiyya stumbled to her feet before dropping into a curtsey. “How can we help you?” She had gone even redder, her eyes wide and voice trembling.

  I looked back at Elian, assessing him. I supposed he did cut quite a dashing figure. His ebony skin looked even darker against the white-and-gold robes of the Astarian uniform, white teeth flashing as he gave the princess a tender smile. He did have very broad shoulders, arms swelling with muscle, and a chest like a barrel…

  But an Astarian princess would never be allowed to be courted by the captain of the guard.

  I thought suddenly of my sister Lalana. Had her cheeks flushed when she had fallen in love with Ambar?

  Elian turned to face me. “I’m here to speak to Princess Scheherazade…uh, Zadie about the next few days. I thought she might want to know a bit more about exactly what she’s let herself in for.”

  I crossed my arms. “I suppose you’re about to tell me princesses belong in the palace?”

  Elian’s smile flashed again. “Ah, there’s the gentle, obedient nature I’ve heard so much about from Namir.”

  I felt my cheeks grow hot. Then an uncomfortable prickling feeling swept over the back of my head.

  Elian had spoken to Namir, so I hadn’t been completely wrong to think it was odd Elian had volunteered to come with us for my protection. Would one of them always be spying on me?

  “If you don’t mind, princess,” Elian said to Safiyya, “Princess Zadie and I will be discussing matters I’m certain you won’t be interested in. Perhaps you might like to come back and help her pack later this afternoon?”

  “Of course.” If Safiyya went any redder, she’d turn into a cactus flower. “I’ll see you later, Zadie.” She hurried out the door.

  I didn’t uncross my arms. “Waiting for Safiyya to leave before you tell me not to go?”

  “Oh, please.” Elian wandered through my chambers, closing the shutters that opened out onto the marble balcony. “Why would I offer to come with you if I didn’t want you to go? Besides, you know as well as I do that we have to take you. We need someone to translate for us.” He took a seat at the little table and poured two glasses of iced lime water before gesturing for me to sit.

  I hesitated, then dropped into the chair opposite him.

  He shot me another grin and pushed one glass toward me. “Why so suspicious?”

  I didn’t take the glass as I drummed my fingers on the table. Namir had ulterior motives when he’d offered to help me before, so how did I know Elian could be trusted?

  “I don’t understand why you want to help me. No one else in this palace even allows me to go out for a ride. Yet you’re happy for me to disappear into the desert for a few days.”

  “I told you, we haven’t got much choice. There’s no point traveling all the way there if we can’t persuade the soothsayer to show us the talisman.” Reaching into a bag at his side, Elian produced a roll of parchment and spread it across the table. A map. “And Namir thinks there’s more to you than we first thought. So I’m here to brief you.”

  Despite my suspicions, I leaned forward, breathing in the smell of parchment and dust as my gaze ran over the map.

  “As you already know, the talisman is hidden in an abandoned city just inside the Khirideshi border. Tigrylon hasn’t been inhabited for hundreds of years now, but, as you know, the page you translated also suggests a soothsayer is there to guard what’s left of it all. We think that includes the talisman.” Elian jabbed a finger at an unmarked spot in the middle of the Tigrib Desert. “Here.”

  “And we’re here,” I said, pointing to an inky dot nearby, which I knew marked Kisrabah.

  My heart lurched as I looked automatically for my home city. It had only been a week since I’d left Satra. Suddenly I longed for it.

  My gaze drifted across the map to Yadina, the city where my sister was hiding with Ambar. I wouldn’t get his reply to my letter until I got back, but I supposed it didn’t matter anymore. Especially if we found the Night Diamond talisman on this quest.

  I returned my gaze to Elian. “So, based on where Satra is, we must be…two days’ ride from this abandoned city?”

  He looked at me appraisingly. “Namir was right. There’s more to you than meets the eye.”

  I grabbed the glass of lime water, trying not to look too pleased.

  “I have a feeling you’re going to be very helpful in our search for the talisman, Zadie. And I don’t just mean with your language skills.”

  I gave him a suspicious look. “And you’ve got no ulterior motive in all of this? You seem extremely eager for me to leave the palace with you.”

  Elian got to his feet with an exaggerated shrug. “I could ask you a similar question. Why is the Princess of Khiridesh so desperate to escape from all the riches of the palace?”

  I pursed my lips. I didn’t have an answer to his question. Not one I’d want getting back to Kassim, anyway.

  “Well, in any case, I’m glad you’re so excited, as we’re leaving tonight.” Elian rolled up the map and shoved it back into his bag. “Someone will collect you at sundown. Make sure you’re packed by then.”

  Chapter Twenty

  I leaned out of the window, the stone cooling rapidly beneath my palms as the sun slipped down behind the palace walls. The first stars already twinkled in the sky above me. I breathed in the sweet scent of jasmine that flowered in the gardens at night, the strong smell of oil as the evening lamps were lit.

  With an irritable sigh, I pushed back from
the windowsill and returned to pacing the room. It was already sundown. Where are they?

  I moved to where my bag sat on the wooden table in the corner, where I had looked at the map with Elian just hours before. I fidgeted with the drawstrings on the bag, resisting the urge to sort through everything again. I’d been ready for hours. All my clothes were carefully packed, as well as the Spirits of Smoke and Fire book I had taken from the library.

  Elian had said someone would come fetch me, hadn’t he?

  If I find out that son of a roc double-crossed me…

  “Can I get you a mint tea, princess?” Mehri hovered by the door.

  When I gave a stiff nod, she disappeared into the corridor. I needed something to settle my nerves. I was probably just being paranoid.

  I moved back to the window, straining my eyes for any sign that Kassim and the others might be leaving the palace.

  “Why not come and sit down, princess?” Jevera suggested. She sat by my bag, arms crossed, one foot tapping against the tiled floor.

  She had made no secret of the fact that she disapproved of my plans to go with Kassim into the desert. She might put up with being sent on the various fruitless errands I thought up to keep her and Mehri out of my hair, but she was definitely unhappy about the prospect of me disappearing for a few days.

  “I don’t want to miss them leaving.” I didn’t take my eyes from the palace gates. The sun had disappeared altogether now, the sky a dark carpet of stars above us. It was surely well after sundown, so why hadn’t someone come to get me?

  Jevera let out a heavy sigh. “They might not even leave that way.”

  I paused, then dragged a stool to the window and sat. She was right. I couldn’t be sure Kassim would ride out that way. But on the map Elian had shown me, Tigrylon was south of Kisrabah, so it would make sense for them to leave by the southern gate, wouldn’t it?

  “Spirits!” I leapt to my feet, making Jevera yelp behind me. “Look!” I jabbed a finger against the window pane, anger rising in my chest. “They’re leaving without me!”

  I clutched at the stone with a snarl, watching as the line of horses cantered out of the palace toward the Tigrib Desert.

  “I don’t believe it,” I raged. “They’re actually leaving without me.”

  “Perhaps the sultan has seen reason at last,” Jevera said. Her voice was level but a fistful of pins glittered between her fingers. “Get some sleep, princess. There’s nothing you can do now.”

  “Isn’t there?” I snapped, grabbing my bag and racing from the chamber. Kassim couldn’t go back on his word now. If he thought he could leave me behind… he was going to be sorely disappointed.

  I fumbled with the saddle, my fingers blurring as I hurried to get the horse ready to go. How dare the sultan go back on his word and sneak away?

  Kassim wouldn’t be pleased I was stealing one of the Khirideshi stallions, but Bandit was my best chance of catching up.

  The horse pawed the ground anxiously as some of my anger poured into him. I forced myself to take a deep breath. “Ssshh, Bandit,” I cooed softly, putting one hand on his neck while the other still scrabbled for his reins. “We’re just going for a little ride together, that’s all.”

  He stilled under my touch, and I breathed a little easier. I didn’t need a stressed horse, not when I already had to ride like the wind to catch up to the others. My hands felt clammy, and I rubbed them together.

  Before I could return to saddling him, the familiar, sweet smell of frankincense filled the stable, and a sleek, shining falcon landed on top of the saddle. Even in the darkness, his eyes glimmered violet.

  Tarak.

  I must have accidentally rubbed the ring. I hadn’t summoned him since our argument outside the library. After all, what use was a djinni who was determined to misinterpret every wish I made? I knew he wasn’t going to be pleased that instead of trying to figure out what had gotten him trapped in the ring, I was still looking for the talisman Kassim wanted.

  The falcon ruffled its wings and fixed its shining eyes on me. “Another escapade, I see. So, princess, where are we off to this time? Is it too much to hope for that you might finally be upholding your end of our bargain?”

  Hearing Tarak’s plummy, sophisticated voice coming from the mouth of an animal was still unsettling. And the last thing I needed right now was to be heckled by an irritated djinni.

  “Go away, Tarak. Something’s come up.”

  The falcon’s purple eyes narrowed. “How unfortunate. Something unavoidable, hmm?” He clicked his beak. “I’m sure there are plenty of reasons why a princess would find herself compelled to race to the stables in the middle of the night… Care to enlighten me?”

  “You hear everything from the ring. You know why I’m here.” I glared at him. “I’ll fulfill my deal with you, but not now, and not when you risk my life by messing up my wishes on purpose.” I heaved the saddlebags onto Bandit’s back, disturbing Tarak from his perch.

  “And I’ll stop messing up your wishes when you start honoring our agreement!” He swooped up into the rafters with an angry screech, then plummeted back down to land on my shoulder. His talons dug into my skin, and I yelped as they drew blood.

  “Careful!”

  “I could say the same to you,” he hissed into my ear. “Or do you want to find out exactly what happens when you go back on a deal you’ve struck with a djinni?”

  A voice called my name. “Princess Zadie?”

  Tarak disappeared, leaving only a lingering trace of violet smoke curling around my shoulder.

  My heart rattled in my chest at his unspecified threat. What would happen if I didn’t stick to my end of the deal?

  But there were more urgent things to deal with right now. Like the captain of the guard walking toward me.

  “You son of a roc!” I strode forward, pressing a finger into Elian’s chest. “You said you were on my side!”

  “Ah. I thought you might not be quite as sick as Hepzibah reported.”

  My stomach dropped. What? Hepzibah had told everyone I was sick? My cheeks grew hotter, and my mouth opened and closed as I tried to figure out who I should be furious at. “Why would she say that? Who told her I was sick? What did she say exactly–”

  Elian gingerly removed my finger from his chest. “We can stand around discussing the miscommunication, or we can try and catch the soldiers up. Now, are you quite finished stealing one of Kassim’s prized Khirideshi stallions?”

  “I’m not stealing,” I flared. “They’re not his. They’re part of my dowry. Now, are you going to arrest me, Captain?” I grabbed Bandit’s reins. “Or are we going to catch up with the others?”

  Elian only grinned. “I hope you can ride fast, princess. We’ve got a lot of ground to make up.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I reached for the water at my belt, squeezing the last of it into my mouth. The liquid trickled down my throat. But it wasn’t enough to wash out the thin layer of sand that had coated my throat since we’d caught up with Kassim and the others. I opened and closed my mouth, shuddering at the sensation of grit moving over my teeth.

  We’d only been traveling for a day and a half, and I already couldn’t remember a time when this sand wasn’t everywhere.

  “You should be rationing that.” Elian sounded amused. “The sun’s barely up. That would have lasted one of my soldiers an entire day.”

  I turned to glare at him through the headscarf keeping the sun from my eyes and face. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not a soldier.”

  Elian shamelessly let his gaze fall from my face down my body, before dragging his eyes back up to meet mine. “So you aren’t.”

  I flushed and turned back to face the guards riding ahead of us, doing my best to ignore the low laughter to my left. I had worn my loosest clothes, but even those stuck to me uncomfortably, patches of sweat gathering at my back and between my breasts. Without Mehri and Jevera to apply my makeup, I knew my face was probably red and shining. />
  To my chagrin, the desert sun did little to keep up the charade that I was any kind of beauty.

  And, spirits, it was hot.

  I had ridden in the desert before, of course. But I had never appreciated the constant proximity of the shade beneath the date palms on the routes I stuck to in Satra. I longed for a dip in a pool during the searing midday heat, or the cool, sticky sweetness of fresh mango juice in the marketplace.

  Here, the air undulated in a thick haze above the sand, the dunes roasted red in the relentless morning sun.

  I clutched Bandit’s reins tightly, feeling them turn slick beneath my palms. Had it been this hot on our ride from Satra to Kisrabah?

  “I could ask Kassim for an extra canteen of water for you, if you’d like.” Elian teased. “Or shall I send a soldier back to fetch the palanquin?”

  It had quickly become evident that Elian truly wasn’t to blame for my nearly being left behind. Even Kassim had believed I was too sick to travel. Hepzibah insisted the servants told her I’d been vomiting all afternoon, and she seemed apologetic over the mix up.

  “I don’t need any water, thank you,” I said primly, ignoring his jibe about the palanquin.

  “Are you sure? Your voice sounds like sandpaper.”

  “I told you, I don’t need you to ask Kassim,” I snapped, putting a self-conscious hand to my throat.

  “Ask me what?” a voice drawled to my right.

  I twisted in my saddle. Kassim had dropped back to ride beside us, one eyebrow raised as he looked between me and Elian.

  Ugh, how did he manage to look so composed in the middle of such scorching heat? His robes remained a fresh, crisp white, his dark skin glowing in the morning light. Meanwhile I simmered, just as hot and irritable as the desert around us.

  “The princess is thirsty, Kassim,” Elian called. He didn’t even have the good grace to look guilty. “I’ll go fetch her some extra water.” He dropped back, cantering along the line of shadowy figures stretching out behind us.