Palace of Wishes (2020 Reissue)

by Helena Rookwood

  This whole plan revolved around what Prince Diyan told me being true. That magic ran in the Astarian royal bloodline.

  I began to murmur the spell that filled my mind.

  As I spoke, I knew the meanings of the words as if I had spoken the common tongue, but from Safiyya’s confused look and Tarak’s raised eyebrows, I could tell that I was speaking in An Nimivah, the language of the spirits, and the sorcerers…

  As she repeated everything I said, the princess didn’t stumble over the words. In fact, she mimicked me perfectly, her voice steady even as her body trembled against mine.

  Prince Cao watched us like a hawk, while Tarak stood protectively between us in his leopard form, his tail flicking from side to side.

  Her voice growing hoarse, Safiyya wavered on the spot, her usually tan face ashen. Tarak transformed into his handmaid form and moved silently to her side, sliding his arm around her back to keep her standing. I squeezed her hand encouragingly, even as guilt twisted in my stomach.

  This magic had a cost, and I wasn’t the one paying it.

  I rushed toward the final few words before Safiyya repeated them in the softest whisper.

  The princess blinked at me, her face drawn but amber eyes sparking. Then she screamed as her hand was wrenched from mine and she was thrown backward.

  Smoke flooded the room with a bright light and the scent of burning sandalwood.

  Then the djinni staggered backward with a gasp, as if he’d been kicked in the chest. He grasped at his throat.

  The bottom half of his Prince Cao form dissolved in a coil of sparkling blue smoke as his edges began to blur, like ink clouding in water.

  He gasped again. It was only then I realized he wasn’t crying out in pain, but relief.

  “I’m free,” his distant voice was a sigh.

  “Chimaeus, wait! What about the princes?” I called into the smoke. His turquoise eyes faded into nothingness. “We had a deal!”

  The room fell quiet. Tarak and I shared a wary glance, then I turned my gaze to the birdcages swaying gently from the ceiling. They looked hazy, as the last of the blue smoke diffused and drifted through the windows.

  I let out a cry of frustration, dropping the elij to the floor with a clatter. “How is that possible? I thought you couldn’t break a deal with a dji–”

  The cages began to rattle, the bird’s shrill cries filling the room. I threw an arm up as the bars exploded outward and the cages came crashing down. When I looked again, Prince Rishi and Prince Diyan had tumbled onto the floor with shrieks that still sounded uncomfortably bird-like. They scrambled to their hands and knees, looking wildly around the room.

  I dropped down next to Safiyya, helping the princess sit upright.

  “Are you okay, Safi?” I brushed her long, tangled hair back from her face, holding her head gently between my palms. “Are you hurt?” My eyes pricked painfully. “I’m so sorry I dragged you into this. I can explain everything.”

  Safiyya pressed a shaking hand to her necklace. “H-How did you…” She looked up at me with wide eyes. “What language was that?”

  “It was the language of the spirits,” I replied hoarsely. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Safiyya gave me a watery smile, her gaze looking over my shoulder to find the princes. “They… They’re okay. Will they remember what happened?”

  Her eyes found Prince Diyan, a confused expression furrowing his brow.

  “Wh-What happened? Where am I?” Prince Rishi staggered to his feet, holding his head and looking dazed. “Did I miss the ball?”

  I stood, heaving Safiyya to her feet and wrapping my arm around her waist. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Wait, Zadie.” The princess paused, a look of apprehension passing over her face. “I understand how we freed the spirit…” Her gaze flicked to Tarak, then back to me. “But if the djinni had a master here, like he said…”

  My mouth turned dry as I realized what the princess was implying.

  There must be another sorcerer in the palace.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I hurried through the Magic Quarter, barely able to contain my impatience. There had been question after question yesterday which kept me at the palace, preventing me from returning to Mustafa’s shop.

  Safiyya had been true to her word and stuck to the half-truth we had shared with Kassim – that a rogue spirit disguised as Prince Cao had kidnapped the other princes, and that I had managed to defeat it using Prince Diyan’s elij – but I wasn’t sure the sultan had entirely believed us. And he’d refused to answer my question about whether finding the missing princes had convinced him to let me help with the search for the Night Diamond talisman.

  So I was just going to have to keep helping on my own.

  “What’s that look about?”

  I glanced sideways, to where Tarak strode alongside me. The djinni was back in his preferred male form, his head tilted to one side as he surveyed me through sparkling violet eyes. With carefully tousled brown hair and a perfectly sculpted body, he managed to make the flowing, cream-colored uniform of the Royal Guard look like something a prince might wear.

  Of course, he would wear his cloak tossed casually over one shoulder, the golden waistcoat left unbuttoned at the top to reveal a sliver of brown chest…

  I dragged my eyes up to meet his, and Tarak smirked.

  “You prefer this to the beetle then?”

  I glared at him. “I’d prefer it if Aliyah were here with me, and not a smart-mouthed djinni.”

  “I wonder where baldy has got to.” The djinni stroked his chin. “It’s not like her not to help you out.”

  My lips pursed. Tarak was right. Aliyah had always helped me out when I needed her to. But she was the Queen of Thieves, not my handmaid.

  Even if she wanted to be, she’d have a job fighting Jevera off that role.

  If she hadn’t been able to meet me to go back to Mustafa’s shop, as I’d asked her to by bird, it must be because she had a more important job on.

  I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders as we turned down the row of shops lining the riverside. “She’s probably busy,” I said shortly.

  Without Aliyah at my side, I did want Tarak with me. Something about the smooth-tongued merchant unsettled me. I definitely didn’t trust him.

  The djinni slung a tan arm around my shoulders. “Good thing you’ve got me here then, isn’t it?”

  I shrugged him off. “You’re only playing ball because you think Mustafa can tell us more about the ring.” Taking a few quick steps ahead of him, I added, “If he was even telling the truth when he said finding the talisman would give you your answers.”

  Tarak waggled his eyebrows. “Maybe you should threaten him with that tiny sword of yours. Make sure he’s telling us the truth.”

  “Why d’you want to find out about the ring so much, anyway?” I tapped my thumb against the band. “Chimaeus wanted to be free more than anything. I thought that’s what all spirits wanted. But you had your chance when we struck a deal, and you asked for my help instead of your freedom.”

  Tarak stopped mid-stride, his eyes narrowing.

  “And even now I know the unbinding spell, you’ve still not asked me to free you.” I paused next to him. “Although, I guess you’d have to tell me your true name first…”

  The djinni scoffed. “Think you’ll get my true name out of me that easily?”

  I scowled. I can’t believe this whole time he’s had me believing his name was Tarak.

  “If you had my true name, I’d have to do everything you asked.” The djinni shuddered dramatically. “Anyway, as my master you could just wish me free. No spells needed.”

  I stared at him. “I could just wish you free?”

  “Just like that.” He snapped his fingers.

  “And you’d want that?”

  “I don’t want to be stuck in a piece of jewelry forever.” He eyed me skeptically. “But my realm of fire will freeze over before a master gives up
their precious wishes to free a spirit.”

  A pang of guilt settled in my stomach. I’d never once thought about freeing the djinni, even though I knew he was a prisoner in the ring.

  Tarak dug an elbow into my side. “Look, what I want more than anything is to know who trapped me here and why. I can’t find that out in my realm.” The spark in his eyes flickered, his smile hollow. “So for now, I’m stuck with you.”

  I smiled weakly back. For both our sakes, I hoped Mustafa was telling the truth about the ring. I was still bound by our deal, after all.

  We walked in silence the rest of the way to Mustafa’s shop, stopping below the sign for The Palace of Dust and Shadows. It didn’t look any more inspiring than the last time we’d seen it.

  Tarak took aim at an empty bottle and kicked hard. It skittered across the mud-washed stone street, and I watched as it rolled to a stop in front of the stores lining the riverside. “It’s a good thing your brother-in-law gave you Mustafa’s name,” he grumbled. “You’d never believe this was the finest shop in Kisrabah…” Wandering after the empty bottle, he gave it another hefty kick. It tumbled over the edge of the walkway and landed in the water with a heavy splash. Tarak peered down over the edge after it.

  “Ah. I thought I heard voices.” Mustafa leaned in the doorway of his shop, one hand on his hip. “How are you getting on with puzzling out that ring?”

  I ran my thumb over the ring, feeling the slight bumps and indents of the strange script. “You told me that the mystery of the ring and the talisman’s treasures could be found in the same place. Since you still haven’t explained how to use the talisman, how do you think it’s going?”

  The merchant flashed me a dazzling white smile and stepped out of the shop to join me outside. My gaze ran over him, taking in the wildly extravagant clothes. Last time, he’d been dressed in glittering rainbow colors. Today, it was ruby-red silk robes embroidered with shining peacocks. Spirits knew where he sourced such miraculous materials.

  He stepped past me, staring out across the River Kisr.

  I followed close behind him, squinting against the light to try and spot what he might be looking at. The air shimmered, the bright sunlight reflecting off the surface of the river. Polished masts stretched up above barges and ships, white sails bright in the sunshine.

  “So?” I pressed. “I kept my end of the deal. I helped you get the magic carpet back for Aliyah. Are you going to tell me about the Night Diamond talisman?”

  Mustafa’s smile didn’t waver. “What exactly do you want to know?”

  I gritted my teeth. I had told him I needed to know how it worked. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to sound polite. “I need to know how to use it.”

  “Of course.” Mustafa didn’t offer anything further, just continued to watch the ships out on the river.

  “Well?” I could barely contain my frustration.

  “It’s in the name, my dear. Night Diamond.” The merchant’s smile, somehow, grew even wider, like he had more teeth than he should have been able to fit in his mouth. “It responds to starlight.”

  I stared at him. Can it really be that simple? “Starlight?” I repeated stupidly.

  “Starlight.”

  I crossed my arms. “And you think that one word is worth everything I had to go through to get the carpet back from Bahar?” Temper stoked in my belly.

  “To you, I think so, yes.”

  I scowled. “No chance you feel like expanding on your cryptic comments about how the talisman will also lead to the answers about my ring?” I bet he wouldn’t have tried this if Aliyah was here… I held my hand out toward him emphatically. “Given that so far all you’ve given me in exchange for a magic carpet is one word.”

  “It’s funny,” Mustafa said cozily, stepping closer to me and pressing my hand back against my chest. “No mention of the Night Diamond talisman for years, and then two people asking about it within the space of a week.”

  I stiffened. “What do you mean?”

  The merchant gave an exaggerated shrug. “Just what I said, my dear. I sold a djinni in a bottle to a sorceress a few weeks ago. Then a few days ago, she returned with questions about the talisman.”

  He squeezed my hand, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Of course, since we’d already come to an agreement, I didn’t tell her anything. So I suppose you could say I’ve traded you one word and my silence. Wouldn’t you agree that’s more than I promised you?”

  My mind whirled. A sorceress had bought a djinni and was after the Night Diamond talisman…it seemed too much of a coincidence that it wouldn’t be the same sorceress who had used Chimaeus to turn the princes into birds…

  “You don’t – you don’t happen to know the name of the djinni?”

  Mustafa gave me a patronizing smile. “Djinn aren’t exactly very forthcoming about their names…”

  I arched an eyebrow. “Then could you at least tell me what this sorceress was like?”

  The merchant tilted his head to one side.

  “If someone’s been asking about the talisman, it would be useful to know more.” My brow furrowed. “I’m sure Aliyah would appreciate you helping me with this. And Ambar,” I added after a beat. My sister’s husband had assured me his name would mean something to the merchant. I might as well try and make use of it.

  Mustafa nodded slowly. “As you wish, my dear.” He hesitated. “Listen, this sorceress is a very good client of mine…”

  I waved a hand impatiently. “I won’t say a word to anyone else. It’s…for my own interest.”

  The merchant’s gaze flicked to the ring on my finger. “I don’t know her name, like I don’t know yours, but I see more gold dinars from her than anyone else in the city, so she must have access to huge amounts of wealth.” He paused before continuing. “She cuts a very striking figure, too. A very tall woman, with pale skin, and always dressed in long, dark robes.”

  My blood ran cold, my heart thumping in my chest.

  A tall woman dressed in long, dark robes? My palms turned clammy, my mouth suddenly dry.

  I could think of one woman who matched Mustafa’s description exactly. And she was already in the palace…

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jevera twisted my braid so tightly it hurt, attempting to pin it against my scalp. I’d asked her to try and recreate the braid crown Lisha had styled the day I’d dressed as the dancer girl, but to my surprise, my handmaid struggled to manage what the assassin had easily achieved.

  “Maybe put another pin here, in this section, and another here.” Mehri stood on her tiptoes, pointing at my scalp with all the intensity of a war general perusing a map of his forces.

  “I’m running out of pins,” Jevera snapped, two metal hairslides jutting from the corner of her mouth.

  I should probably be grateful they were willing to battle my wild curls. Both my handmaids still smarted from the rumors flying around that I had a new, favorite, purple-eyed handmaid who had caught the eye of more than a few of the palace guards.

  But all seemed to be forgiven when, for once, I’d expressed an interest in how I was to dress for a rendezvous with the sultan in the gardens tonight. I stroked my rich, navy pants studded with thousands of tiny diamonds. Jevera had dressed me in a matching sleeveless top and had picked out a shimmering silver shawl of light, floating gossamer to keep the chill from my shoulders.

  On Mehri’s advice, I’d let her paint my face with minimal makeup, two slight, feline flicks painted on the edges of my eyelids and a dusting of gold over my cheekbones and shoulders.

  I might not look quite as beautiful as Lalana, but I wanted to make an impression tonight. When Kassim met me in the gardens, I wanted him to see a queen. A sultanah. Someone worth listening to.

  Even if my hair wasn’t quite perfect....

  I inhaled sharply at another tug at my head, which somehow released more hair than it secured.

  A quiet knock sounded at the door and I took the opportunity to pry my head out of Je
vera’s vice-like grip, gingerly raising a hand to massage my tender scalp.

  “Zadie?” Safiyya hovered in the doorway, twisting the ends of her long hair between her fingers in a way that reminded me of my sister Lalana. “I hope I’m not interrupting?”

  “Come in.” I smiled at her in the mirror. I hadn’t spoken alone with the princess since our time in the tower with the spirit Prince Cao. I cleared my throat. “Mehri, Jevera, could you leave the princess and me for a moment?”

  “But, princess, your hair–”

  “It’s okay, I’ll just leave it down, Mehri.” I winced at the thought.

  “I can help Princess Zadie,” Safiyya said brightly, rushing to my side. With a gentle touch she began unpicking all the pins.

  “Thank you for your help,” I called back to Mehri and Jevera. The door clicked shut behind my handmaids, then Safiyya and I both let out a long exhale at the same time.

  “Safiyya,” I began awkwardly, “I–”

  “No, Zadie.” Safiyya’s hands stilled above my head, and when I caught her eyes in the mirror before us, her cheeks were pink, her expression fierce. “Whatever you’re going to start apologizing for, don’t.”

  I fell silent, eventually dropping my gaze to my hands on my lap. The amethyst ring sparkled on my finger.

  Safiyya grabbed a pearl-studded comb from my dressing table and began tugging it through my hair. “Look, I might not understand how you have a djinni or why it has to be a secret from my brother...but I promise. I won’t tell anyone.”

  I jerked my head up to stare at her, the comb snagging on a tangle. “Safi...” I was at a loss for words.

  “You asked me whether I trust you, Zadie,” she said. “And I do. You... You’re good for Kassim. You make him happy.”

  In spite of the serious tone of our conversation, I couldn’t keep in a snort at that.

  Safiyya frowned at me. “It’s true, Zadie. And I ought to thank you, too. For helping the princes. And…for saving Prince Diyan especially.” Her cheeks turned a deeper pink.