Palace of Wishes (2020 Reissue)

by Helena Rookwood

  There was a long silence.

  “So,” Bahar said in a low, impatient voice, “we change course and sail through the teeth. The other ship won’t dare follow us that way. Or if it does, it won’t have a hope of making it through, since they aren’t graced with a captain as skilled as I am.”

  “Don’t be stupid,” Aliyah snapped. “It’s dumb luck whether you make it through the teeth alive.” She gave Bahar a haughty glare. “Emphasis on the dumb in your case.”

  Bahar gave an exaggerated shrug. “Skill, luck –” he shot me a wink “– whatever you want to call it, any time I’ve sailed through the teeth I’ve made it out the other side.”

  Kassim looked questioningly between me and Bahar, and I hurriedly looked away from the pirate, moving to examine the map. On closer inspection, the tiny triangles were in fact jagged rocks. A line of script caught my eye. “Here be monsters,” I read aloud.

  “They have to decorate these things somehow,” Bahar said blithely. “Awful lot of nothing but water otherwise.”

  “It sounds dangerous…,” I said dubiously.

  “I have to agree with the princess,” the vizier purred. “This plan sounds very unwise to me. The risk of sailing through these teeth sounds infinitely greater than a ship which may or may not be following us.”

  Hepzibah is agreeing with me? I glanced over at Aliyah. I hadn’t managed to find any time alone with the thief queen since yesterday, but I needed to find out what she knew about the vizier.

  “Namir?” Kassim demanded. “What do you think?”

  Namir moved closer to the map, frowning down at the worrying illustrations.

  Aliyah cleared her throat. “Although it pains me to say it, I agree with Bahar. If he really is confident navigating these waters, then the greater risk is this unknown ship.”

  Namir looked up from the map, his mouth setting into a firm line as he observed Aliyah.

  “Namir?” Kassim asked again.

  The spymaster gave a slight nod of the head.

  “Alright then, Captain,” Kassim said. “Take us through the teeth.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  I spat out another mouthful of freezing, salty water, my eyes and lungs burning as the relentless spray crashed over the side of the ship. The ship rolled, giving another terrible creak, and I gripped the gunwale all the more tightly.

  If I had been tired after a night trying to lose the pursuing ship, now I was exhausted.

  Thunder rumbled ominously overhead, the skies darkened to the color of over-brewed tea, and only the sheer bloody-mindedness of our captain kept the ship sailing onwards.

  If we even were still sailing onwards. The ship was lurching about so much it was difficult to tell. My mind reeled at the thought that such a huge ship could be tossed about so easily by the water.

  “How long until the storm passes?” I called to Bahar.

  The captain shrugged. He was the only one who didn’t look in the slightest bit bothered by the sudden turn in weather. “Hard to say, really.”

  “We should turn back.” The vizier was just as green as the rest of us. “We should never have come this way in the first place.”

  “Nonsense,” the captain called cheerfully. “We’ll definitely lose that other ship now. I told you these waters were choppy.”

  I gritted my teeth. “You said there were rocks. You didn’t say–”

  A huge swell of water crashed into the side of the ship, and my stomach was left behind as we lurched upwards. I twisted around to one side, vomit burning the back of my throat.

  “Zadie!” Kassim appeared at my side, thudding to his knees as the ship swayed again. “You should go below deck.”

  My mouth set in a thin line. “You haven’t asked anyone else to go below deck.” I hugged the gunwale more tightly as the ship rolled again.

  “I want everyone below deck,” he said firmly. “Starting with you.”

  My resolve weakened. Would it be so bad to wait this out below deck? It wasn’t like I was helping by just sitting out here getting soaked…

  A shudder ran through the ship, the reverberations running painfully up through my body. A loud, anguished roar split the air.

  I exchanged an uneasy glance with Kassim.

  The sultan scrambled to his feet. “What happened? Did we hit a rock?”

  But Bahar had gone deathly white. “That’s no rock…”

  The crew all halted what they were doing, and somehow the stillness was worse than the chaos of movement and shouting that had thundered through the ship just moments ago.

  “Bahar?” Kassim asked sharply. “What is it? Have we run aground?”

  The captain took his hands off the helm. “It’s a dendan.”

  “A what?”

  But Bahar ignored him, staring off into the distance with unfocused eyes.

  I looked over at Aliyah, who had turned even whiter than Bahar. “Aliyah?” I beseeched her.

  The thief queen licked her lips. “It’s a scaled beast said to live beneath the waves and big enough to swallow a ship… I thought it was mythical.”

  My stomach turned. Where once I might have been skeptical of such claims, my encounters with the desert spirits, not to mention the huge stuffed rocs I had seen with Prince Diyan in the palace library last week, were more than enough to convince me that some kind of huge sea creature might be waiting to swallow the ship.

  I turned back to Bahar, who didn’t seem to care that the wheel spun wildly around. He made no attempt to right the ship’s course, but instead licked a finger and held it to the wind, nodding sagely.

  “Captain,” I snapped. “You said you knew these waters. It’s your responsibility to get us away from this sea monster–”

  “I don’t need to.” Staggering back down the steps towards the cabins, Bahar gestured for the rest of his crew to follow. They trailed after him, clinging to whatever they could grab onto as the ship heaved and fell.

  “What are you doing?” The panic rose in my chest as another shudder ran through the boat, and this time I could imagine the scrape of some vast, scaled beast rubbing its back along the hull, and the glint of huge teeth, longer than a scimitar.

  The pirate just shrugged. “Today’s a lucky day, I can feel it in the wind. We just need to ride it out.”

  “Get back to the helm!” Kassim roared.

  But Bahar continued hurrying towards the cabin doors, shouting back over his shoulder, “I suggest you all follow me if you don’t want to be swept overboard!”

  The rest of the crew beetled after Bahar, hurrying to get below deck.

  I knew from my own experience that the captain was obsessed with luck – but how could he think the best thing to do was to hide below deck and just hope that the dendan didn’t swallow the ship whole? Or that the ship wouldn’t be dashed to pieces on the rocks? I raced to the wheel, but it spun so fast I couldn’t see how to stop it.

  “Don’t!” Aliyah lurched up behind me. “It’ll take your arm off!”

  “What else are we supposed to do?”

  “If Bahar says we should all head below deck–”

  Water sprayed over all of us, drowning out my cry of protest. “And just leave it to chance whether that thing leaves the ship alone? I don’t think so.”

  “And how exactly are you planning to fight a dendan?” Aliyah snapped.

  Kassim stood at my other side, his stance wide to brace himself against the seesawing motion of the ship. “I don’t like it either, Zadie, but what can we do? We’re not sailors, we can’t man the ship without Bahar or his crew.”

  I looked wildly about. “We could figure out how to get the sails up…” I made for the main mast but Aliyah grabbed me, pulling me back.

  “It’s a storm!” Aliyah yelled. “I’m not letting you stay here and kill yourself with a hair-brained scheme.” She gripped my arm tightly.

  “You’ve been happy to gamble my life before. What’s changed?” I snapped at her, wrenching my arm free. The thief press
ed her lips together in a thin line.

  Namir appeared beside us, his curly hair flat and dripping against his forehead. “Kassim, you should take Zadie inside, we should all-”

  “No!” I cried. “You all need to trust me. I can figure something out.” I couldn’t say it out loud in front of Namir or Kassim, but I needed to remind Aliyah I had a djinni at my command. One wish and I could learn anything I needed.

  Aliyah glared at me. “Don’t be stupid, Z. You can’t control this storm, or the monster below the ship.”

  The wind ricocheted through the masts of the ship, whipping my hair into my face.

  Her fingers dug into my arm again. “Bahar’s plan to wait it out might sound cowardly, but he knows what he’s doing.”

  “It’s a death sentence!” The wind and the rain stole the thunder from my voice. I stormed away from her reach, from all of them, staggering awkwardly along the deck that lurched beneath my feet. My gaze scanned for anything I could use, and settled on a huge weapon nailed to the deck. It looked like a cross between a cannon and a harpoon.

  Kassim reappeared at my side. “Zadie, stop. Let’s go down–”

  “Help me with this!” I grabbed onto the harpoon, trying to figure out how it worked. I had no idea how to load it, but I only needed a second alone with Tarak to wish for the knowledge I needed, and we could fire on the dendan. It was the only way I could think of saving the ship, and spirits, it was better than hiding below deck like rats.

  “Kassim!” The vizier appeared through the hatch, clambering back on deck. “Why are you still up here?”

  Namir called over to Hepzibah. “Talk some sense into them. We can’t lose both the sultan and the sultanah!”

  I returned my attention to the harpoon. It looked like I needed to load it with some sort of lance or arrow, but where were they?

  At the base there was nothing but a coiled length of rope attached to a small, iron anchor that was too heavy to lift.

  “I’m staying by Zadie’s side, Hepzibah.” I could hear rather than see Kassim arguing with the vizier, who had fully emerged and was standing close by now. Saltwater stung my eyes and burned my nose, and spirits I was cold.

  “C’mon, Zadie,” Aliyah shouted again. “Now’s not the time–”

  The ship gave an almighty creak that sounded like a roar of pain as it rolled to one side, the mast almost parallel to the sea below. I fell down with a yell before the ship righted itself.

  Everyone was down now, scrambling to get up. I pressed myself to all fours, assessing the chaos. Aliyah had dropped to her knees and Kassim was pulling himself back upright on the gunwale, gripping it tightly.

  “Everyone, hold on!” he yelled, and reached a hand for me.

  Seawater lashed all of our faces. How was I going to make a wish with everyone here, surrounding me and chastising my every move? I pulled myself upright, taking Kassim’s hand and clinging to the side of the ship like everyone else.

  Maybe I should just give up? Everyone was only up here to try and stop me.

  Without warning, the ship lurched to the side once more, tipping so far that the deck disappeared beneath me with a metallic scraping sound.

  Everyone clung to the gunwale, dangling from their arms.

  Something heavy yanked my body sharply down, away from the side. My arms felt like they were tearing from my sockets, my ankle burning.

  What?

  I glanced down with a yell of terror. The rope with the anchor was looped around my ankle and knotted tightly, the heavy iron weight pulling me down.

  No one else had noticed, concentrating on hanging on for dear life…apart from one person. Hepzibah’s dark gaze met mine with a cold, knowing look.

  “Kassim!” I screamed, as my wet fingers slipped and I hurtled from the ship.

  I crashed into and over the gunwale the other side then toppled straight into the churning waters beneath.

  The freezing cold water hit me like a slap, the shock momentarily disorienting me. I took a ragged gasp, and then another before my limbs finally remembered to move. I kicked with all my might to keep my head above water.

  But the anchor yanked my leg down, and I took one last panicked gasp before it dragged me beneath the surface.

  I floundered for a moment, the light fading above me, the freezing water pressing against me. Frantically, I tried to swim against the weight of the anchor, but made no progress. I was drawn farther into the dark, cold depths.

  It’s no use swimming. I have to undo the knot.

  I tried to lift my leg closer to my hands, but I couldn’t bend my knee against the weight. I reached down instead, straining against the icy water rushing past me.

  Spirits, I needed to breathe already, and the light of the surface was fast vanishing, the water getting colder and darker.

  The saltwater stung my eyes, blurring my vision. My limbs were numb, my fingers slow and clumsy with cold as I desperately tried to loosen the rope that I couldn’t see.

  I couldn’t unpick them.

  I panicked, not thinking straight. Needing air.

  I was dragged farther down.

  This is how I die.

  Unless… I gave up on the knot, instead drawing my hands together and rubbing the ring.

  Tarak. He was my only hope. I was barely aware of another shape appearing in the water beside me with a soft glow.

  I opened my mouth to wish to undo the knots binding me to the anchor, but instead a stream of incoherent bubbles rushed from lips, all of the air emptying from my lungs.

  I fought against the sudden, primal urge to breathe in.

  Flailing my arms out, I tried to grab Tarak and make him understand. Then it dawned on me. Like this, I couldn’t say the words I wish. It was the first rule of wish-making.

  Tarak couldn’t help me.

  My limbs slowed their flailing, a numbness spreading toward my core.

  And then, cutting through my growing despair like a hot knife, my whole body warmed with the gentle post-wish glow I knew only too well.

  I grabbed for my ankle again, suddenly certain I could undo the knot binding me. The rope slipped from my foot in seconds, and then I was kicking for the surface, swimming with everything I had left.

  But it was still so far away, I couldn’t see any light that told me I was nearing the surface. My frozen limbs were clumsy, my movements slowing.

  A flash of silver scales crossed my vision.

  Strong hot hands fastened around my middle, dragging me through the water. Tarak. Does he have a fin?

  My vision flickered.

  Were my legs still kicking or had they stopped? I wanted to keep swimming, but I was distantly aware I’d stopped moving my body. My lungs cried out for air. I was going to take a breath. I have to.

  The hands tightened around my waist, and then I was shooting upward. Air rushed over me, droplets flying, and I gasped in a panicked breath.

  Tarak held me close, keeping my head above the swelling waves.

  I tried to thank him, but my words wouldn’t come. My heart still thundered as I coughed up seawater.

  The djinni looked concerned, his handsome face drawn and his hair plastered to his head. “I’m sorry, princess. I know you didn’t technically wish, but I thought you were going to die, so I broke the rules–”

  “You saved me,” I rasped out. Saltwater immediately crashed into my mouth and I spluttered.

  Tarak’s purple eyes glittered. “Couldn’t have you dying on me and the ring lost to the depths. Not when we’re so close to finding out why I’m trapped in there,” he tried to joke, but his voice shook.

  Before I could reply, a foamy wave crashed down between us and I was wrenched from the djinni’s side.

  The water swept me below again, and my leaden legs tried to kick, my arms flailing for the surface and the light, just out of reach. Not again.

  Strong arms gripped me, pulling me up. I broke through the surface with a cry of fear, expecting to see Tarak, but–

 
“Zadie.” Kassim breathed heavily next to me, the whites of his eyes flashing as he hauled me closer. “Thank the spirits. Are you okay?” A wave lurched, swelling us higher, and he tightened his grip on me. I kicked weakly, trying to stay afloat. Kassim clung to me tightly, yelling over the thunder of the sea. “What happened?”

  “Rope,” I managed, my voice hardly audible over the roar of the water. “You came. But wh-where’s–”

  I looked wildly around for Tarak.

  The ring heated on my finger. He must be back inside it. He’d saved me. And now, Kassim, Kassim had come for me.

  “Of course I came. Now, hold on to this.” I realized the sultan was clutching onto a huge plank of wood that must have smashed from The Scarlet Dancer.

  I heaved my torso up onto the rough wood, clinging on tightly as Kassim did the same, linking his fingers with mine. The sea tipped and roared beneath us, and somewhere in the distance the sound of creaking wood split the air.

  “Where’s the ship, the dendan? Where’s everyone else?” I babbled. Seawater dashed against us, in my mouth, my eyes. My throat and lungs burned, my thoughts churning and crashing like the waves around me.

  Kassim came for me.

  But before he could answer my questions a cold, black wave swelled ahead of us, rising up like a wall.

  I didn’t have time to scream before it crashed down over our heads.

  Chapter Twenty

  I shifted, reluctant to open my eyes. My body ached more than it ever had done, even after the most grueling of training sessions with Elian. Shifting again, I became aware that there was grit pressing into my palms, scraping against my cheeks. For one blissful moment, I allowed myself to believe I was back in the desert.

  Then I forced my trembling arms against the ground, wincing as pain shot through my entire body as I sat upright.

  Immediately the back of my throat burned, and I swiveled to one side, vomiting up salty water. My stomach seemed to be knotted up. Spirits knew how much water I’d swallowed.

  I sniffed, feeling the salt and acid burn the inside of my nostrils, and made myself breathe very slowly in and out.