He slumped forward, his hands falling from the saddlebag. Distracted, the other soldiers loosened their hold, and Tarak jerked the bag back, causing the soldiers to stumble forward.
I didn’t have time to pull the dagger from the first soldier before another had turned to face me. I took a quick step forward, gripping my elij with both hands as I slashed horizontally through the air, cutting the throat of the second soldier.
In spite of the blood that spattered my front, how loud the battle was, and the nausea churning in my stomach, a thrill ran through me. I can really do this.
The third pulled a vicious-looking sword from his side.
A shiver ran over me. Thanks to my wish, I knew instantly I couldn’t win this fight. The sword had a far longer reach than mine, and it was broader, heavier. I had lost the element of surprise, and I didn’t have the experience of a soldier.
I lifted my sword and bared my teeth, knowing I was going to lose.
But I’d forgotten about Tarak.
Still in his camel form, the djinni charged toward the soldier, rearing up onto his hind legs and pounding his front legs against the soldier’s back, knocking him forward.
Reacting with reflexes honed during my training sessions, I slashed my elij up and into the falling soldier’s throat using an underhand motion.
Blood sprayed upward as he sank heavily against my shins.
I took a breath, my heart pounding against my ribcage. The lamps were safe – for now. Shuffling back from the fallen soldier, I withdrew my elij and wiped it on my pants, the blood shining ruby-red.
“Looks like your wish worked, warrior princess,” Tarak’s voice came from beside me. “Those rocs have driven off most of the army.”
I glanced back. The fight did look more subdued.
“And hey, your other wish came in handy too.”
“I think you mean my lessons with Elian came in handy,” I grumbled, scooping the fallen lamps back into the saddle bag and attaching it to Tarak’s side. “Can I ride you again? It’ll give me the advantage against any other soldiers who try to take the lamps.”
I mounted the djinni, the hilt of my sword gripped tightly in my hand, then returned my attention to the battle.
Ahe plummeted from the sky, attacking like the other rocs by swooping, clutching soldiers in his claws, and tossing them away. Mak loosed arrow after arrow.
Kassim, Hepzibah, Aliyah, and Namir must be somewhere in the midst of it all, swiping their swords at any enemy soldiers still standing. I craned my neck for any glimpse of the sultan, but couldn’t spot him among the fighting bodies.
Remaining by the stolen camels, Tarak and I fought off any of the soldiers who made it through, desperate to get to the saddlebags.
But that was what it seemed like now. Desperation. The soldiers were scattered and depleted from the ongoing roc attack.
In hardly any time, the army was no more.
Black-and-red bodies littered the gray rock, haphazardly strewn across the ground.
The rocs thudded to the earth to my left, leaning over to push at the bodies with their beaks. Ahe dropped to the ground, too. Mak dismounted, and I gave her a small smile before looking anxiously around for Kassim. But the sultan was already striding toward me.
Sliding off Tarak’s back, I dropped my elij with a clatter and ran to him. A purple bruise had blossomed across the sultan’s cheekbone, and his sleeve was torn and bloody. But he was alive.
He watched me approach, his face solemn, then he slowly curled his fist and grazed his knuckles underneath my chin. “You know a good soldier shouldn’t just drop their sword like that?”
I bit back a choked laugh and flung my arms around him, breathing in his scent, feeling his arms secure around me. “What about a good princess?”
His laugh was muffled against my shoulder. Then his voice softened. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
I smiled into his chest, tightening my grip around him.
“If you two are quite finished,” Aliyah interrupted, rolling one of the prone soldiers over with her boot. “Who are these sons of rocs?”
Mak and Rangi shot her a dirty look. I guess that’s not much of an insult in Hidu.
“That’s what I want to know, too.” Letting me go, Kassim dropped to his haunches, inspecting the weapons. “There’s nothing to identify them. Plain clothes, plain weapons, common in many kingdoms. They spoke the common tongue. It’s like they didn’t want us to know who they were.”
Hepzibah wandered over from where she’d been picking through the bodies like a crow. She shook her head. “Nothing, sultan.”
I glared at the vizier. I still didn’t trust her.
“I don’t recognize any of them.” Mak rubbed her chin. “I’ve fought alongside my father’s army since I was old enough to aim a bow. If any were Hiduan soldiers, I’d know.”
“What’s that?” We all turned as Namir hobbled toward us, clutching his side with one hand, pointing to a fallen soldier with the other.
From what I’d seen from Ahe’s back, the spymaster had taken several heavy blows to the chest. But he was alive, thanks to Aliyah.
“I ordered you to sit down and rest.” Kassim sounded exasperated.
Namir managed a half-smile. “Look there. Unlace the top of his shirt.” He gestured to the soldier with a wince.
“Let me.” I dropped down to the fallen soldier’s side, shooting a pointed glance at the bloody gash on Kassim’s arm. “Namir’s not the only one who needs to take it easy,” I reminded him, leaning forward to untie the soldier’s shirt laces.
A hiss sounded behind me as I tugged the shirt open to reveal an intricate tattoo of a mountain range curling over the man’s chest.
“What does it mean?” I asked.
I’d seen plenty of tattoos before. Lots of the pirates had them on the ship, and Aliyah’s scalp was covered in intricate patterns. But, clearly, this particular design meant something to everyone else. Everyone except me.
Aliyah had already rushed to another corpse, peering beneath the shirt. A dark look crossed her face. “The same.”
“What does it mean?” I pressed.
“It means these men are from the kingdom above the mountains.” Namir’s voice was raw, his gaze still fixed on Aliyah and the second soldier.
The kingdom above the mountains…
That had been mentioned in the story carved outside the cave. I stood up, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. There was only one kingdom above the mountain range that bordered Astaran to the north. “You mean…”
Namir nodded. “It’s the Phoenites.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The rocs soared and dipped above the sea, while behind us, Aliyah and Namir oversaw the saddlebags being unloaded into crates to be shipped back with us.
After hours discussing the Phoenite threat in a stuffy tavern in the port town we’d retreated to, everyone had come to the same conclusion. The soldiers had been after the lamps. But with the spirits in our possession, safe in our treasury, the Phoenites wouldn’t dare attack us now.
I was just glad to be out of the tavern. Even if that meant it was time to get back aboard The Scarlet Dancer, facing Bahar’s teasing and leaving dry land behind me. I prayed to the spirits he wouldn't tell Kassim about our card game on the journey home.
Unsettled, I returned my attention to the conversation happening before me.
“We’ll be so happy to welcome you and your family in Kisrabah…officially.” Hepzibah clasped both of Mak’s hands between her own, smiling down at the petite princess, apparently back to pleasantries after she’d accused the princess of betraying us.
The vizier had once again fought at Kassim’s side, so it was hard to prove she was untrustworthy. But I would find the evidence to convince Kassim of everything I knew to be true about her. Aliyah and I had already agreed to investigate the vizier’s past once we were back in Kisrabah.
“So we’ll see you soon for the royal wedding?” she asked Mak.
I pulled a face. Surely Mak wouldn’t want to come to our wedding.
“I look forward to it.” The princess looked between me and the sultan, her gray eyes assessing us both. “And I hope to invite you to a royal wedding of my own later this year.”
“You’re betrothed?” I blurted, unable to keep the surprise from my voice. “Why didn’t you say?”
“It’s very new.” Mak reached up to pull her ponytail tighter. “It’s still not been officially announced. I’m marrying Prince Rishi of Sipparkish.”
Prince Rishi. Eugh. He had easily been the worst prince vying for Safiyya’s hand. I unscrunched my face, hoping Mak hadn’t noticed my reaction, and tried to nod serenely at the news. Spirits, I was not good at pretending.
But Kassim was. “Congratulations, princess.” A broad smile crossed his face. “A most advantageous match for you and your kingdom.” He bent down and swept Mak into a hug.
She looked surprised at the informality. “Thank you, sultan.”
Kassim released her, and she turned to me, holding out her hand. “Zadie.”
“Mak.” I shook it slowly. Even if we did seem to have reached some kind of truce, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t glad we were leaving her here in Hidu.
The princess spun on her heel, heading back in the direction of the fort. I paused for a second, watching her go. Cursing myself, I couldn’t help running after her.
“Mak.” I grabbed her shoulder. She turned around. “Listen... I met Prince Rishi when he came to Kisrabah as a suitor for Kassim’s sister, Safiyya. He’s…” I bit my lip, looking for the right words. I didn’t want to offend Mak’s future husband, but she deserved to know what sort of marriage she would be getting herself into. “I think you should meet him before you make the official announcement.”
Amusement flashed across Mak’s usually unreadable gray eyes. “I appreciate your concern, Zadie. Really, I do.” She tossed her shining ponytail back behind her shoulder. “But I know Prince Rishi is a pompous man-child. Don’t worry. I can handle him.”
My mouth dropped open.
“Besides, we’ve both been spurned by the Astarian royals, so we have that in common.” She gave me a wry smile. “It’s no Astaran, but Sipparkish is a fine match for Hidu.” Mak laid a hand on my shoulder. “We’re not all lucky enough to marry for love.”
“That’s not what–” I began, but Mak was already striding away, her ponytail swishing behind her.
I watched her go. How could anyone meet Prince Rishi and still want to marry him? Sure, he was outrageously rich, and might be sultan one day if his elder brother didn’t produce any heirs, but still…
I turned around and yelped. Kassim stood right behind me. He stared down at me, his face serious.
“I’m not sure why we bothered bringing Aliyah to the Cave of Wonders with your ability to creep up on people.” I quipped. Did he overhear Mak’s comment about love?
The sultan didn’t smile.
“What?” I placed my hands on my hips. Was he sad to part with Mak?
“You were reckless.”
My brows shot up. “What? When?”
“With the wild rocs.”
He was mad at me about that? Not only did the wild rocs win us the battle, but for the first time since, well…ever, the sultan knew what I was planning. I hadn’t told him the whole truth, about the wish, but I had told him before I left.
“I told you my plan about the rocs, and you said it was okay,” I said, trying to sound reasonable, but my blood heated in my veins. “You said you were glad Mak and I would be safe, away from the fighting.”
“That’s not what I said–”
“You did!”
Kassim tilted his head back in frustration. “Well, at the time, I didn’t want to worry about you fighting next to me. Don’t look like that, Zadie.”
I had already opened my mouth to protest. “You know I can handle myself with a sword now. Elian has–”
“I know you don’t always need protecting, Zadie. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to protect you.”
My anger dimmed a little at that. I crossed my arms. “So it was better for Mak and me to be out of the way–”
“Why do you keep bringing Mak into this?” Kassim flared. “This is about you – me and you.”
“I keep bringing her up because you could have been betrothed to her,” I yelled, something inside me snapping. “She was another one of your charming, graceful princesses queueing for your hand. Just like Lalana was, before you got stuck with me instead.” I couldn’t stop shouting, even as tears pricked my eyes. “And yes, I know I’m yelling, but I honestly do understand. Mak is nice, and it’s okay if you still have feelings for her, because I trust you will honor our betrothal for the sake of an alliance with Khiridesh–” I tasted salt on my lips and paused. I wasn’t sure at which point in my ramblings I’d started crying, but I knew I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to.
Kassim just stared at me. “Zadie.” His voice was low. “I did not get stuck with you. I chose you. And I would choose you again.” He leaned forward and cupped my face. “If all betrothals were off, if alliances didn’t matter, I would still choose you.”
Fresh tears streamed down my cheeks, cold against my skin as a sea breeze lifted wet strands of hair away from my face.
“Really?” I asked in a mutinous voice.
“Really,” Kassim repeated, before adding drily, “even if you won’t ever do as I ask you to.”
A smile nudged up the corners of the mouth.
Then I leaned up and kissed him.
I felt the sultan go tense with surprise as my lips met his, before his lips parted and he kissed me back, his mouth soft against mine. I pressed myself against him, and he moved his hands slowly to my hair, kissing me more deeply. A soft moan escaped my lips.
I drew back at the sound, my cheeks hot, my limbs suddenly feeling weak. The sultan looked stunned.
My heart flipped. Had he not wanted that? In front of everyone?
Catching my panicked look, Kassim’s face split into a grin and he leaned forward again, brushing his lips gently against mine before putting an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close.
Something warm filled my chest, spreading through me as we walked back toward the ship. I felt lighter than I had in days, possibly ever.
Kassim blew out a long breath. “Spirits be damned, Zadie. At this point, even if you weren’t a princess, I would change the laws of Astaran and still make you my sultanah.”
I shifted against him, wanting to feel his body even closer to mine, a smile spreading slowly across my face. “Now who’s sounding reckless…”
Kassim snorted. “Clearly you bring it out of me.”
Shouts rose from the dock as Namir chided Aliyah, telling her to be more careful with the lamps, directing her with the cane he was supposed to be using for support.
With a flourish, the thief queen dropped the crate she was holding and stepped back from the scattered treasure, a one-fingered gesture on both hands.
She had saved Namir in the fight against the Phoenites, but it didn’t seem to have changed much between them.
“I can’t wait to get back to Astaran.” Kassim’s arm was a reassuring weight around my neck and shoulders.
I followed his gaze to the shining lamps spilling from the crate. “To get the spirits to safety?”
“No, Zadie,” Kassim said drily. “For our wedding.” A lazy smile spread across his face. “Or have you forgotten about that? By the time we get back to Kisrabah, it’ll almost be All Spirits Day. Our wedding day. Ring any bells?” He chuckled. “Then you’re officially my sultanah.”
I hummed, content to lean against Kassim’s chest and stare out at sea, replaying his last words with a smile.
Officially his sultanah.
Ready for the next book in the Desert Nights series? Check out PRINCESS OF SMOKE now.
And keep reading to receive a free prequel to Throne of Sand…
/> A sneak preview of Princess of Smoke…
“That mango-minded, sand-for-brains, snake-tongued–”
“Zadie–”
“–can’t tell a priceless work from a djinni’s–”
“Zadie!”
I spun around, hugging my book to my chest, one foot tapping the dusty ground.
The sultan’s eyebrows shot up as he took in my scrunched-up, furious face. His eyes crinkled with amusement. “I take it the head scholar won’t be sitting in a place of honor at our wedding then?”
My scowl deepened as I clutched my dictionary of An Nimivah tighter, shooting a seething glance at the tiny figure watching us retreat from the doors into the library tower. “He’ll be lucky if he’s invited at all,” I said in a deliberately loud voice.
The door to the tower swung shut with a pointed slam.
So what if I hadn’t been able to explain how I could be sure the book in my arms was an accurate translation of a long-lost language? The head scholar should have been delighted with the rare work I had offered to his order. There wasn’t another dictionary like this in all of the twelve kingdoms. The carefully penned book I held in my arms – which I’d slaved over on our trip to Hidu, as well as in the days since we’d returned – was invaluable. I knew it, even if the scholars apparently didn’t.
The sultan closed the space between us, gently putting his hands on my shoulders. “How about we find a home for it in the palace library?”
“Oh yes. The palace library.” My mouth settled into a mulish pout. “You know, you still haven’t given me the full tour yet?”
“An error I promise I’ll rectify just as soon as we get back to the palace.” Kassim’s hands slid lower down my arms, and he gave them a squeeze.
“Ow!” I yelped, flinching.
A smirk settled over the sultan’s face. “Feeling a little sore, princess?”
I glared at him. Returning to my training sessions with Elian had been hard after such a long time away on our voyage to Hidu. But I wasn’t about to tell Kassim that. “I’m fine. Hasn’t anyone ever taught you to be gentle?”
Palace of Wishes (2020 Reissue) Page 24
