‘She’s a healer!’ Safiya shouted. ‘That’s not a crime!’
‘She is a covenweaver,’ Farrah replied calmly. ‘And that most certainly is a crime.’
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. When Tariq looked around, he spotted Zahvik far back in the shadows, likely thrilled by what he was seeing.
‘If she is innocent, she has nothing to fear,’ Jamil said, gesturing for calm.
Safiya let out a harsh laugh. ‘Nothing to fear? You must be joking.’ Her blade moved slightly, enough to make two of the guards shift forwards.
Tariq raised his hands. ‘Stand down.’
The guards took a tentative step back but kept their weapons raised.
Safiya took a defiant step towards one of the swords, her chest inches from the tip of the blade. ‘You dragged her from her chamber like a criminal.’
‘Safiya,’ Tariq said. ‘This isn’t the way.’
Her gaze shot to his. ‘She trusted you.’
A whimper came from Lilah when one of the guards adjusted his grip on her.
‘Careful!’ Safiya screamed at him.
Farrah’s patience snapped. ‘Take them both into custody.’
‘No,’ Lilah sobbed. ‘Tariq, please.’
Farrah didn’t like that. ‘That is the king you are speaking to. You will address him as such.’
The guards moved to disarm Safiya.
‘Step back!’ Tariq shouted at them.
They froze and looked in his direction. Then their attention shifted. Aisha approached at a fast pace. Her hair was now smoothed back and secured tightly at the nape of her neck, her face scrubbed clean. All eyes followed her as she stepped into the centre of the conflict, her gaze burning towards the guard holding Lilah.
‘Let her go,’ Aisha said.
Farrah stared in disbelief. ‘How dare you?—’
‘I am the Queen of Gruisea,’ Aisha said, turning to her. ‘And you will address me as such.’ She held Farrah’s gaze before turning to Tariq. ‘My sister had no part in your father’s death. She did not poison anyone.’
There was nothing but truth in her eyes, but that wasn’t enough. He couldn’t simply take her word for it, and she surely knew that.
‘Of course you would say that,’ Farrah said, going to stand beside Tariq.
Aisha was supposed to be at his side. It was supposed to be the two of them against the world.
‘It’s true,’ Aisha said.
More people had gathered to see what was happening. All eyes were on Tariq, watching to see how he would conduct himself as the new king.
‘It was me,’ Aisha continued, her voice dropping. ‘I had Lilah unknowingly mix the poison, and then I put it in your father’s food.’
The shock on Lilah’s face likely mirrored Tariq’s.
‘You have my confession. I killed King Hamza,’ Aisha said. Though the words were softly spoken, they seemed to ring out like bells through the courtyard. Sharp and undeniable.
Tariq didn’t move—couldn’t. Nor could he breathe. The words were like a noose around his neck.
