He exhaled, and it felt a lot like defeat.
‘And you’re not going without me,’ Safiya cut in.
They looked in her direction. She was standing in one of the doorways with her arms folded, clearly listening in.
‘I’ve waited my whole life to fight those dogs.’ Safiya walked over to join them. ‘I’m not missing this chance.’
Tariq shook his head. ‘This isn’t the time or place?—’
‘This might be the only time and place,’ she replied.
The harrowing sound of a horn rang out through the castle grounds. Tariq looked between the sisters, weighing the risks. He muttered a curse under his breath. ‘Fine, but you listen to me—both of you. You follow every instruction, and if I tell you to fall back, you fall back. Understood?’
Aisha’s reply came without hesitation. ‘Understood.’
Safiya drew her shortsword and inspected the blade. ‘You know me. I’m always respectful of rules.’
‘You’re not getting close enough to use that, by the way,’ he said, gesturing to the sword. ‘Can you shoot a longbow?’
‘As well as any man.’
Aisha tugged off one of her gloves and looked up at Tariq. ‘Catch me if I fall.’ She then proceeded to take hold of his wrist, and her eyes glazed over. She disappeared to some place he couldn’t follow her. He tried to be patient as he waited for her to return to him, but his fingers twitched nervously. Finally, she let go, blinking hard as she drew a sharp breath. He held her steady.
‘There’s a narrow beach,’ Aisha panted. ‘The cliff curves like a hook around it. The rocks are black, and the water’s rough.’
He thought for a moment.
‘Kharid’s Maw’ came Farrah’s voice from the same doorway Safiya had emerged from.
Everyone looked in her direction.
‘It is rather dangerous for ships,’ she continued casually, as if she hadn’t just seen Aisha disappear into a vision. ‘They likely think they are being smart because no one would expect them to come ashore there.’
‘Then let’s surprise them with a welcome party,’ Safiya said.
Farrah stepped out into the corridor, her silks whispering across the floor as she looked between the three of them. ‘Good luck.’
Chapter 44
Light bled into the bay, pale and cold. Tariq stood at the edge of the beach, the salty air burning his lungs, eyes fixed on the horizon. The fleet sat like blackened teeth in the morning mist. Their army had remained there all night.
Patient.
Waiting.
A shout broke across the shore, and Tariq saw a glowing ball emerge from the haze.
‘What is that?’ Aisha asked, her voice fatigued from broken sleep.
Kaidon took a few steps, squinting. ‘A boat.’ He looked over at Tariq. ‘On fire.’
More of them appeared, each piled high with brushwood and tar-soaked sailcloth, engulfed by flames. The fire turned the water into molten gold as the boats drifted lazily towards the beach.
‘Why are they burning their own boats?’ Safiya asked.
Tariq didn’t have an answer yet. ‘I’m sure we’re about to find out.’
His soldiers ran along the shoreline, hauling pails from the shallows, their shouts lost beneath the crackle of burning wood. Tariq’s shoulders tensed. No commander wasted boats on such a crude gesture unless it served a greater purpose.
