‘Now we let them get used to the idea of you.’ He took a step back. ‘Goodnight.’
Aisha inclined her head. ‘Goodnight.’ She disappeared inside her rooms.
Tariq headed off down the corridor, and Kaidon fell into step with him.
‘Where are you going?’ he asked.
‘The servants’ quarters.’
Kaidon didn’t need to ask why.
When they arrived at Maryam’s room, Tariq rapped once on the door. Maryam opened it, her short hair catching the lamplight as she looked between them. She stepped back to let them in, closing the door behind them.
‘Forgive the intrusion,’ Tariq began.
‘It is quite all right, Your Highness. Go ahead.’
Tariq hesitated. ‘Now that you’ve spent time with the princess, I need to know it’s her.’
Maryam’s gaze flicked to the closed door behind him before answering. ‘Yes,’ she said, nodding. ‘It is her. Aisha is the woman from my vision.’
Chapter 8
The following morning, Tariq went to visit his parents, who were eating their breakfast outdoors.
‘Have some fruit,’ his mother insisted, tapping the edge of the platter with her fingernail.
He ate to keep her happy. She watched him while his father sipped his drink in measured silence.
‘Our guests were surprisingly accepting of the princess last night,’ Farrah said. ‘I would even go as far as to say some liked her.’
Here we go.
‘Then perhaps we can make the betrothal official,’ Tariq suggested.
His father looked over his cup at him. ‘Let us not be hasty.’
‘Hasty?’ Tariq leaned back in his chair. ‘The two of you were betrothed without ever meeting. And Amani shared a pot of tea with Prince Farid before news of their match was shouted from every rooftop.’
‘Well, more caution is needed at present.’ Farrah eyed Tariq for a long moment. ‘Aisha was rather nervous around His Holiness last night.’
‘And why do you think that is?’ he questioned.
‘I am interested in why you think that is.’
‘Because her mother was murdered by a sectarian.’
‘Her mother was sentenced to death because she was a covenweaver,’ Farrah corrected, ‘and was foolish enough to use her so-called gifts during a visit to Assur Qasr.’
Tariq drew a breath for patience. ‘Did you bring Jamil to Aisha last night as some sort of test?’
Farrah tutted. ‘How little you think of me. Your sister would never suggest such a thing.’
‘King Lugman has nothing but praise for her,’ Hamza chimed in.
No one mentioned the fact that Amani spent her first year in Kuzebet begging to return home.
‘A few polished conversations are not proof of a suitable queen,’ Farrah said. ‘Perhaps I will spend some time with the princess today and get to know her better.’
