The other men in attendance, the ones listening carefully, all shouted their support.
‘When will trade with Avanid commence?’ asked one of the men. ‘The others will quickly follow suit once they see it can be done.’
‘We need a wedding followed swiftly by a new trade deal,’ Malik said.
Tariq was about to say he needed more time, then thought better of it.
‘Our children’s hands bleed. Their lungs fill with dust,’ Malik said, his voice quieter this time.
Tariq felt powerless. ‘I’ll speak to the king about the hours.’
Malik’s eyes blazed in his direction before he looked away. ‘If the king won’t listen, then maybe he shouldn’t be king.’
‘Careful,’ Kaidon said. ‘Be very careful.’
Rauf slowly shook his head. ‘The king would rather watch us suffocate underground than stand up to the Emperor.’
Tariq looked around the room before his gaze settled on Malik. ‘I’m on your side. But remember, that’s my family. Don’t threaten them again.’
Silence.
‘I’ll update you as soon as I can,’ Tariq said. ‘If any issues arise in the meantime, reach out to Kaidon.’
The men mumbled a few barely coherent words in response. Then Tariq and Kaidon left and returned to the horses.
The pair rode in silence back through the city. Tariq barely noticed the people he passed this time. His mind kept replaying the conversation he’d just had. The situation felt heavier with each passing mile.
‘You can only do so much,’ Kaidon said, seemingly reading his mind. Or perhaps his mood.
Tariq adjusted his grip on the reins. ‘It won’t be enough.’
The castle rose before them, and they both stared at it.
‘Will the king reduce the hours in the mine if you ask him? Given we’re barely meeting Slevaborg’s demands as it is?’
‘Unless he’s prepared for strikes or civil war, he’ll have to.’
They entered the gates of Azura Castle and made their way to the courtyard. Tariq dismounted and handed the reins to the stable hand.
‘Don’t worry, Your Highness,’ the boy said. ‘I put the princess on Basma. Quietest horse we have. Scared of nothing.’
Tariq stared at the boy. ‘Princess Aisha took a horse?’
‘Not by herself, Your Highness. She went with the queen and her guards.’
Tariq exchanged a concerned glance with Kaidon before asking, ‘Where did they go?’
‘I… I don’t know.’
Seeing the panic on the boy’s face, the prince gave him a reassuring clap on the shoulder before walking away.
Kaidon caught up to him. ‘When you said the queen was going to spend time with her, I thought they’d take a walk or have a game of cards.’
‘I should have known.’
‘She won’t send the princess off a cliff, will she?’
‘You joke,’ Tariq replied, ‘but I wouldn’t put it past her.’
