‘That translates to you thought you could trap me here and that I would accept any circumstances for Avanid’s sake. You definitely overestimated our desperation.’
Anger flickered in his eyes. ‘I chose you because I believed you were strong enough to face it.’
‘Face what, exactly?’ she asked. ‘A kingdom so broken it enslaves its own children?’
He stepped closer. ‘Gruisea’s position is fragile. Everything I do—everything—is to protect my people.’
She forced herself to remain in place. ‘Where are all the soldiers?’
Confusion flashed in his eyes. ‘What?’
‘We passed the barracks. They’re empty. Where are all the men?’
His eyes closed for a moment. ‘In the mines.’
Another piece of the puzzle fell into place. ‘No ruler would order their army to lay down their weapons and take up tools unless they were bending to the will of another.’
‘You would know,’ he fired back. ‘It was Avanid that paved the path for the rest of the empire.’
His words stung, but not because they were false. ‘We didn’t have a choice.’
‘Neither did we.’
‘My father couldn’t fight.’
‘And mine refuses to.’
Aisha’s chest rose and fell—hard.
Tariq stepped back and looked around, collecting himself. ‘The queen took you there in an attempt to scare you.’
Her eyes burned. ‘Well, it worked.’
His features softened into something resembling empathy. ‘I have a plan for change.’
She searched his eyes. ‘Why do I get the feeling the king and queen aren’t on board with your plan?’
His silence was his answer.
Aisha let out a huge breath. ‘Go on, then. Tell me of this plan.’
He immediately appeared uncomfortable. The discomfort was followed by more silence.
‘I see.’ She dragged her teeth over her lip. ‘So, I’m just supposed to trust you?’
He relaxed slightly. ‘Yes.’
A small laugh escaped her, even though nothing was funny. ‘Imagine you were me. Imagine leaving your family and travelling to a foreign kingdom because you thought it would help the people you left behind. Then imagine finding out they can’t even protect themselves, let alone help anyone else.’ Another awkward laugh. ‘We’re slaves to the same master.’
They both looked off in different directions.
‘Nothing’s official,’ he said. ‘No announcement of any kind has been made.’ His expression turned serious. ‘You can leave and return home if that’s what you want.’
Quiet stretched between them, taut as a bowstring.
Aisha drew herself up, meeting his eyes with as much steadiness as she could muster. ‘I think it best that I return to Avanid.’
Her words hung in the air like a blade.
