‘One of the tunnels collapsed. Despite new reinforcements, they’re understandably hesitant to return there.’
Aisha stared at the tray. ‘It’s still so raw for them.’
‘And yet the mine will open in the morning.’
His tone made it clear he wasn’t happy about that. ‘Why the urgency?’
‘Because we have an agreement with Slevaborg that we must honour’—he reached for more food—‘at any cost.’
It wasn’t just Avanid bending over backwards to keep the Emperor happy.
Done with the food, Tariq leaned back in his chair and looked at her. ‘You should get some sleep.’
‘So should you.’
He looked over at the bed. ‘I’m sorry about all this. If I’d known the state of things here, I never would have agreed to you coming.’
‘I insisted, remember?’
He rose from his chair. ‘You take the bed.’
‘There’s enough room for both of us.’
He stilled and looked at her. ‘That’s a rather scandalous suggestion.’
She noted the hint of teasing in his tone, softened by exhaustion.
‘I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.’
Tariq walked over to the bed and sat on the edge to remove his boots. Aisha averted her eyes as he stripped down to his sirwal, but not before seeing the outline of him. He wasn’t broad in the way of men who spent their lives labouring, but every curve spoke of discipline.
She waited for him to get into bed before extinguishing the lantern and following him. He moved as far over as was possible without falling off and opened the blanket for her.
‘Thank you,’ she said as she climbed in, remaining as close to the edge on her side as possible.
They lay on their backs, staring up at the roof in the dark.
After a long silence, Tariq said in a low voice, ‘I’m sorry that you’d rather be in this godsforsaken place than back at the castle. I hope that changes once we’re married.’
Aisha’s eyes traced the uneven ridges of the wooden beams above them. ‘I’m sorry for what happened earlier. I’m beginning to understand the difficult position you’re in.’
Silence.
‘I know this probably doesn’t mean much,’ she said, ‘but I think you handled the situation with that man perfectly. With dignity and empathy.’
More silence followed before he finally said, ‘Thank you. That means more than you realise.’
She listened to the steady rhythm of his breaths, the quiet rise and fall of his chest against the blanket, as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 14
Grey light filtered through the slats of the window, cutting across the rough walls. Aisha blinked a few times as she got her bearings. She was in Ashwaq. She was in Ashwaq and in bed with…
Aisha became aware of the warmth. Warmth and weight. Looking down, she saw an arm draped over her. Her lungs stilled when she felt Tariq’s body, solid and grounding, pressed to her back. His sleepy breaths were slow and even against her hair. Sometime during the night, that careful distance between them had well and truly disappeared.
She recalled being cold at one point, drawing the blanket up to her ears. Perhaps he had noticed. Or perhaps she had drawn him in too.
She lay still, studying his fingers lightly curled around the fabric of her abaya. If she moved, he would move, and for whatever reason, she wanted him to stay where he was for a little longer.
