Kaidon stepped forwards, handing Tariq a small silver token, engraved with delicate script. The prince focused on the words. ‘I want you to promise to always put the collective needs of our people before our individual needs.’ He looked in her eyes, adding, ‘The people’s wellbeing and safety must always come before our own comfort.’
It was selfless and entirely appropriate. Every queen should prioritise the wellbeing of her people. So when he held the token out to her, like a question, she lowered her head so that he could put it on. Her fingers curled around the token as she looked up at him, feeling the roughness of the engraved words. ‘I swear to uphold this promise.’
Applause broke out around them. Aisha snuck a glance at the queen, who was clapping so lightly that she doubted the action was producing any noise.
Jamil nodded approvingly, then turned to face Aisha. ‘Now it is your turn, Princess. What is the promise you ask of your future husband today?’
Safiya stepped forwards to hand her the token. Aisha proceeded to read from it. ‘I want you to promise to protect my kingdom as you would your own. Promise to do everything in your power to keep it safe from external threats for as long I’m at your side, serving the people of Gruisea.’
There was a collective murmur across the room. Aisha didn’t dare look at the king or queen now. She knew it was a big ask, but it was also the reason she had agreed to stay.
Tariq stared at her for a long moment—so long that Aisha thought he might not accept it. But then he bent so that she could slip it over his head, adjusting it as he straightened. ‘I swear to uphold this promise.’
And it was clear on his face that he meant it.
Applause broke out again, and Aisha looked over at her sisters. Lilah was wiping the corner of her eye while Safiya stared off in another direction—her usual tactic for hiding emotion.
When the clapping died, Jamil clasped his hands together, looking between them. ‘The tokens will rest against your hearts for as long as the promise remains true. May your words, spoken before Salithar and the witnesses here today, hold fast.’
More applause.
‘We’re done,’ Tariq whispered. ‘And no kiss, remember?’
She held back a smile.
The pair made their way to the temple doors. They were about to step outside when a hand caught Aisha’s elbow. She whipped her head around and found Jamil.
‘My apologies, Princess,’ he said. ‘I wondered if you might?—’
The vision hit her before he’d finished his sentence. She saw Jamil through a haze of smoke. His eyes burned with purpose?—
She jolted back to the room to find Tariq now standing between her and the sectarian, her weight against him. Oh no.
‘I’m afraid your question will need to wait, Your Holiness,’ Tariq said while simultaneously ushering Aisha out of the temple. ‘The princess woke with a bad headache, and it appears to have worsened.’
Lilah and Safiya caught up to them once they were outside.
‘What happened?’ Lilah asked, peering into Aisha’s face. ‘Goodness.’
‘Tariq.’
Aisha recognised the queen’s voice and began to panic.
‘Take her and keep walking,’ Tariq said, transferring her weight to Safiya.
Lilah moved to the other side of her without breaking stride. ‘You’re trembling.’
‘It’s normal,’ Aisha reassured her. ‘It will stop shortly.’
‘Why are they happening so frequently now?’ Safiya asked. ‘And while that sectarian is sniffing around you.’
Aisha had been wondering the same thing. Since arriving in Gruisea, all skin-to-skin contact carried risk. Yet she could kiss Tariq with no problem at all.
‘I don’t know.’ Another question for Maryam.
‘What did you see?’ Safiya whispered to her.
Aisha shook her head as she tried to remember. ‘It was very fast. Jamil. And… smoke.’
