‘I’m sorry. If I had known you were arriving early, I’d have been there.’
Omar pulled back from her. ‘The captain of the ship said the wind was in our favour. Where’s Tariq?’
‘Likely still in the training yard.’
‘And it’s Prince Tariq,’ Yasmin said, all but pushing him out of her way. ‘Now let the rest of us greet her.’
Aisha looked her youngest sister over before pulling her into an embrace. She smelled like sunshine and saffron.
‘Have they been nice to you?’ Yasmin whispered.
‘Yes.’ It was the only answer she would ever give her.
Aisha spotted Zara standing on the far side of the room, watching them. Zara gave her a weak smile, and she could see the toll the past few months had taken on her. When Yasmin released her, Aisha went to Zara, throwing her arms around her. To her surprise, her older sister hugged her back with equal enthusiasm.
‘I told Omar not to run inside the castle,’ Zara said into her ear.
Aisha drew back with a laugh. ‘I’m sure you did—multiple times.’ She kept hold of Zara’s hands as she looked her over. ‘You made it.’
Zara released a breath. ‘We made it.’
The familiarity of family was blissfully overwhelming.
‘Come,’ Lilah said, gesturing to Yasmin and Omar. ‘We’ll go see Baba, and then we’ll take you to meet Mira.’
‘Can’t we meet Mira first?’ Omar asked as they headed for the door.
‘No,’ Lilah and Safiya replied in unison.
Aisha and Zara were left alone in the chamber.
‘So,’ Zara said, letting go of Aisha’s hands and strolling towards the window. ‘This is your new home.’
Aisha looked around the room. ‘This is it.’
‘And it’s really going well?’
‘It really is.’
Zara stopped and turned to her. ‘I received your letter the day before we departed. It must have been quite the shock when Zahvik showed up—at your Binding Feast, no less.’
‘It was, but we managed. Thankfully, his quarters are as far from ours as they can be. And he’s been so busy with King Hamza, none of us have seen him since.’
Zara dropped her gaze. ‘I haven’t told Baba.’ She sounded almost ashamed. ‘I should have, but I was worried he wouldn’t get on the ship if I did.’
Aisha nodded slowly. ‘Where is he?’
‘Where do you think?’ Zara swallowed. ‘He greeted King Hamza and Queen Farrah on arrival, then wanted to go to the guest quarters to rest. He told me he couldn’t handle the noise.’ She brushed a finger down her nose. ‘But there was barely any noise at all.’
Aisha was silent a moment. ‘When he learns that Zahvik’s here?—’
‘It will break him,’ Zara said matter-of-factly. ‘We’ll need time to piece him back together, so the sooner we tell him, the better.’
Aisha thought for a moment. ‘You did the hard work of getting him here. Let me tell him.’
Zara looked like she was about to object, but then she appeared to change her mind. ‘If he sees that you’re unaffected, he’ll draw strength from you. He wants to do his part.’
She didn’t doubt it. ‘How was he? Outside the walls?’
