When they were a good distance away, Tariq whispered, ‘I’ve heard rumours that their military is developing a new type of weapon.’
Aisha frowned. ‘I don’t know whether that’s a good or bad thing.’
‘I suppose it depends on whether Slevaborg get their hands on it or not.’
She stopped walking when she heard a ripple of noise moving through the crowd. A low murmur that dropped to a hush. She looked around.
‘What’s wrong?’ Tariq asked.
Aisha grew uneasy. ‘I’m not sure.’
A moment later, he quietly said, ‘Aisha,’ then pointed discreetly towards the garden’s main entrance, where a figure stood at the edge of the lawn.
Her heart sank when she spotted her father. He was wearing his royal robe, but it hung loosely from one shoulder. His hair was uncombed and his sandals… there was only one sandal. He was frozen in place, staring at something or someone?—
‘Zahvik’s here,’ Tariq said.
Just the name had Aisha’s stomach tightening. She looked in the direction her father was staring and found the sectarian staring right back. Her lungs faltered as she headed straight for her father. Zara reached him first, gracefully turning him around and guiding him away from Zahvik and the other guests. Safiya and Lilah got to him at the same time Aisha did. All eyes were on them, and the silence was loud.
Bilal’s guard appeared, out of breath, like he had been running for some time, which he probably had. He gave Zara an apologetic look, and she glared back at him.
‘Let’s go, Baba,’ Lilah said.
Bilal blinked at her, his brow creasing. ‘I heard music.’
‘You should have sent for us,’ Zara replied.
Bilal tried to look back. ‘He was right there.’
Zara nodded. ‘We must ignore him, remember?’
His worried gaze went to Aisha. ‘I do not want to embarrass you.’
‘You could never embarrass me,’ she said, her throat closing.
‘Go back to the party,’ Zara told Aisha. ‘You too, Lilah. Safiya and I will join you as soon as we can.’
Zara always seemed to know the next right move. The guests had enough to whisper behind their backs about without the entire family being absent. It was on Aisha to return and show everyone that all was well.
She stopped walking, and Lilah stopped a few paces after her. They watched their father’s retreating back until he disappeared through the door of the castle. Only then did Lilah turn to Aisha with eyes full of sadness.
‘He’ll be all right,’ Lilah said. ‘You saw him in his wedding clothes. He’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep.’
Aisha nodded, barely, then turned around and walked back to the party.
Chapter 25
Tariq braced for an onslaught as he and Aisha stood before the twin thrones. His father was leaned forwards, his crown glinting under the lantern light, and his mother sat with a disapproving expression next to him. The air in the audience chamber was thick with unspoken scrutiny.
‘Do you have any idea how this court appeared today?’ Hamza’s gaze moved between Tariq and Aisha. ‘A king, confused and wandering through my gardens, shouting at shadows?—’
‘He wasn’t shouting,’ Aisha said, clearly feeling the need to defend her father.
‘He was missing a shoe,’ Hamza continued, knowing she couldn’t contradict that. ‘The guests saw it. The emissaries saw it. And Zahvik, who will be reporting directly to the Emperor, most definitely saw it.’
Aisha dropped her gaze, and her humiliation had Tariq’s temper flaring. ‘If you wanted him in the right mind to select footwear, then perhaps you shouldn’t have invited the man who killed his wife.’
Hamza’s fingers tightened around the arms of his throne. ‘Mind your tone.’
