Tariq drew himself up and kept going. ‘He has earned the right to stumble. The man buried his queen, watched his kingdom suffer for it, entrusted his daughter to us, and this is how we repay him.’
Farrah spoke up at that. ‘We empathise. However, he is still the King of Avanid, and his presence reflects upon all of us.’ She rose from her seat and stepped down from the dais, hem whispering against the floor. ‘Do you understand what is at stake with this union? Tomorrow, the eyes of the entire empire will be upon us. If that man does not walk his daughter down the aisle and give her to you—in a sane manner—we will be the subject of ridicule.’ She paused for effect. ‘Royal weddings are not sentimental occasions. They are statements of strength and alliances. These displays weaken us both.’
Aisha continued to stare at the floor, and Tariq couldn’t bear it anymore.
‘Kaidon, please see the princess to her chamber,’ he told the guard.
That had Aisha looking up. She went to object.
‘Go,’ he told her.
Hamza’s face turned red. ‘We are not done here.’
‘You are done with Aisha. Everything else you want to say you can say to me alone.’
Aisha appeared torn about leaving him, but when Kaidon approached, she went with him. Tariq waited until the door closed behind them before resuming the conversation.
‘You’re worried about humiliation?’ He looked between his parents, eyes blazing. ‘Then perhaps I should relay the conversation I had with envoys from Rogritis this afternoon, who are refusing to trade with us due to our exploitation of children. Now that was humiliating.’
Hamza’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
‘You are treading dangerously close to insolence,’ Farrah said.
‘Then I’ll not tell you about my conversations with envoys from Ukrocia and Montia for fear of crossing a line,’ Tariq said. ‘But understand this: People will remember compassion far longer than they remember some protocol.’
Farrah turned around and made her way back to her chair.
Hamza waved a hand at Tariq. ‘You are dismissed.’
Bowing stiffly, Tariq strode out of the throne room. On his way to his chambers, he ran into Kaidon returning from escorting Aisha.
‘How is she?’ Tariq asked.
‘Worried about you, actually. How did it end in there?’
‘I held up a mirror to them, and they didn’t like it.’
Kaidon grinned at the floor.
There was something Tariq needed to take care of before the wedding. ‘Could you fetch Maryam for me? Ask her to come to my quarters?’
Kaidon looked up. ‘Now?’
‘When she’s finished with Aisha for the evening.’
Kaidon bowed his head, then headed off in the direction from which he had just come.
Exhausted, Tariq made his way back to his quarters to wait for Maryam. It was around an hour later when she appeared at his door, head bowed and hands folded. ‘You sent for me, Your Highness?’
‘Yes.’ Tariq gestured for her to come inside, then closed the door behind her. ‘I’ll get straight to the point, as I know it’s late.’ His hands went to rest on his hips. ‘From now on, I no longer require updates about Princess Aisha. If I wish to know something, I’ll ask her directly.’
Maryam appeared slightly surprised by this.
‘When you first came to me, you told me you felt the gods were calling on you to act,’ he said. ‘You’ve more than fulfilled that duty.’ His eyes creased at the corners. ‘Tomorrow is our wedding day, and I plan on starting our new life together with trust and transparency. I want you to know that I’ve kept my word and haven’t revealed your gift to Aisha. You’re safe here at Azura and will remain so.’
Maryam’s hands tightened slightly. ‘I see,’ she said quietly. ‘I appreciate that, Your Highness.’ Her uncertain gaze remained on his.
‘Was there something else you wanted to say?’ Tariq asked.
