She looked up at the apothecarist then, her eyes wide with something like panic.
Deen’s smile had begun to fade. “Forgive me my ignorance, miss, but as I do not treat many Jinn, I’ve little basis for comparison. Is this—is this kind of healing uncommon among your kind?”
Alizeh wanted to lie, but worried the misinformation would adversely affect his treatment of what few Jinn did seek his aid. Softly, she said, “It is rare.”
“And I take it you were, until now, unaware you were capable of such swift healing?”
“I was.”
“I see,” he said. “Well, I suppose we should accept it, then, as an unexpected stroke of good luck, which is no doubt long overdue.” He attempted a smile. “I think you are more than ready to remove the bandages, miss. You need not worry on that account.”
“Yes, sir. I thank you,” Alizeh said, moving to stand. “How much do I owe you for the visit?”
Deen laughed. “I did nothing but remove your bandages and announce aloud what your own eyes might’ve easily witnessed. You owe me nothing.”
“Oh, no, you’re too generous—I’ve taken up your time, certainly I sho—”
“Not at all.” He waved her away. “It was but five minutes at most. Besides, I’ve been awaiting your arrival all this day, and have already been paid handsomely for the trouble.”
Alizeh froze. “I beg your pardon?”
“Your friend asked me to wait for you,” the shopkeepersaid, frowning slightly. “Was he not the essential reason you came in today?”
“My friend?” Alizeh’s heart had begun to pound.
“Yes, miss.” Deen was looking at her strangely now. “He came in this morning—rather a tall fellow, wasn’t he? He wore an interesting hat and had quite the most vivid blue eyes. He was insistent that you would come, and asked me not to close my shop, not even to take lunch, as I often do. He asked that I please deliver you this”—Deen held up a finger, then disappeared below the counter to retrieve a large, unwieldy package—“when you finally arrived.”
Carefully, the shopkeeper settled the heavy, pale yellow box onto the worn surface of the workbench, which he then slid across to her. “I thought for certain he’d informed you of his visit here,” Deen was saying, “for he seemed terribly confident you would come today.” A pause. “I do hope I’ve not startled you.”
Alizeh stared at the box, fear moving through her at an alarming speed. She was afraid even to touch the parcel.
Gently, she swallowed. “Did my—my friend—did he give his name?”
“No, miss,” said Deen, who appeared now to be realizing that something was wrong. “Was not my description of the young man enough to engage your memory? He said the whole thing was meant to be a pleasant surprise for you. I confess I thought it seemed... great fun.”
“Yes. Of course.” Alizeh forced a laugh. “Yes, thank you. I was only—I’m only shocked, you see. I’m quite unaccustomed to receiving such extravagant gifts, and I fear I knownot how to accept them graciously.”
Deen recovered at that, his eyes shining brighter this time. “Yes, of course, miss. I understand completely.”
There was a beat of silence, during which Alizeh pinned a smile onto her face. “When did you say my friend came to deliver the package?”
“Oh, I don’t know exactly,” Deen said, his brow furrowing. “It was sometime in the late morning, I think.”
Late morning.
As if Deen’s description of the stranger weren’t proof enough, Alizeh was now certain the delivery was not made by the prince, who had been at Baz House at exactly that hour. There was only one other person who might’ve done such a thing for her, but for a single complication—
Hazan did not have blue eyes.
It was possible, of course, that the shopkeeper had made a mistake. Perhaps Deen had misspoke, or even seen Hazan in the wrong light. Hazan was tall, after all, that much was accurate; though Alizeh realized she didn’t know enough about him to judge, with any real conviction, whether he was one to wear interesting hats.
Still, it was the answer that made the most sense.
Hazan said he would be looking out for her, did he not? Who else would be paying such close attention to her movements—who else would spare her such generosity?
Alizeh stared again at the beautiful package; at its immaculate presentation. Gingerly, she drew a finger along the scalloped edges of the outer box, the silky yellow ribbon cinching the case around the middle.
Alizeh knew exactly what this was; it was her job to know what it was. Still, it seemed impossible.
