“And I have full confidence,” Kamran said, returning to his papers, “in your ability to storm a battlefield.”
“You are not yet king.” Hazan looked up, his tone still betraying a stubborn skepticism. “Do you even have the power to do such a thing?”
“Are you trying to offend me?” said Kamran, a shadow of a smile touching his lips. “I’ve always possessed such a power. Though as imminent heir to an empty throne, I do have more authority now than I did yesterday, and I find I’m eager to exercise these rights before they’re taken away.”
“And what does that entail?”
“First, I must tell you that you were right,” Kamran said,rising from his chair. “In your absence I learned that the nobles have already assembled a new royal court of Diviners, who should be arriving steadily throughout the day. The last of them will be here by nightfall. They are to stay here at the palace while their rooms are readied at the Diviners Quarters; they won’t be leaving until after all the funerals take place over the next couple of days.”
“Zahhak told you this?”
Kamran’s eyes narrowed. “Zahhak wouldn’t tell me if a sword were inches from my throat. He still thinks me an ignorant child unworthy of my father’s throne.”
“A shame, isn’t it? That you’ve never given him reason to think otherwise.”
“Shut up, Hazan.”
Hazan only smiled.
“The lords of the Seven Houses did all this in relative secrecy,” Kamran went on. “I only found out from Jamsheed, who needed my sign-off on the repairs for the palace, and who wished to express aloud his pleasure that the protections around the empire would be back in place as soon as our quorum of Diviners had fully settled. You will also be fascinated to hear that Jamsheed, our dear palace butler, is better informed than I on more than one salient issue, for when I asked him whether he’d seen my mother, he rather cheerfully told me she’d be home in a matter of days.”
Hazan blinked. “But— Your mother has fled the palace? When? Not after she buried her dagger in your arm?”
“Impeccable timing on her part. I’m afraid she has a fantastically warped idea of what constitutes maternal affection.”
“And you don’t know where she’s gone?”
“I haven’t the faintest. When I asked, Jamsheed claimed she’d gone to fetch me a gift in honor of my impending coronation.” Kamran then raised his eyebrows at Hazan.
Hazan mirrored the expression. “A vial of poison, then?”
“My thoughts exactly,” said the prince, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. “It really is a great comfort to me that you are not dead this morning, Hazan.”
“It is a great comfort to me as well, sire,” Hazan said drily.
Kamran began stacking his papers, moving things aside to make room on the table, and though his smile diminished, it did not fade altogether. His life was falling apart at the seams, but he’d managed to prove wrong his mother’s last ominous words. If Zahhak were to have his way, Kamran might never haunt the halls of this palace again—but at least, wherever he landed, he would not walk alone. He’d come to the stunning realization that he’d rather be falling apart with friends, than living a decadent life of isolation.
“Whatever my mother’s gone to do,” he went on, “I cannot begin to imagine, for the turns of her mind are impossible to predict. The only thing I know for certain is that she will be sorry indeed to return, for upon arrival she will discover the palace is no longer her home. I’ve concluded I have at most a day before the Houses cobble together reason enough to strip me of my title, and less than a week before Zahhak usurps my throne. Which means we must work quickly.”
“We?” Hazan balked. “You and I are meant to save the Ardunian empire all alone, then? And where is the child who stole my job?”
“The child is occupied.”
“With what?”
“Bringing me witnesses.”
“What for, you exasperating halfwit?” Hazan threw up his hands. “Are you so incapable of anticipating that I might want more than the paltry, monosyllabic responses you serve?”
“Heavens, you sound almost hungry.”
Hazan sighed, searching the room as if for patience. “Do you know,” he said finally, “it’s just occurred to me that I no longer have to pretend to own an appetite at regular intervals. A small but rather delightful gain of all this perfidy, for I find eating meals an exhausting waste of time.”
Kamran raised his eyebrows. “Speaking of Jinn I don’t understand,” he said, reaching underneath the large table and unearthing the forgotten carpet bag. “I take it you know who this belongs to.”
The prince dropped the luggage onto a newly cleared section of the polished wood, still managing to send papers scattering in the process.
Hazan only stared at him.
