Too, Huda explained her coincidental presence during this difficult time at the palace –
“And then all of us, including me and Deen and Omid, flew to Tulan, even though Kamran didnotwant us to come with him, and he was adamant that he didn’t care whether any of us died in the process, because he mostly just wanted to kill Cyrus –”
Except that he hadn’t killed Cyrus, and instead the two young men had come to some impossible truce, which resulted in an open invitation for their group to remain at the palace. When Alizeh had asked to know the terms of this unlikely peace treaty, Huda’s color deepened very suddenly, and she refused to say more except to explain that the prince, in an unexpected pivot, was being praised by the people of Ardunia as a compassionate peacekeeper, for it was now passing as common knowledge that he’d traveled all this way – against the interests of Zahhak – in the hopes of preventing war.
“And now,” Huda said eagerly, “all of us are being credited for forging friendship between the two empires!”
“Heavens,” Alizeh said softly.
“Incredible, isn’t it?” Huda was nodding. “Our kingdoms have never coexisted so peacefully. It’s been well over a decade since an Ardunian sovereign has even been invited to stay in Tulan. In fact,” she added in an undertone, “I’ve learned from the servants – who are oddly tight-lipped when it comes to gossip about their king, by the way – that Cyrus has never hosted a single guest at the palace during his rule, which is quite unheard of, and makes our stay all the more exceptional as a result.”
“And no one thinks it strange?” Alizeh asked. “That the Ardunian prince would choose to make nice with the person responsible for murdering the king of his empire?”
Huda considered this, tilting her head as she said, “Actually, now that I see how it’s all developed, I think it would’ve been a great deal worse if Kamran had, in fact, killed Cyrus. Did you know that a mob tried to storm the palace before we left Ardunia?”
Alizeh shook her head, horrified.
“Well” – Huda nodded – “the people were so disgusted with Zaal after he was unmasked at the ball that they rioted for about a week. Even the royals were scrambling to distance themselves from the late king – some going so far as to praise Cyrus’s actions, if you can believe it. A few even joined the fray to protest.”
“What were they protesting? The possibility of war?”
Again, Huda nodded. “Most were refusing to die in the defense of a disgraced king; but they were also condemning Kamran by association, claiming they didn’t want another corrupt sovereign who’d just as likely strike a deal with Iblees –”
“But that’s terribly unfair –”
“Yes, terribly unfair, but the riots were quelled once word spread that the prince had already fled Ardunia – immediately after Zaal’s death – to try to make amends with the southern empire. The general consensus is that he’s wonderfully selfless to have spared his people unnecessary bloodshed, even while grieving his grandfather.” She laughed, then shook her head.“Not at all the truth, of course, but my point is that if hehadkilled Cyrus, our empires would’ve certainly gone to war, and it would’ve been tragically unpopular. Kamran might’ve faced a veritable insurrection.
“Of course” – she leaned in – “we’re the only ones who know the real reason it all worked out for him, and that’s entirely thanks to you, isn’t it?” She pulled back and smiled. “Cyrus really,reallywanted to have us all executed, but Hazan pointed out that you’d be terribly cross with him if he murdered your friends, and he hasn’t mentioned it since. And now here we are! Making peace! Best of all, Zahhak looks dumb and Kamran looks grand and –”
“And you and Omid and Deen have been celebrated,” Alizeh finished for her, feeling dazed. It was a great deal to absorb.
“Yes!” cried Huda, who then quickly sobered. “Apart from being worried sick about you, of course, it’s been the most exciting time of my life. I’m getting letters from fans! Can you imagine! Peopleloveme.” She hesitated. “Well, it’s mostly children. Some old men, too, I think, though it’s sometimes hard to tell –”
“Huda?”
“Yes?”
“How does Hazan feel about all this?”
She stilled, her smile frozen. “I don’t know.”
“Surely you might venture a guess?”
Huda looked away then, biting the inside of her cheek before she said, “I think it might be best if you talked to Hazan about how Hazan feels.” She looked back. “He doesn’t share his feelings with me.”
Alizeh softened. “Is he all right, at least?”
“I suppose so? He’s been terribly grim. Not as bad as the others, but grim nonetheless.”
“I see.” Alizeh averted her eyes, taking a moment to study the shape of a particularly fine rose. She took a steadying breath before she said: “And Cyrus?”
“What about him?”
Alizeh struggled to meet Huda’s eyes. Her interest in the southern king was almost impossible to hide, though she made an effort to appear indifferent. “What’s he like?”
“What’s he like?” Huda echoed, surprised. “You mean aside from being obviously cracked in the head?”
Alizeh suppressed a flinch. She couldn’t explain why, but every insult Huda leveled against Cyrus seemed to prick her with its sting. And yet, she had no good reason to defend him.
