“I’ve not meant to interrupt,” said Hazan quietly, “as I see you’re preoccupied.But the sun appears to be struggling against the horizon, and I can hear the distant rush of water growing louder, which can only mean –”
“Yes.”
By air or sea, the approach to Tulan was distinguished by the din of cascades. Kamran, who’d led many water journeys to this part of the world, was more than familiar with the sound, the roar of which was a hateful reminder that Ardunia had perhaps two more years before they’d need to start rationing water and three years before the crisis overwhelmed the empire entirely. They’d recently had good snowfall and a brief deluge of rain – but Ardunia would require a great deal more than a few days of precipitation if they were to stave off a drought.Tens of millions of peoplewould soon look to him for protection – and one day, under his leadership, they might die of thirst.
It was yet another crushing problem for which Kamran needed to conjure a solution; yet another blade of fear pressed constantly against his throat. His grandfather, King Zaal, had managed to keep this secret from the people, insisting there was no need to inspire panic when there was time yet to resolve the issue. Only now, as the burden fell upon his shoulders, did Kamran recognize this silence for what it truly was:cowardice.
Devils above, his grandfather’s failings continued to bludgeon him.
“By my estimate, we’ll touch ground in roughly thirty minutes,” Hazan was saying. “I’d been hoping to discuss the results of my earlier expedition with you before we arrived.However, if you’d rather wait –”
“No.” Kamran stiffened, his back straightening. For so many hours they’d been unable to find calm or quiet in the tumult of the flight, and this most essential conversation had been so delayed it was nearly forgotten. Yesterday, as a hedge against possible expulsion from the castle, Kamran had dispatched Hazan to the north of Ardunia, charging him with the task of securing a safe house, where they might one day take shelter, if necessary. “No, let us discuss your discoveries straightaway. You mentioned you saw mymother?In the countryside?”
“Yes.”
“Did you speak with her?”
Hazan shook his head even as he said, “Yes.”
“Where was she? Was she well?”
“Yes.”
“And will you force me to pluck each word of explanation from your mouth like so many blasted splinters? What is the matter with you?”
“Your mother is a strange woman,” Hazan responded, fighting a smile. “I traveled north per your request and headed directly to the largest township. I figured the local tavern would be the best place to find an unsuspecting farmer willing to exchange his acres for a small mountain of gold –”
“Yes, very good, Hazan, you went to a tavern and found a farmer. Do you intend to tell me you then went to a butcher and discovered a side of beef?”
Hazan narrowed his eyes. “If you’re in too dark a temper even to have a simple conversation, declare it now and spare me the desire to knock you off your mount so I might watch,at my leisure, as gravity does the noble work of snapping your neck.”
For reasons inexplicable to him, these words cheered Kamran slightly. “Is my mood always so obvious to you?”
“Your mood is obvious to a corpse.”
The prince looked away as he fought a smile, saying, “Go on, then. You went to a tavern and found a farmer.”
“No. I found your mother.”
Kamran lifted his head sharply.
“She was, by all accounts, awaiting my arrival. The moment I pushed open the door I saw her – though to be fair, she made no effort to conceal her presence. She was so weighted down by jewels it was a wonder to me she hadn’t been robbed in plain sight.”
“Mother has always been a master of discretion.”
Hazan gave a dry laugh. “In any case, she was looking at me as I entered, and indicated at once that I should join her at her table, where she proceeded to tell me she’d secured us a safe house.”
“What?”
Hazan nodded.
“My mother –mymother, the languishing princess of Ardunia – took it upon herself to do a bit of business with a common farmer? In the interest of my protection? Don’t say she took a room at the village inn?”
Again, Hazan nodded.
“No,” Kamran breathed.
“I confirmed this fact with the owner.”
