CHAPTER 1
Arie
MY HANDS SAT CLENCHEDin my lap. I didn’t play with the gold and pearl fabric of my dress, or tap my fingers on my throne, or even twitch an eyebrow. But underneath my skirts, my toes tapped a steady rhythm, counting down the seconds until dinner.
Normally, I adored holding court with my father. Learning to rule meant everything to me.
But not today.
Not for the last few months, actually.
We’d listened to the nobles list their complaints for nearly four hours now. My head buzzed with voices, like a swarm of locusts. The more people in the room, the louder they pulsed until the pressure was unbearable.
At least if I kept still and avoided drawing attention to myself, it was more manageable. I sat as quiet as the serving girl concealed in the corner. But she wasn’t wearing the gold circlet of a princess woven through delicately braided hair. She didn’t have long, black curls falling on expensive gold-lace sleeves. Or a white pearl dress, designed to remind eligible men of a wedding gown. Lucky girl.
A white-haired Shah, lord of a small province in our kingdom, stood in the open space before my father and I.
“King Mahdi,” Shirvan-Shah railed, in the middle of an outburst. “I didn’t want to bring this to your attention if I didn’t have to, but this dispute is over far more than my son and Marzban-Shah’s daughter.” Spittle flew from his mouth as he paced the marble floor between us and his rapt audience, who waited their turn. “It pains me to speak of such things, but I’m afraid I must...” He dropped to his knees before my father’s throne and bowed his head.
I wanted to roll my eyes.
“As I’m sure you’re aware, the Marzban family has Jinni-blood running through their veins...”
I leaned forward.
Too late, I caught myself and sat back.
No one noticed. All eyes were glued to Shirvan-Shah, who let the silence draw out, until it lay thick and expectant over the room. He cleared his throat and stage whispered, “I believe she may have a Jinni’s Gift.”
Horrified gasps and murmurs replaced the silence. The corners of his mouth twitched upward as he stood. I found myself hating him.
“That’s a strong accusation to make without proof,” my voice rang out. I couldn’t help myself. “What if she’s innocent?” I clutched the arms of my throne, leaning forward. “Are you willing to risk ruining a young girl’s life simply because she didn’t find your son a good match?”
Every onlooker shifted their gaze from Shirvan-Shah to me. The hum in the room grew louder. I regretted my words immediately.
“Arie,” my father scolded. It wasn’t my place to judge in these hearings. Not yet. My role was to learn and observe.
“Sorry, Baba.” I bowed my head, hating the disappointment in his tone.
Whispers grew louder as I became the center of attention. My head throbbed.
“Continue, Shah.” My father tipped his gold scepter toward Shirvan-Shah.
As the focus shifted back to the older man, I sighed softly, resisting the urge to sag back against my throne. Imitating the serving girl once more, I sat stiff and upright, barely breathing.
The Shah eyed me before easing back into his speech. “The princess makes a fair point.” He dipped his head toward me, tenting his bony fingers. “However, I fear Marzban-Shah’s daughter’s Gift is evident. There’s rumor of her sheets turning to iron, as well as her bathtub, and other common household items.”
This time I guarded against any reaction. When those around me gasped, I chastised myself,Don’t be too still either.
“What kind of Gifting is this?” my father muttered.
“I’d never heard of its likeness, Your Highness,” Shirvan-Shah stepped closer, though he didn’t lower his voice in the slightest. “There are too many different Jinni’s Gifts to keep track of. I thought perhaps it was like Aaran-Shah’s Gift, where he knows what to plant and helps the seedlings grow. Or Yazdan-Shah’s son who can turn commonplace items into gold. But it seems that, as usual, this woman’s Gift is dangerous.”
Why do they see danger in women while men are trusted?I pushed down the urge to question him, but it was difficult.Her Gift seems harmless.Especially when compared to other Jinni’s Gifts I’d heard of growing up—the ability to travel across kingdoms in a heartbeat, shape-shifting, swimming in the depths with the Mere-folk, soul-stealing... That last one may have been more of a child’s bedtime story than truth, but I’d never been entirely certain.How can we know anything about the Jinn when even the entrance to their land is a secret?
“Thank you for bringing it to my attention,” my father said with a sigh. The laws regarding Gifted women had been passed before I was born. While the stories differed on how the decision came to be, the verdict was clear: Gifted women were dangerous. They must go to trial and be closely examined. If they failed the trial, their Gift was to be severed.
I’d been too young to witness the last Severance, but my blood ran cold as my father added, “She will be dealt with immediately.”
