The men joked and taunted each other behind me, relaxed enough to include Arie and Gideon. None of them knew how unlikely this plan was to work. Except Naveed.
My childhood friend walked beside me. I didn’t speak and he didn’t sign; we didn’t need to. Not a day had gone by since we left this place four years ago that we hadn’t thought of it.
Neither of us had gone home to visit. Naveed’s only family had been mine.
And mine were gone.
After my brother’s death, Prince Dev had tried to silence all protests. It was only because Naveed and I had been in hiding, planning our revenge, that I was still alive.
Glancing over at my friend, he nodded tersely. Even if he still had his voice, he’d never tell them how Prince Dev might not misuse his Gift at all today.
After speaking with Gideon at breakfast, I’d found Naveed and pulled him aside. “If Prince Dev doesn’t explicitly use his Gift, I don’t know if Gideon will lift a finger.”
Even if he breaks other laws?Naveed signed. The Jinni were supposed to be such sticklers for the law.
Lips thinning, I shook my head. “Even then. Ithasto be related to his Gift. So. Think on ways to make that happen.” There was no way we’d let him go free of consequences for even one more day.
Grimly, Naveed had nodded, and now here we were, stepping out in confidence, putting on a show for Gideon and the others.
First and foremost, we needed to gain entrance to the castle. Prince Dev’s father held hearings for his people in the mornings, while the prince held parties that lasted all day. That’s where we would start.
The homes surrounding the castle were small, tucked away into the rocks, built in layers along the sides of the cliffs, but the castle itself stood on its own, separate and above, strong and spacious. It was a good hike, enough to make you out of breath on arrival.
Naveed stuck close as we ascended the path to the castle. “Any ideas?” I whispered to him.
He shook his head.
“Do you think it would count if the prince told a lie?” I hissed. “Or maybe if he spoke Jinn? Is that a crime?”
Though Naveed’s brows rose hopefully, a single thought from Gideon came through.No.
I sighed, shaking my head. “I guess not.” Naveed frowned at me, but I didn’t explain. Instead, I built up those walls in my mind, making them ten times thicker, so I could think of a better plan in peace.
Yet, by the time we reached the castle, where it rose, tall and imposing, with a guard on each side of the open drawbridge, I had yet to think of anything.
Standing in line to speak to the king, we watched for Prince Dev. He didn’t show. Likely, the man was still in bed with a hangover. Though we’d left early that morning, we still had to wait an hour in line, making our way slowly around the courtyard as each person had an audience with the king.
Finally, we reached the castle entrance, through the enormous double doors, entering the throne room. Though I encouraged Gideon multiple times to roam the castle and search for the prince while we waited, he insisted on staying with us. Everyone clammed up at the color of his skin. A shell of silence surrounded us, making my scheme much more difficult.
Once inside, Ryo slipped away from the group. I scanned the room full of petitioners and the tall sand-colored ceiling while I waited for his signal. When he appeared at the entrance, I nodded confirmation and he entered the hall.
“Naveed, you’re next.” My friend melted away from the group. Only moments later, he signaled from the door. Another success.
“Alright Daichi.” I waved him off.
Before the big man had gone far, Gideon spoke up, “What exactly is taking place here?” His voice carried in the quiet.
“Nothing.” I signaled for Daichi to wait, but he wasn’t paying attention. Too late to call him back now. I watched him make the grab and hoped no one else noticed.
As he pocketed the paper and turned back toward us, Gideon snapped his fingers and the corner of the document where it poked out of Daichi’s pocket disappeared.
It reappeared in Gideon’s hand. He held it up to study it.
“What did you...” Daichi searched his pockets and came up empty. “How’d you do that?”
“An invitation?” Gideon ignored him, looking at me over the bridge of his nose.
“Everybody needs one if we’re going to spend the day here,” I muttered. Getting caught was so rare. Twice in just a few days? Was this a new streak? “To be allowed in for tonight’s dinner.”
