This Woven Kingdom(This Woven Kingdom #1)(106)

She didn’t care if he was an ally of Hazan’s. How could she now believe anything he said? He’d proven both cruel and capricious, and she would never again le—

Someone took her hand and Alizeh spun, startled, to discover the very same blue-eyed, capricious stranger. She stared at their clasped hands, then at his face, wondering whether she imagined the terror that flitted in and out of his eyes.

“Where are you going?” He sounded different; the antithesis of the impassive young man she’d first met. “You don’t intend to run away, do you?”

Alizeh was so surprised by the fear in his eyes that she laughed. “No, I’m not running away, you ridiculous creature. I’m searching for Miss Huda. She is doubtless terrified somewhere and unable to call for help—because of what you did to her.”

Alizeh tugged her hand free from his and pushed on through the crowd, grateful for the protections offered her by the gown—and then frowned, biting her lip as she remembered who’d given her the garment.

He’d not lied to her about this, at least. The dress really was a miracle.

People seemed to pass by her as if she did not exist, their gazes never quite touching her face. It was unsettling to think so many strangers did not wish her well, but it was a comfort, too, not to worry about her eyes or her snoda. There was no one here to spit at her, no one to shove her out of the way, no one to order her to scrub feces out of porous stonework.

Still, Alizeh was made uneasy by the knowledge that she owed this peculiar stranger any thanks for her safety, for everything about him seemed suddenly traitorous. If he had the ability to render Miss Huda mute, what might he do to Alizeh if she crossed him? In fact, it was possible the dress and shoes were a trap. What if they’d been bewitched to carry her somewhere unsafe? What if she followed her feet to her own demise? Perhaps she should discard the gown—or destroy it. But then what about the shoes? What would she wear instead?

How would she escape?

“I have undone it,” the stranger called, trailing close behind.

Alizeh started, turned back. “You’ve undone what?”

“The other girl. The loud one,” he said. “She will be able to speak again.” He made no effort to lower his voice even as he closed the gap between them, evincing no apparent worry for being overheard.

It made Alizeh wonder whether he carried magical protections on his own garments, too.

“You’ve undone it, just like that?” Alizeh said, staring at him as he approached. His was a disconcertingly fickle character.

“Yes,” he said. Up close, his eyes were a truly shocking shade of blue, all the more so under the refracted light of so many chandeliers. “In exchange, I ask for your word that you will not run away, no matter what happens.”

“My word?” she said, surprised. “But why are you so worried I might try to run away?”

“Because this night will be difficult. I was sent here to collect you, which is my primary goal, but while I’m here I intend to complete certain tasks, in return for which I will be absolved of some rather large debts.” A pause. “Do you frighten easily?”

Alizeh bristled at this. “You insult me even by asking the question.”

“Good. Then I ask for your word.”

“You will not have it.”

His eyes narrowed. “I beg your pardon?”

“I will only grant such a request if you first swear you won’t harm her.”

“Who? The loud girl?”

“Swear you won’t hurt her, or use magic on her—”

“Oh, come now, you ask for too much.”

“You want my word I will not run away?” Alizeh said. “Well, I need to be able to trust you. Give me your word that you will not harm her. That is my condition.”

“Very well,” he said bitterly. “But I must warn you—if you go back on your promise, there will be repercussions.”

“What kinds of repercussions?”

“I will not be nice to you.”

Alizeh laughed. “Do you mean to imply that you are being nice to me now?”

“I will come find you at half past the hour,” he said, scowling. “I must escort you to our transport before midnight, else our ride will fall asleep, and getting things running again will cost us a great deal of time.”

“Our ride will fall asleep? Don’t you mean the driver?”

He ignored this. “Do fetch the girl, and quickly, for I fear she will be difficult to corral.”

Alizeh frowned. “And what will you be doing?”

“As I mentioned, I’ve a bit of business to settle. It shouldn’t take long.”

“A bit of business?” Alizeh felt a flutter of nerves at that. “With Hazan, you mean?”

The stranger blinked. “Hazan?”

“Yes—I have a great many questions for him. Where is he now, do you know? Will he make it to the ball?”

The stranger’s eyes widened, then narrowed, not unlike the focus on a telescope. “I don’t know.”

“Oh.” Alizeh bit her lip. “Well, will y—”

“For now, just fix upon finding that girl. If you need help getting anywhere, your shoes will deliver you where you need to go.”

“If that’s true, why must you be the one to take me to my transport?”