Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands, #2)(95)

‘Everybody survived that,’ I said defensively. Rahim was looking at me, an uneasy look on his face.

‘Welcome to the Rebellion.’ Shazad had reached us; she greeted Rahim with a devastating smile. ‘We make do with what we can get. Now, are you going to give us an army or not?’

*

We found Lord Bilal, Emir of Iliaz, leaning against one of the grotesque sculptures, eyes hooded. He was young, but he looked like he was already exhausted by life, or maybe by his own importance. It didn’t seem smart to tell him that out loud when we were trying to form an alliance. I probably ought to let Shazad talk.

‘So.’ Lord Bilal looked me over. ‘You’re the blue-eyed rebel everyone is talking about.’ He glanced at Shazad. ‘And you must be the face of the operation. You’re too pretty to be anything else.’ I watched my friend bite down on her annoyance.

‘And you’re the emir looking to turn rebel.’ She wore a bright smile the whole time and flapped her hands airily. Looking at her you’d think she was just a beautiful girl flirting with a man. Not a rebel planning a full-scale war. I realised why he’d chosen to wait for us here, in this corner of the garden. The music that drifted through the walls covered any conversation around us. I could only guess it covered our words, too. Still, Shazad spoke quietly.

‘I’m my father’s son.’ Lord Bilal shrugged one elaborately tasselled shoulder lazily. I thought I caught what looked like a sceptical eyeroll from Rahim. But when I looked at him head on, he was ever the soldier. Rahim had served under Lord Bilal’s father first. He’d know better than anyone if the son lived up to the father. ‘My father had no loyalty to the throne. He never forgave Sultan Oman for turning Miraji over to foreign hands. He used to go on and on about how Iliaz is the most powerful county in Miraji, how the rest of the country depended on us. He’d tell you until your ears bled how Iliaz didn’t need the rest of Miraji. It could survive as an independent nation.’

‘Are you saying you want your own country in exchange for your army?’ That sure wasn’t asking for much.

‘Are you in a position to negotiate that with me?’

Abducting Delila without permission was one thing. Giving away part of Ahmed’s country without his permission, that wasn’t something even Shazad and I could do. ‘No,’ Shazad said finally. ‘Even I’m not pretty enough for that.’ I snorted under my breath. She went to elbow me in the side, almost forgetting where we were, but she caught herself before she did, turning it into a gesture rearranging her sleeve. ‘But we can get you to Ahmed.’ Shazad paused pointedly. ‘Provided you can give me some numbers that will impress me.’

Lord Bilal raised an eyebrow at Rahim. His commander stepped in easily. ‘There are three thousand men garrisoned at Iliaz. Twice that number retired in the province who can be called upon.’

‘And you have enough weapons to arm them all?’ Shazad disguised the tactical question with a careful laugh, touching Rahim’s arm as if he’d just said something hilariously funny.

‘Amani.’ Imin, in the guise of a servant, appeared again at our side with an elaborate bow. ‘The Sultan is headed this way.’

I traded a glance with Shazad. ‘Go,’ she said. ‘I’ve got this.’

My stomach was too tied in knots to eat or drink as I left them. I made a show of inspecting the horrible statues that surrounded the garden to keep from glancing over my shoulder every few moments at Shazad and Lord Bilal in negotiations, Rahim in between them. The statues’ bronze faces reminded me of Noorsham. Only his bronze mask had been smooth and featureless. These were wretched reminders of what the Sultan could do to us if he caught us in our treason before we could escape.

‘Announcing’ – the voice rang out through the courtyard again – ‘Prince Bao of the Glorious Empire of Xicha.’

I felt that tug of something that reminded me of Jin.

A small crowd of Xichian men stood at the top of the stairs. They were dressed in bright clothes that looked as foreign as anything I’d ever seen the Gallan wear, but entirely different at the same time. I’d seen the occasional Xichian dress on Delila, but there wasn’t a single woman among them.

A green-and-blue robe was draped over the narrow frame of the man at the head of the party. The six men around him were of similar builds. They reminded me of Mahdi and the rest of Ahmed’s scholarly set.

Except for one figure at the back. He wasn’t taller, but his shoulders were broader than those of the scholarly-looking men that surrounded him, and he held himself like he was ready for a fight.

My mouth went dry.

Instead of snapping, the string tugged harder. I took a step forward without meaning to, trying to get a closer look. Through the crowd, among the mass of people, his face swung straight towards me. Like we were tied together by some invisible bond. Like we were the needles of the paired compasses.

Jin’s eyes found mine. I was wrong. He didn’t have his father’s smile. Because that troublemaker curve to his mouth was all ours.





Chapter 36

There was an entire garden between us and we were on enemy ground. One mistake, one false move could cost the whole Rebellion. And still it took everything in me to keep my feet grounded. Not to obey that tug.

It was more painful than any order the Sultan had ever given me.