Chapter 5
Nahlah
”How do you expect me to travel in this?” I demanded, trying to liberate myself from the train tangling around my legs. Kenzie, Ala, and I were waiting outside the gates of the Mirage for Amu Sinbad to send us off, and I was getting increasingly irritated by the second.
”Oh, please, stop your grumbling!” Kenzie grumbled. ”Royalty prioritize style over comfort! Plus, you need to make a statement upon your arrival.”
”It’s absurd,” I grumbled back. ”I”m not suited for this!” Since the moment she”d burst into our room to tackle my hair into submission, I hadn”t stopped complaining about the impracticality of my ensemble. I just couldn”t understand why such elaborate preparations were necessary for travel. According to Kenzie and Ummi, however, it was the burden of the elite—beauty over practicality.
”Should we swap roles, then?” she teased.
My frustration paused at her suggestion, giving way to a fleeting moment of excitement. ”Yes!” I whirled around with a gasp. ”What a wonderful idea! You know more about decorum, etiquette, and rules. It makes a lot more sense for me to be the lady”s maid!” When she simply stared at me in amusement, I frowned. ”What?”
”It wouldn”t work.”
”And why in the realms not?”
”Because,” she said, unfurling her beautiful, red wings, ”Princess Emara isn”t fae.”
A flush of embarrassment crept over my cheeks. ”Oh. Right.”
Alauddeen, whose scowl perfectly matched mine, folded his muscled arms across his chest with a grumble. ”You’re not the only one expected to travel while wearing outrageous clothing.”
“At least your outfit allows movement!” I glanced over at him, once again surprised by how much the royal look suited him. The fabric of his tunic clung to him, accentuating his powerful build without sacrificing the elegance expected of a prince. The silver embellishments embroidered onto the dark blue fabric danced and flickered, subtly acknowledging Prince Kavian’s elemental affinities.
His sirwaal were a matching blue—the cut allowing him to move while still maintaining a sleek silhouette. Stitched to his breast pocket was the Sahrandian flag, with the crests for fire and air on the right side of his raised collar. His hair, neatly styled away from his face, revealed the sharp angles of his cheekbones and the determined set of his jaw, the kohl he wore enhancing his dark brown eyes.
“You look very handsome,” I stated, the admiring looks from the young women nearby—their giggles barely contained—only confirming what was clear: Ala looked every inch like a Sahrandian crown prince.
”I don’t want to be the center of attention,” he muttered, the tips of his ears reddening.
“Neither do I, but we don’t have a choice,” I grumbled, resisting the urge to rip out the two dozen pins Kenzie had used to betray my scalp and secure my massive updo in place.
“I know I”m late, asif! I needed to finish something!” Amu Sinbad called as he rounded the corner, a cat-sized Irfan draped across his shoulders. “Let’s hurry. I want you to be on your way before sunset.”
While the portal we used daily whisked us instantly from the Mirage to the city, we needed to arrive as the Sahrandian royals would. As we exited the gates, a sleek, dark blue carriage came into view, the Sahrandian flag painted directly onto its glossy surface, sparkling in the setting sun. Silver accents traced the carriage”s contours, the large, swirling wheels adorned with the same lustrous sheen. The majesty of our transportation, however, couldn”t distract from the horses themselves, the Ardeelian Runners. Tareq, our stable master and driver for this journey, had bedecked them with exquisite silver harnesses that mirrored the carriage”s elegant detailing.
Once again, I marveled at the extent of Amu Sinbad’s influence. Just one of these magnificent creatures—renowned for their exceptional speed and agility—should have been impossible to find. Yet before us stood four horses that were the pride of Sahrandia, bred exclusively within the unforgiving Ardeelian mountain range.
“Whenever opportunity arises, you must search for the watch. Though we are almost certain it”s in the Sultan’s private treasury, there are a few other rooms that have been on our radar. Kenzie and Tareq will only be able to search areas open to the staff,” he motioned between Alauddeen and me. “That leaves the treasury for you two.”
“I don’t see how we can access it when his own court doesn’t even know it exists,” Ala muttered, voicing my fears.
“The others are looking into how difficult it might be to gain entry,” Amu Sinbad said, rubbing a hand over his jaw—the only tell that he wasn’t feeling as confident as he looked. “If you haven’t found a way in by tomorrow, we”ll send Irfan.”
A wispy purr signaled the shadow panther’s shift, and as his weight settled onto me a moment later, I absently stroked his paw.
“Why don’t we send him in from the start?” Kenzie asked. “It would be easier.”
“It would, but there are risks, especially because of the naga hounds.” The four of us winced at the mention of Sultan Ghazi’s beasts. Though they resembled their Canidae cousins, their terrifying, sinuous bodies and needle-like fangs set them apart. With fierce temperaments and an intense dislike for other animals, they were highly valued as guard creatures—and highly dangerous to our shadow panther.
“Let’s leave that plan for last,” I said, turning to kiss Irfan’s kitten face. He gave a squeaky mew in response, rubbing against my cheek. Another remarkable power he held was the ability to shapeshift into any member of the Felidae family, whether it was a tiny cat or a massive griffin.
“The Mirage members at the palace will communicate any new updates to you. Otherwise, keep interactions to a minimum,” Amu Sinbad continued. “If we’re at risk of being discovered, use these.” From his jellaba pocket, he produced a black pouch with four thin leather bands inside, passing them around.
“What are they?” Tareq asked curiously.
”My newest invention! They”re called sentinel bands. If there”s danger, just touch the band and project your thoughts. The other Mirage members will receive the signal.”
“Ya salaam,” Alauddeen murmured, staring at his empty wrist. “Where did it go?”
”As an added security measure, they disappear once you put them on,” Amu explained. As my band vanished against my skin, I felt a swell of pride at his ingenuity. He was always creating new ways to improve our realm and help others.
”They can only be used once before I need to recharge them, so use them wisely,” he advised. ”Now, off you go!” He clapped Ala and Tareq on the back before stepping forward to embrace Kenzie. As he hugged me next, Irfan nuzzled my cheek affectionately before fading from sight and reappearing on his shoulders a second later.
”Besslama, my children! May your journey be smooth!” he called as Ala helped Kenzie and me into the carriage, climbing in behind us and closing the door with a resounding thud. Settling onto the plush silver seat, I glanced out the rear window, my stomach churning with nerves. As the horses started forward and we crossed through the wards, Amu Sinbad and Irfan”s figures blurred before vanishing altogether.
“What is Anaseer Academy, and which province is it located in?”
Alauddeen sighed. “Nahlah—”
I barreled ahead, undeterred by his thinning patience. “And what are the elemental trials?”
His scowl deepened. “This isn’t amusing.”
“I’m not trying to be amusing, Ala.”
“Nahlah, this celebration is for Princess Yasmeena. I promise, no one will quiz us on the domain”s academies or ask to see the traditional Sahrandian wedding dance!”
“You don’t know who we’re going to meet!” I protested, ignoring the validity of his words. “I’d rather not attend your funeral over a forgotten fact!”
“Alright,” he conceded. “Just... breathe, please.”
Chastened, I murmured an apology, “Asif.”
“It’ll be okay,” Kenzie said reassuringly, her fingers a blur as she embroidered a handkerchief. “We’ll find the watch and be back in time for Ummi’s Friday couscous.”
“I hope so,” I smiled tightly, the anxiety in my chest refusing to relent. Ever since we”d left, an increasing sense of dread had weighed on me, worsening with each passing minute.
“Anaseer Academy is in the Ardeelian mountainous frontier,” Alauddeen, bless his soul, began. “It”s a university for those who wish to gain an elemental affinity or hone ones they already have. As for the elemental trials, only those who have mastered at least two elements can enter, as it is a grueling competition with no promise of survival. Most join it for the chance to forge a Guardian bond with beings like Elemental Dragons, Earth Golems, Phoenix Emberlings, or Zephyr Serpents—creatures of legend and power.”
I nodded, feeling a thread of my tension unravel. “Good, I’m glad you’re prepared.”
“I wish we were more prepared for actually finding the watch.” Ala leaned back with a sigh. “I don’t see how we can get into this hidden treasure room.”
“I wish I had an answer to that,” I mumbled, nervously twisting my new bracelet around my wrist.
“We”ll have to trust that Amu knows what he is doing, and that those in the palace will help us,” Kenzie replied matter-of-factly. “Other than searching, the rest is out of our control, and there is no sense in worrying about it.”
I bit my lip against an anxiety-driven retort. It wasn’t fair for me to lash out at my siblings, especially since they were also facing the same peril I was. “I hope they have an update for us when we arrive. It isn’t like we can ask for directions.”
”Imagine if we did!” Kenzie giggled. ”It would be much easier if we could say, ”excuse me, Sultan Ghazi, would you direct us to your hidden treasure room, please?”” Her imitation of the royalty’s North Nephrian accent drew a brief laugh from both Alauddeen and me, momentarily easing the strain.
“We need to be ready for anything,” Ala stated as the mood quickly sobered again. “Guards, magic seals, traps, nightmare hounds. Sultan Ghazi is paranoid on a normal day. I hate to think what will happen when his home is filled with strangers.”
As we crossed through the palace’s enormous gates, I clasped my trembling hands together. The significance of this moment weighed heavily upon me; any slip—however minor—could spell disaster.
Kenzie reached out, squeezing my hand. “Don’t worry, Nahlah. We’re in this together.”
I nodded, returning the gesture before blowing out a sharp breath. My heart leapt into my throat as the door opened abruptly, revealing a footman dressed in Nephria”s colors. He extended his gloved hand, helping me descend from the carriage with as much grace as my ridiculous outfit allowed.
I didn’t think my anxiety could get any worse until he began speaking in flawless Sahrani. The language was beautiful and lilting, but utterly foreign to my ears. We’d considered the possibility that we might encounter someone who spoke the language. However, our prior knowledge of Sultan Ghazi’s innovative devices—ear cuffs designed to transcend language barriers—led us to believe that communication would flow effortlessly.
To my relief, Alauddeen raised his hand in a polite gesture of interruption. “Your Sultan honors us with an invitation to his home. We wish to honor him by speaking in his language.”
The footman bowed, his demeanor warming as he switched to Nephrian. “You honor us with your presence, Prince Kavian and Princess Emara. Please,” he gestured to the staircase. “At the top, the guards will take your names. The Sultan”s welcome dinner will begin shortly.”
“Shukran,” Alauddeen replied, taking my arm. As we ascended the grand staircase, my heart pounded furiously against my ribs, threatening to burst from the sheer intensity of the situation.
The palace loomed before us, an architectural marvel that drew my gaze up, up, up, until my neck ached. Its towering spires reached for the heavens, each crowned with golden domes that gleamed under the starlit sky. Motifs of red, black, and gold zellige tile work adorned the pristine white walls. In a neat row, arched windows with stained glass depicted scenes of the Marasynth desert, casting colorful reflections on the black marble floor below. Balconies jutted out at varying heights, draped with rich, flowing silks that fluttered gently in the evening breeze.
“It’s incredible,” I whispered, trusting Ala to keep me sure-footed on the marble stairs as I stared around in awe.
“It’s a waste. His people are dying in the streets, and he lights his palace with lanterns made of gold and precious jewels?” he scoffed in disgust, motioning toward the golden, ruby-encrusted lanterns lining the path.
“I can’t imagine what the inside looks like,” I murmured, feeling a growing sense of discomfort.
Alauddeen shook his head, his expression somber. ”It will be beyond our imagination with its opulent waste.”