Chapter 8
Nahlah
”Ysmeria, Nordavon, Lantaera, Coraliech, and Turigol,” Alauddeen recited, motioning toward the map on the tabletop. ”Those are the domains with rooms closest to ours.”
”Didn”t Ysmeria bring thirty armored guards with them?” I asked, leaning in closer.
”Stop moving!” Kenzie shrieked, and I froze instantly.
”Asif,” I apologized, glancing down and suffering the wrath of her fiercest glare.We’d gathered in the living area of our suite—with two master bedrooms, two bathing chambers, a small kitchenette, and a smaller room for Kenzie—to discuss our next steps before breakfast.
”Yes, and I”m surprised Sultan Ghazi didn”t see it as a threat,” Ala answered, covering an enormous yawn with the back of his left hand. I couldn”t help but feel a twinge of guilt at his obvious exhaustion. I had intended to excuse myself early last night to strategize with Ala and Kenzie for our mission tonight. Yet, I found myself swayed by Princess Luna”s earnest request to stay for the entertainment. The performers, experts in transmutation, had promised an enchanting spectacle, and they didn”t disappoint.
One performance, in particular, was etched in my memory. A large painting of a phoenix with its tail feathers fanned out majestically had burst from its frame, transforming before our eyes into an actual bird. Its flames danced in a mesmerizing display as it flew across the room, wringing exclamations of fear and delight from the onlookers. In a spectacular conclusion, it soared straight at Sultan Ghazi before gliding upward and bursting into a cascade of multicolored sparkles that reformed into the Nephrian flag.
The performers” ability to cast so vividly had me utterly captivated, and I lost track of time until their final, breathtaking finale. Fortunately, my siblings hadn”t neglected their duties like I had. After he’d excused himself last night, Ala”s agitation and restlessness had driven him to explore the palace.
After mapping out the placements of the different domains, and the location of the Sultan’s private chambers, he’d also appraised the guards near our suite and the dining hall, predicting where the increase in security would be when the Princess made her appearance.
“Did the others tell you which rooms we should search?” I asked him.
”Abu Amir slipped me a note earlier. The rooms of interest were the observatory, the gallery, and the library. Rasha searched the gallery last night, while Lina and Maya had maid duties in the library this past week and thoroughly searched both floors.”
“The library has two floors?” I gasped, my cheeks immediately flushing as Alauddeen raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.” His tone held a hint of amusement. “I should be able to search the observatory before breakfast is over if I start immediately.”
”Have we learned how to access the treasury in the Sultan’s chambers?” I asked, almost losing my balance as Kenzie yanked on my calf.
Ala rubbed his jaw, a clear sign of his frustration. ”Last night, when I approached the staircase leading to the Sultan”s chambers, a guard blocked my path and turned me away. I avoided suspicion by pretending to be lost and revealing myself as Prince Kavian. Luckily, he simply escorted me back to our suite.”
My frown deepened. “If there’s a guard just at the staircase, there’s no doubt more on the actual floor and maybe even in the room.”
“There are,” he nodded. ”But Samer and Maha are part of the guard rotation for tonight. There is one other guard, but they will handle him when we”re ready.”
“That’s great! This is our only opportunity, so the less we have to worry about, the better.”
“Absolutely.” He took a seat on the sedari’s red and gold cushion, rubbing his temples. “Kenz, did you learn anything?”
Kenzie transferred a pin from her mouth to her pincushion. “The welcome banquet gave me a chance to chat with a few of the other Mirage members. Unfortunately, we have bigger things to worry about.”
“The naga hounds?” I grimaced.
”No,” she shook her head, leaning down to pin another fold in my dress. ”The guests’ discomfort saw to their removal.”
“Isn’t that good?” Ala asked.
Kenzie sighed, her voice slightly muffled. “It”s good because we have one less obstacle to deal with. But the captain of the guards is an elemental fae. He has earth and water affinities and has placed several security measures around the royal family’s rooms.”
“Blast it all to the void!” Ala cursed under his breath.
“Why didn’t Amu Sinbad know about him?” I asked, panic squeezing my chest.
Kenzie shrugged. “I don’t think it’s commonly known.”
“How did you find out?” I asked, my mind racing. Everyone knew of the Sultan’s disdain for the fae. It made little sense that he would willingly have one in his employ, especially in such a prominent position. Could this fae captain be manipulating Sultan Ghazi? Was he the reason Nephria was falling into ruin?
”Tareq said that he heard a group of newly recruited guards discussing the brutal training sessions they”d been through the day before. One of them mentioned it wasn’t fair to have a fae in charge.”
Ala cursed again, rubbing his palms down his face. “Would you be able to detect his wards?”
”I can detect them, but unraveling them is another matter,” she said. Though Kenzie’s lineage granted her a fraction of the elemental power that full-fledged Earth fae possessed, her powers were specific to flora.
Ala exhaled sharply, pushing to his feet. “I’ll send a message to Amu Sinbad and see what he wants us to do.”
“Should you still search the observatory if we’re almost certain the pocket watch is in his chambers?”
“Yes,” he nodded. ”It’s better to be thorough than to overlook something. At the very least, we might find valuables we can sell or repurpose.” To emphasize his point, he leaned over and pocketed a solid gold letter opener from the table. As it turned out, the lanterns weren”t the only items made of precious metals and jewels. Gold, rubies, and onyx adorned our entire suite, from the doorhandles to the curtains. Even our tea set had embellishments—the berrad handle and spout were lined with gold, and the cups sparkled with rubies.
Kenzie sat back up, quickly threading a new needle. ”It shouldn”t be too busy, as everyone is preparing for breakfast.”
“I will leave right now,” Ala grasped his cloak from the back of the sedari, draping it over his shoulders. ”I suppose you’ll be heading to the library, Nahlah? Just in case?” he teased, drawing a laugh from Kenzie; my love for stories was no secret.
“Yes!” I exclaimed wholeheartedly. Regardless of what the Sultan had in store for us, I couldn’t go back to the Mirage without seeing the palace’s library. It contained thousands upon thousands of books, scrolls, maps, and tomes from each domain across the eight realms, and I doubted I would ever have another chance to visit it.
Ala shook his head in amusement. “Do you two have your sentinel bands?”
“Yep!” Kenzie lifted her arm into the air, and I followed suit, even though the bands were invisible.
“Good.” He strode across the room, pausing with his hand on the doorknob. ”Keep them on at all times and be cautious. I”ll see you later.”
”Be safe!” Kenzie called after him. As the door swung shut, she clapped her hands together in delight. ”Ya salaam!” she exclaimed. “Nahlah, you look stunning!”
I twirled, the midnight blue chiffon skirt swirling gracefully around my ankles. The bodice, in the same deep hue, had an intricate silver filigree along its modest neckline, revealing just a hint of collarbone. Long, sheer silver sleeves flowed past my wrists, with the Sahrandian flag pinned to my left shoulder. On my right, I wore crests symbolizing water and air.
“It’s gorgeous, Kenz. Shukran!” I smiled, appreciating the practicality of my ensemble—there was no ridiculous train to trip over today!
”Please join us?” Princess Luna asked as we exited the dining hall. During another unnecessarily lavish meal, the Veneterran princesses kept me company, their joyful dispositions offering a welcome distraction. I”d expected to meet all eleven of Luna”s sisters, yet upon approaching their table, only two were present. When I asked if the others would be joining us, they”d exchanged not-so-subtle glances before Valentina responded that, unfortunately, the rest of their sisters couldn”t make the trip.
“Yes, please come with us!” Valentina pleaded. The eldest of the three of them, she was wearing an emerald silk dress that hugged her body with precision. Her complexion—a beautiful rich brown—glowed radiantly, her black hair braided into a crown atop her head. Sofia also wore emerald, but her dress was simple and unadorned, a plain white sash tied at her waist. Her fiery red curls tumbled in thick waves down to her hips, her fair skin spattered with freckles.
During breakfast, Sultan Ghazi announced that a variety of activities would be available for our enjoyment. While Sofia was eager to join the archery competition, Valentina planned to attend a course on Nephrian cuisine, and Luna a floral arranging workshop. Under different circumstances, I would’ve happily accompanied them. But with our plan to search for the watch during the festivities tonight and our departure scheduled for tomorrow, there was no other opportunity for me to see the library.
”I’d never forgive myself if I left the palace without exploring the library,” I replied with genuine regret.
“I understand,” Luna smiled. “Let’s meet for lunch?”
“I would love to!”
“I don’t want to be late!” Sofia chimed in, bouncing up and down in excitement. “Enjoy the library, Princess Emara!”
“Thank you,” I replied with a forced smile, trying not to flinch at the Sahrandian princess’s name. “Enjoy your activities!”
“Shukran,” I addressed the guard, watching anxiously as he closed the door behind me. If a roomful of books required a sentinel, that meant the Sultan’s chambers would be under even more formidable protection. The thought of what lay in store for us tonight sent a ripple of anxiety through me, the urge to flee overwhelming.
But as I turned around, every concern about our mission and the consequences of failure evaporated, replaced by complete awe. I’d heard rumors about the palace’s grand library, started by Sultan Fouad more than a century ago. It had grown over the years as each successive sultan contributed to its expansion—that is, except for our current ruler, who showed little interest in anything beyond pursuing treasure.
I had dreamed of visiting it for years, yet nothing could’ve prepared me for its breathtaking elegance. Spanning two stories connected by four spiraling staircases, the ceiling stretched up, up, up, sunlight pouring through the towering arched windows. It bathed the room in a gentle, golden glow, accentuating the intricate patterns of red, gold, and black zellige tile work adorning the walls.
Beautifully woven rugs lay scattered across the marble floors, with tables and chairs strategically placed for study or reflection. Long sedaris, adorned with plush cushions and comfortable pillows, furnished the room, while Sultan Ghazi’s favored ruby-encrusted golden lanterns were suspended from every corner.
Circling the perimeter of the lower level, the sheer volume of books filled me with an overwhelming sense of excitement. It was every storyteller’s dream come true! Shelves upon shelves and rows upon rows—numbers too vast to comprehend—stretched as far as I could see. Unfortunately, the time constraints didn’t give me a lot of time. If we didn’t need to search the Sultan’s chambers during the festivities, I’d happily spend every remaining moment lost in here!
Clambering up the staircase to survey the second floor, the vantage point offered a panoramic view that emphasized the library’s size and splendor. I spun in a circle, contemplating where to start, when a directory against the far wall caught my eye. Grasping my skirt, I dashed toward it, eagerly scanning for familiar authors and the genres I loved. From a hidden pocket inside my dress—I was a firm believer that all clothing should have pockets—I retrieved a small notepad and pen, jotting down the sections housing the books that caught my interest.
Four pages later, I dashed back down the staircase. After searching the bottom three shelves in the first row, I gripped the rungs of the golden ladder, feeling relieved that Kenzie hadn’t forced me into a monstrous train that would make climbing impossible.
I continued my search for the next hour, only pausing when I’d filled three baskets. Conveniently installed on the side of each shelf, they moved automatically, allowing me to place books in them without repeatedly climbing up and down. Among my newly discovered titles were Little Wizards by Louisa May Witchcott, The Fellowship of the Ring of Power by J.R.R. Trollkin, Lord of the Flies and Fae by William Goldinglimmer, and Great Expellations by Charles Dickenshade.
Knowing I should return to our suite to prepare for lunch, I grasped the basket handles instead, heading toward the most comfortable looking chair. The thought of confronting the Sultan’s guards, the fae captain’s wards, and any other traps made my stomach churn. Above all, I feared I would make a mistake that would cause my family suffering.
Hands shaking, I picked up Sense and Sensible Sirens by Jane Austenova, deciding that I could spare a few moments and hopefully let Elinora and Marimyst Duskwood soothe my nerves.