Chapter 12
Nahlah
The drumbeats echoed the rapid thump of my heart, increasing in tempo the closer the zaffa got to the ballroom. Minutes ticked away, a silent countdown to the moment Ala would leave, and shortly after, it would be my turn.
While the money our mysterious benefactor was offering for the watch’s retrieval would change the lives of the Mirage and those we helped, nothing justified risking my family’s safety. The uneasy feeling I’d experienced since leaving was growing stronger with each passing moment. I”d tried to brush it off, thinking it was nerves—after all, we were planning to steal from the Sultan in his own home.
But deep down, I feared it was more than just normal apprehension. I’d never considered myself gifted with premonitions, yet the weight in the pit of my stomach and the suffocating grip of anxiety seemed to whisper dire warnings. If I had my way, I would gather everyone and urge them to run.
Suddenly, the corner musicians began playing, seamlessly blending their melodies with the approaching zaffa’s tune. Guards stationed around the perimeter started clapping, a ripple that engulfed the room as the doors swung open. The ululating intensified, blending with the chants of well-wishes of blessings, happiness, and health for the Princess.
Despite the weight of our mission pressing down on me, my curiosity was just as strong as everyone else’s. It was rumored that she was as beautiful as her brother was handsome, and as kind and generous as her mother had been. Yet, her secluded life within the palace walls shrouded her in complete mystery.
Our strategic choice of a table at the back of the room—to facilitate a discreet exit—limited my view of the amaria, elevated above the crowd by unseen bearers. Through the gauzy gold sandsilk curtains, however, I could see the vague outline of Princess Yasmeena within.
Sultan Ghazi’s ascent to his throne brought a rare, genuine smile to his face, a contrast to his practiced pleasantries. As he gestured, the guards stepped onto the dais and lifted the amaria into the air, and I felt a surge of surprise as I recognized Rami at the front.
It seemed odd that they would give a critical job to a newly appointed guard, but I couldn’t even pretend to grasp the eccentricities of the nobility. They positioned the palanquin before the thrones, Rami gracefully making way for Prince Haytham to come forward. While all eyes were on the Prince as he gripped the golden curtain, my attention was on Rami.
Tall and commanding, he appeared markedly different from the flustered man I’d encountered earlier. His dark hair fell forward, accentuating his striking features, his piercing blue eyes lined with kohl, lending him an intensity that was hard to ignore. While not as towering or burly as Alauddeen, he still possessed a broad and muscular frame. Clad in the formal guards” uniform—a knee-length gold kaftan and black sirwaal, a golden sword sheathed at his hip—he cut an impressive figure, even from across the room.
A deafening uproar jolted me from my observations, my attention snapping forward as Princess Yasmeena emerged. At first, only her arm—decorated with black henna stretching from her fingers to her elbow—was visible. Then she stepped into full view, and I found the rumors had scarcely done her justice.
She was resplendence personified, her petite form clad in a traditional takchita composed of layers cascading around her in varying shades of gold. The lighter inner robe was covered by a darker, more elaborate one, embellished with shimmering golden diamonds. A belt embedded with small onyx stones encircled her tiny waist, a flowing veil of gold sandsilk pinned among her midnight tresses, trailing behind her like a golden river. Her long, black hair cascaded down to her knees in a thick plait embellished with golden sandsilk lilies, onyx gems, and sparkling golden diamonds.
Though I smiled and clapped along with the others, my gaze wandered back to Rami, only to find him already watching me.
Sultan Ghazi raised his hands, commanding silence with an ease born of decades of rule. “It is my greatest honor,” his voice boomed across the ballroom, rich and clear, “to introduce my daughter, Princess Yasmeena of Nephria!” The announcement acted as a catalyst; the crowd erupting into a fresh wave of applause and cheers.
Yasmeena stepped forward, her blush deepening under the swell of attention. “I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to my father for hosting this magnificent celebration,” she began, her voice ringing out clear and sweet. “Second, to my brother Haytham, for his unwavering support and guidance,” she added with a fond glance in his direction, eliciting an indulgent smile from him. ”And last, to the palace staff, who have cared for me so diligently these last eighteen years.”
Pressing her right fist to her heart, her face radiated light as she smiled shyly. “I also wish to thank all of you for joining us. It’s an honor to welcome you to our home and share in this celebration together!” A momentary somberness crossed her features. “I would be remiss if I didn”t remember my beloved mother, a jewel of Nephria. She lived by the pillars of kindness and generosity, and with the support of my loved ones, I hope to be even a fraction of the wonder she was.”
The ovation that followed was thunderous as Prince Haytham stepped forward to embrace her, leading her to the throne with the black sandsilk lily. As she took her seat, Sultan Ghazi declared, “Princess Yasmeena welcomes your greetings and gifts!”
Before his words had fully settled, the enchanting tune of the ney drifted from the musicians’ corner, beckoning the eager guests forward. A moment later, the rhythmic beats of the drums seamlessly intertwined with the flute’s melody, and from beneath the archways, ten trios of dancers wearing black, red, and gold takchitas swept into the room.
A tall figure wearing a flowing black jubba stood out as he made his way to the forefront of the musicians. After adjusting his Linguistic Listener, he paused, his chest rising as he inhaled deeply. To my surprise, the rich timbre of his beautiful singing voice carried effortlessly across the room, sounding like he was standing right beside me.
Five beats into the song, the traditional shikhat dance began, accompanied by enthusiastic ululations and clapping from the onlookers. The dancers’ grace and skill were a marvel to behold, their movements fluid and precise as they maintained the hypnotic sway of their hips and bellies, smoothly navigating between guests and around the room without missing a beat.
“Are you ready?” I murmured to Ala, hoping he could hear me over the commotion. Receiving no answer, I turned, my frustration melting into amusement at the sight of him. He stood completely still, watching Princess Yasmeena with an intensity I’d never seen, his eyes wide as if he feared she might vanish if he blinked.
“Go claim a dance with her!” I nudged him teasingly.
He blinked rapidly, as if emerging from a trance, before scowling down at me. “I’m leaving now. Follow in exactly ten minutes,” he muttered, his ears reddening.
”You’d better hurry.” I gave a pointed look to where the line was getting longer. ”Soon she won’t have any dances left.”
”You’re insufferable,” he said, rolling his eyes. A moment later, his expression hardened. “Be safe.”
”You too,” I nodded, my mood sobering.
As he blended into the crowd, an idea took hold. I had ten minutes. If I hurried, I could secure Ala a dance with the Princess after all!
“It’s okay, Nahlah, you’re almost there,” I whispered, attempting to reassure myself. “You’ll be back home in your own clothes and in your own room in no time.” The hallways had been eerily quiet since I left the ballroom, and with each step I took, the knot of anxiety tightened. As I reached the top of the staircase leading to the Sultan”s chambers, I let out a deep breath. “Everything will go smoothly.”
I hastened down the hallway, turning the corner to find Ala and Kenzie standing before a massive set of golden double doors. Their grim expressions told me all I needed to know: the next phase of our mission wasn’t going smoothly. Rushing forward, I blurted out, “What happened?”
Ala glanced at me, his hand sweeping through his disheveled hair in frustration. “The wards are dismantled.”
“Kenz, you did it!” I exclaimed, assuming her power was behind this victory.
She shook her head, quickly dispelling that notion. “They were already down when we arrived.”
“What?” I clenched my hands tightly into fists. “What did Maha and Samer say?”
”They weren’t here,” Ala replied grimly.
I instinctively looked around, as if expecting to find them hiding behind the ornate potted plants lining the hallway. “But what about the third guard?”
“He wasn’t here either,” he confirmed.
“Where are they?” The absence of the guards was as baffling as it was alarming.
Kenzie shrugged, her red wings fluttering with nervous energy. “Maybe they were pulled for the Princess’s reveal and didn’t have time to warn us?”
“It’s a trap,” Ala declared, his angry gaze fixed on the doors.
“A trap?” I echoed. “But why? The Sultan took the watch from our client years ago. Why would he suspect anything now?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugged, his tone thick with frustration. “But as surely as I know my name, I know it’s a trap.”
“How can you be that sure?” Kenzie asked, and Ala let out a humorless chuckle.
“Well,” he gripped the handle, throwing the door open. “For starters, the door is unlocked.”
“What?” A wave of pure dread washed over me, causing my stomach to drop. “I don’t understand. There is no way he could’ve known about our plans.”
A heavy silence enveloped us before Kenzie asked softly, “What do we do?”
“We’re too close to go back now.” Ala inhaled deeply, his resolve firm. “So, we do what we do best,” he declared, stepping through the doorway.
“There isn’t even a basic security ward,” Kenzie murmured as we crossed over the threshold, her wings beating so rapidly that she was hovering slightly off the ground.
I gripped her hand, seeking to ground us both as my eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness. The room appeared to be a study, with lavish archways on either side of the massive desk leading to darkened corridors. The opulence wasn’t surprising, but the sheer volume of books on the Sultan’s sizeable shelves caught me off guard.
“I didn’t know he was an avid reader,” I whispered.
“He probably stole those, too,” Ala scoffed, his words drawing a fleeting smile from me and a quiet laugh from Kenzie.But the light moment quickly passed as his expression hardened. “We need to hurry. The guards could already be on their way.”
“How should we search?” Kenzie asked, nervously tugging her red hair over her shoulder.
Ala pointed to the nearest archway. “I’ll check there. Nahlah, take the other hallway. Kenzie, start here and look for anything out of place, especially up high.”
On silent feet, we split up, each absorbed in our thoughts and tasks.