Chapter 19
On the morning of the Promise Exchange, Maryam helped Aisha prepare for the ceremony while her sisters went to get themselves ready.
‘Here,’ Maryam said, placing a cup of tea in front of her.
Aisha picked it up and took a grateful sip. ‘Thank you.’
Maryam went to fetch the necklace the queen had sent for Aisha to wear and brought it over to her. It was a family heirloom Farrah had worn at her own Promise Exchange.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Aisha said, staring at it. ‘I’m surprised she trusts me with it.’
The faintest smile came and went on Maryam’s face.
‘Can you help me with the clasp?’ Aisha asked.
‘Yes.’
Aisha watched in the mirror as the attendant drew it around her neck, concentrating hard on the overly complicated clasp. It was more difficult than either of them was expecting. Maryam’s hand came to rest on her neck as she fiddled.
A familiar sensation came over Aisha, her tongue beginning to tingle. The room faded. She saw Maryam standing somewhere dimly lit, her posture rigid, eyes glazed and unfocused, mouth slack. The air around her was alive with some invisible energy, like she was… seeing.
The image broke as quickly as it came, and Aisha jolted, then grabbed the edge of the dressing table for balance as the room rushed back into view. When she looked into the mirror, her eyes met Maryam’s. The attendant slowly lowered her hands and asked, ‘What did you see?’
Aisha didn’t reply. She was too confused and afraid.
‘You had a vision, did you not?’
A tear slipped down Aisha’s cheek. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
Maryam stepped closer, and Aisha tensed up. The attendant lifted the necklace to show that she only intended to put it on. Aisha forcibly relaxed her shoulders.
‘I know a vision when I see one,’ Maryam said quietly. ‘How is the nausea?’
Aisha remained wary. It’s a trap. The queen probably set it for her. And now she was torn between feigning ignorance and blurting out her every truth to someone who might actually understand.
With the clasp finally secure, Maryam moved away. ‘You can trust me,’ she said. ‘And I believe I can trust you.’
Aisha felt her walls weaken. She turned on the stool to face her. ‘I saw you.’ She watched her reaction carefully, but Maryam didn’t seem alarmed by that. ‘Eyes glazed over. Gone from your own body. You see things too.’
Maryam nodded. ‘Yes.’ She folded her hands together. ‘I saw you before I ever met you. I knew what you would become before you ever set foot in Gruisea.’ A faint smile came and went. ‘I saw your feelings for the prince before the two of you had even met.’
It took Aisha a moment to respond. ‘Why didn’t you say something sooner?’
‘You know why.’ Her tone was kind. ‘This conversation alone carries great risk. We must be careful who we trust.’
‘I can’t believe we have the same gift.’
‘The Sight,’ Maryam said.
Aisha nodded slowly. ‘I won’t tell anyone. Not even my sisters. I swear it before the gods.’
Maryam smiled briefly. ‘Well, you already know I will not tell anyone.’ She drew a breath. ‘Your sisters will be by to collect you shortly. Do you want something for the nausea?’
‘You saw them coming?’
Maryam shook her head. ‘No, Your Highness. You told me the plan last night.’
Aisha’s cheeks heated. ‘Of course.’
There was a knock at the door.
‘We can speak later,’ Maryam said.
‘All right.’ When Maryam went to open the door, Aisha said, ‘The nausea always passes.’
Maryam looked back at her. ‘Yes, it does.’
In walked Lilah and Safiya, clearly done waiting.
‘Didn’t you hear us knocking?’ Safiya asked, looking between the two of them.
Maryam bowed her head. ‘Apologies, Your Highness. We had some trouble with a clasp.’
Safiya turned her attention to the piece of jewellery around Aisha’s neck. ‘Oh, it’s gorgeous.’
Aisha reached up to touch it. ‘It belongs to the queen.’
Safiya screwed up her face. ‘At second glance, I can definitely see some flaws in the gem’s setting.’
‘No, you can’t,’ Lilah laughed, walking over to Aisha. ‘You look so beautiful. I’ve no idea how you’ll top this on your wedding day.’
The gown was made of light blue silk embroidered with silver thread that looked like water when it moved. It had short fitted sleeves and a high neckline.
‘Yes, very nice,’ Safiya said, waving Aisha towards the door.
‘You have the token?’ Aisha asked.
Safiya nodded. ‘Yes. We’re good to go.’
‘I hope the exchange goes well, Your Highness,’ Maryam said, holding out a pair of light blue gloves. ‘I shall take good care of Mira until you return.’
Aisha took them from her and slipped them on. ‘Thank you.’ She glanced in the direction of the sleeping cub before following her sisters.
The trio made their way through the corridors of Azura, Aisha still feeling slightly sick from the vision. She made a mental note to ask Maryam what symptoms she got.
The exchange was to take place in the Temple of Salithar at the southern end of the castle grounds.
Salithar was the god of marriage, union, and reconciliation.
A figure with two faces was carved into the door.
When they entered, Aisha found a small gathering of nobles who had come to bear witness.
The king and queen were seated at one end, and Tariq waited beside them.
His expression softened when he caught sight of her, and he watched her make her way over.
‘Your Majesties. Your Highness,’ Aisha said when she reached them.
The king extended his hand to her. She minimised contact as she kissed it, not wanting to risk a vision.
‘You are late,’ Farrah said, even though she wasn’t. She nodded towards Aisha’s hands. ‘You will need to remove the gloves for the ceremony.’
She had been afraid of that.
Farrah gestured to Jamil, and the sectarian made his way over. Before he reached them, Tariq leaned in and whispered, ‘After obeisance. There should be no more contact after that.’
She nodded.
There was more kissing of hands and polite reverences, then Lilah swooped in to take the gloves before the ceremony began.
Tariq must have noticed the slight tremble in Aisha’s hands, because he leaned in again. ‘It will be over soon enough.’
Jamil cleared his throat, and the room fell silent.
‘We are gathered here today to witness the promises exchanged between Prince Tariq of Gruisea and Princess Aisha of Avanid.’ He bowed his head and said a prayer: ‘Salithar, guide their steps where shadows gather. Let truth be their compass and mercy their strength. May your light guard their hearts and minds.’
He then placed a small bowl of water, with a sprig of fresh rosemary in it, at the altar. A humble offering to Salithar.
Turning back to Tariq, he said, ‘Prince Tariq, what is the promise you ask of your future wife?’
Kaidon stepped forwards, handing Tariq a small silver token, engraved with delicate script.
The prince focused on the words. ‘I want you to promise to always put the collective needs of our people before our individual needs.’ He looked in her eyes, adding, ‘The people’s wellbeing and safety must always come before our own comfort. ’
It was selfless and entirely appropriate.
Every queen should prioritise the wellbeing of her people.
So when he held the token out to her, like a question, she lowered her head so that he could put it on.
Her fingers curled around the token as she looked up at him, feeling the roughness of the engraved words. ‘I swear to uphold this promise.’
Applause broke out around them. Aisha snuck a glance at the queen, who was clapping so lightly that she doubted the action was producing any noise.
Jamil nodded approvingly, then turned to face Aisha. ‘Now it is your turn, Princess. What is the promise you ask of your future husband today?’
Safiya stepped forwards to hand her the token. Aisha proceeded to read from it. ‘I want you to promise to protect my kingdom as you would your own. Promise to do everything in your power to keep it safe from external threats for as long I’m at your side, serving the people of Gruisea.’
There was a collective murmur across the room. Aisha didn’t dare look at the king or queen now. She knew it was a big ask, but it was also the reason she had agreed to stay.
Tariq stared at her for a long moment—so long that Aisha thought he might not accept it. But then he bent so that she could slip it over his head, adjusting it as he straightened. ‘I swear to uphold this promise.’
And it was clear on his face that he meant it.
Applause broke out again, and Aisha looked over at her sisters. Lilah was wiping the corner of her eye while Safiya stared off in another direction—her usual tactic for hiding emotion.
When the clapping died, Jamil clasped his hands together, looking between them. ‘The tokens will rest against your hearts for as long as the promise remains true. May your words, spoken before Salithar and the witnesses here today, hold fast.’
More applause.
‘We’re done,’ Tariq whispered. ‘And no kiss, remember?’
She held back a smile.
The pair made their way to the temple doors. They were about to step outside when a hand caught Aisha’s elbow. She whipped her head around and found Jamil.
‘My apologies, Princess,’ he said. ‘I wondered if you might—’
The vision hit her before he’d finished his sentence. She saw Jamil through a haze of smoke. His eyes burned with purpose—
She jolted back to the room to find Tariq now standing between her and the sectarian, her weight against him. Oh no.
‘I’m afraid your question will need to wait, Your Holiness,’ Tariq said while simultaneously ushering Aisha out of the temple. ‘The princess woke with a bad headache, and it appears to have worsened.’
Lilah and Safiya caught up to them once they were outside.
‘What happened?’ Lilah asked, peering into Aisha’s face. ‘Goodness.’
‘Tariq.’
Aisha recognised the queen’s voice and began to panic.
‘Take her and keep walking,’ Tariq said, transferring her weight to Safiya.
Lilah moved to the other side of her without breaking stride. ‘You’re trembling.’
‘It’s normal,’ Aisha reassured her. ‘It will stop shortly.’
‘Why are they happening so frequently now?’ Safiya asked. ‘And while that sectarian is sniffing around you.’
Aisha had been wondering the same thing. Since arriving in Gruisea, all skin-to-skin contact carried risk. Yet she could kiss Tariq with no problem at all.
‘I don’t know.’ Another question for Maryam.
‘What did you see?’ Safiya whispered to her.
Aisha shook her head as she tried to remember. ‘It was very fast. Jamil. And… smoke.’
Lilah almost tripped over her own feet. ‘Smoke?’
‘Shh,’ Safiya said. ‘What do you expect? The man’s a sectarian. Burning women is 50 percent of his job.’
By the time Aisha reached her chamber, her heartbeat had steadied, but her thoughts continued to race.
The feel of Jamil’s hand clung to her skin, cold and heavy.
Her sisters settled her on the bed while Maryam went to fetch some tea, sensing something had happened. Or maybe she had seen it for herself.
Aisha made the decision to learn everything she could from Maryam when she returned. If anyone could help her understand the Sight, it was her.
Aisha was done being a passive vessel for her gift. It was time to take control of it.