Chapter 34
The smell of smoke on Aisha’s skin was fading, but it was woven into her mind. She sat cross-legged on the floor, her back against the cell door. The wool blanket covered her legs.
On the other side was Kaidon, knees drawn up and arms slung over them.
They hadn’t exchanged more than a few words as they each stared at their own patch of stone wall.
Aisha found herself watching the slow shift of dust in the light, willing her mind to be blank instead of racing in fractured loops.
‘I saw a covenweaver burned in the city once,’ Kaidon said, his voice flat. ‘A simple shift in the breeze had it over and done with rather quickly.’
Aisha pressed her eyes closed.
‘You know, this might be the messiest wedding in history,’ he continued. ‘Historians will give it a dramatic name and write it into their books. You’ll be forever referenced as a warning to young lovers.’
She opened her eyes. ‘The Poison-Pyre Wedding.’
‘The Ashes and Arsenic Affair,’ he replied.
‘The King Killer’s Nuptials.’
‘The Torch-and-Treason Ceremony.’
‘That one is catchy,’ she said.
Kaidon let out a long breath. ‘Except I don’t think you killed King Hamza.’
His words dropped like a rock into still water.
‘But I understand why you took the fall,’ he said. ‘I’m a little surprised it was you, though. You’re the only one perfectly positioned to help the rest of your family. You’re no good to anyone dead.’
Aisha didn’t reply. She was afraid if she did the lie might come undone.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs below.
‘Thank the gods,’ Kaidon said, getting to his feet. ‘I’m starving.’
Aisha rose also, backing up when she heard the door at the end of the corridor open. Tariq stepped into view, wearing the soot-covered clothes from earlier. He didn’t look at her until he reached the door.
‘No food, then?’ Kaidon asked.
Tariq’s gaze remained on Aisha. ‘You’re leaving. Pack your things.’ His voice was low and measured.
Aisha looked around. ‘I don’t have any things.’
‘Even better.’
‘Are you going to let me, your bodyguard, in on the plan here?’ Kaidon asked.
Tariq’s gaze shifted to him. ‘There’ll be a gap in the outer patrol shortly. We’re going to use it.’ He pulled a plain black scarf out of an internal pocket and pushed it through the bars. ‘Put this on. Cover your face.’
Aisha stepped forwards and took it. The wool was much softer than the cell blanket. ‘Where are you taking me?’
‘Far away from here.’
Kaidon’s eyebrows rose. ‘A smuggling mission?’
‘Yes.’
‘What happens if you’re caught?’ Aisha asked.
He ignored the question. ‘Open the door.’
Kaidon hesitated. ‘You sure about this?’
Tariq levelled him with a stare. ‘Open the door.’
Exhaling, Kaidon fished the key from his pocket and unlocked the cell door.
‘Let’s go,’ Tariq said to Aisha. ‘We don’t have much time.’
She threw the blanket onto the cot, then exited the cell, following Tariq.
The torchlight in the corridor flickered as they moved, creating shadows that made Aisha feel as if they were being chased. She kept close to Tariq, the scarf covering most of her face, with Kaidon trailing a few paces behind.
They didn’t take the main stairs but veered left at the first landing, ducking into a narrow side corridor she hadn’t noticed before.
He led her down a tight spiral staircase that smelled of damp stone.
At the bottom, they exited through a crooked doorway into a part of the keep where cobwebs danced above them.
Tariq slowed when they reached an iron gate that sat ajar, then pushed through it, glancing back to ensure she was still behind him.
‘Where does this lead?’ Aisha whispered.
He kept his eyes forwards. ‘There’s a passage that cuts behind the granary and opens near the southern watch gate. From there, we’ll take the cliff path down to the harbour.’
Hope sprouted inside Aisha. ‘The harbour?’ We’re leaving Gruisea.
‘The watch gate will be guarded,’ Kaidon pointed out.
‘Yes, but the sentries are always distracted during the changeover,’ Tariq replied.
‘Then they need a good talking-to.’ Kaidon checked over his shoulder as they pressed on. ‘Tomorrow—after we’ve snuck by them.’
The passage narrowed, and Tariq ducked his head beneath the low beams. His shoulders occasionally brushed the stone on either side. Aisha concentrated on not tripping on the uneven ground.
Finally, they emerged into the mouth of a short tunnel, and the smell of grain greeted them. Tariq paused at the edge of the tunnel, eyeing the watch gate ahead.
‘When the outer bell chimes, the sentries will change posts,’ he said. ‘Then we go.’
Kaidon stepped up beside him. ‘I thought all ships to Avanid had been suspended.’
Tariq nodded. ‘They have.’
‘Then where are we sailing to?’ Aisha asked.
‘We are not sailing anywhere.’ Tariq finally looked at her. ‘You are sailing to Montia. From there, you can make your way inland to Avanid.’
Of course he wasn’t going with her. Why had she said ‘we’ like an idiot?
Before she could ask anything more, the bell rang. One sharp clang echoed across the quiet grounds.
‘Make sure you stay close and keep your head down,’ Tariq told her.
She nodded.
The trio slipped from the tunnel, weaving through the edge of the orchard and past the grain bins.
The watch gate loomed ahead, partially open.
The guards inside moved slowly, exchanging banter.
Tariq led the way through, his posture calm but commanding.
The guards barely noticed them as they griped about the cold.
Aisha held her breath as she passed by them.
A few moments later, they were out.
Tariq didn’t slow down. He continued around the stone wall and down the embankment where the ground turned from stone to dirt.
At the base of the slope, covered by trees, waited two horses.
It was a short walk to reach them, and Tariq mounted the closest one, then immediately reached for Aisha, lifting her up behind him.
She had barely landed on the horse’s back before it lurched into a canter.
Aisha kept her head down as they rode, using Tariq’s back for protection from the wind.
She wondered if she was too close for his liking, for his state of mind.
She soaked up those final moments with him, memorising his shape, scent, and the exact rhythm of his breath.
There would be no more moments once she boarded the ship to Montia.
The harbour appeared below them, a single narrow dock curling into the bay. Two ships sat at anchor, but only one flew Montia’s flag.
They rode down to the edge of the dock, and Tariq lowered Aisha to the ground before dismounting. A man wearing a thick cloak and a sun-bleached scarf approached, hand over his heart as he bowed before them. ‘Your Majesties.’
Plural. Even as she was being expelled.
‘Everything in order?’ Tariq asked.
The man nodded.
‘This is Captain Harun,’ Tariq told Aisha. ‘He’ll see you safely to Montia.’
The captain’s weathered face seemed stuck in the same expression. ‘Wind’s in our favour,’ he said. ‘If all goes well, we’ll dock at Virelin in two days.’
Aisha lowered her scarf so she could speak. ‘I appreciate you taking me on your ship, Captain.’
He bowed his head. ‘Your attendant is waiting for you.’
‘Attendant?’ Aisha looked past him.
‘Told her to put that animal in a cage, but she insisted on holding it.’
Aisha’s gaze landed on Maryam, standing at the base of the gangway.
The hem of her cloak was lifting in the breeze, and in her arms was Mira.
Aisha was painfully conflicted about having Maryam as a travel companion while simultaneously thrilled that Mira would be going with her.
She knew her relationship with the attendant couldn’t be salvaged, even if her reasons for the betrayal were justifiable.
Aisha had only kept quiet about the treason for the sake of Maryam’s family.
But silence didn’t equate to forgiveness.
‘No one else would care for the leopard,’ Tariq said. ‘We have enough problems.’
Aisha looked at him, knowing that wasn’t the only reason he had sent her along. ‘I understand that doing this is going to create more problems for you. I’m sorry you’ll have to wade through the mess alone.’
‘Are you?’ His eyes were like two dark storms—grief, confusion, and anger swirling together.
‘Yes.’
His gaze returned to the ship. He really couldn’t look at her for long.
The wind dragged her cloak around her ankles. ‘I should go.’
Tariq didn’t move. He stood rigid, his jaw set and eyes ahead. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and tight. ‘You’ve destroyed everything.’
Her lungs stilled.
‘I don’t know whether you killed my father or not,’ he said, ‘but it barely matters now. The damage is done.’ A bitter breath escaped through his teeth. ‘I might not have the strength to watch you die, but if you ever return to Gruisea, you’ll be imprisoned, then executed.’
She forced herself to breathe.
‘I fought for you,’ he said. ‘For us. I faced down the entire court and never regretted a moment until…’ He shook his head, unable to finish.
Her throat felt like thorns were jammed in it. ‘I never wanted—’
‘It actually doesn’t matter what you wanted.’ Anger had crept into his tone. ‘It matters what you did.’
Silence lapped between them again.
Aisha took a much-needed breath, trying to hold herself together. Now wasn’t the time to fall apart, not when he had risked so much to get her out. ‘I’m sorry.’ The words fell flat.
Tariq’s gaze flicked briefly to hers. ‘Go.’
She walked as bravely as she could towards the ship, the wind harsh against her skin. She didn’t dare look back. Tears began falling despite her best effort to hold them in. She was halfway to the ship when she heard him call her name.
‘Aisha.’
Her feet instantly stopped. She turned, stupidly hopeful despite having no reason to be.
He walked towards her, hands fisted at his sides.
He didn’t say anything when he got to her.
Reaching up, his fingers brushed the skin of her neck, and for one na?ve moment, she thought he was being tender with her, that maybe he had changed his mind and wanted to fight for them all over again.
But then his fingers closed around the chain hanging from her neck, and with one sharp tug, it broke.
The token was taken from her. The action left a stinging sensation on the back of her neck, a reminder of their final severing.
Aisha’s hand went instinctively to the place the token had rested.
‘Now you can go,’ Tariq said, his voice quiet. He turned and walked away before she had a chance to move, the chain curled in his fist.
Aisha watched him for as long as she could bear it. Then she slowly turned and went to join Maryam. She noted the dark circles around the attendant’s eyes. Mira wriggled in Maryam’s arms when she saw Aisha. She took the cub from her.
‘Your Majesty,’ Maryam said, her hand going over her heart as she lowered her head.
Aisha stared at her for a long moment, then made her way up the gangway, one step at a time, ready for the wind to carry her away.