Chapter 43 #2
He nodded. ‘I would have believed you if you told me the truth.’
‘I couldn’t take that risk.’ She paused, watching him. ‘How did you find out?’
He looked around the room. ‘The truth always comes out, eventually. The Emperor’s envoys might all be master manipulators, but they’re sloppy liars.’
So it had been them after all. ‘I don’t understand. What did they gain from it?’
‘I’ve thought about that a lot. It was clever when you think about it. They managed to sever ties between Gruisea and Avanid without anyone suspecting them.’ He shook his head. ‘We should have turned Zahvik away the moment he got here.’
‘No one turns that man away.’ Aisha pressed her eyes closed. ‘Not even us.’ She opened her eyes on an inhale. ‘He has Maryam.’
Tariq’s eyebrows pinched together. ‘What?’
They were so past secrets now. ‘She’s been enslaved.’
‘I don’t under—’
‘She was a spy.’ The next words stuck in her throat. ‘For Zahvik.’
He didn’t move.
‘He has people watching her family,’ she explained.
A look of understanding passed across Tariq’s features, and he finally drew a breath. ‘What a mess.’
A question burned on Aisha’s tongue, and she had to ask it. ‘How long have you known it wasn’t me?’
Shame overtook his expression. ‘A while.’
She had been afraid of that. ‘You could have written.’
‘I could have—should have.’ His hands opened at his sides. ‘I was planning to come to Avanid.’
A sad laugh fell from her. ‘You really don’t have to say that to make me feel better.’
‘It’s true.’
‘I mean, we’re beyond repair anyway.’ She didn’t know why she said that.
It took him a moment to reply. ‘You think we’re beyond repair?’
Her eyes searched his. ‘I think… there’s a lot to fix.’
He took a step towards her. ‘Aisha—’
The doors burst open, and Kaidon entered, his jaw drawn tightly. ‘Forgive me, but I’ve just received a report that there’s a fleet of ships about twenty miles off the coast.’
A cold sensation washed over Aisha. It wasn’t enough time to prepare.
‘How long do we have?’ Tariq asked.
‘With the wind at their backs?’ Kaidon’s jaw worked as he thought. ‘Maybe two hours.’
The room seemed to shrink.
Tariq stood very still. ‘Tell the High Marshal to ready the soldiers. No one gets ashore.’
It wasn’t enough time, but it was more than they would have had if Aisha hadn’t risked her life to come and warn him. He wondered what she’d been thinking travelling to Gruisea with no idea how she would be treated at the other end.
‘You’ll remain here at the castle,’ he told her as they exited the chamber.
‘No, I’m coming with you.’
‘It wasn’t a request.’
‘Why does everyone assume I’m asking for permission?’
He stopped and turned to face her. ‘Please. I don’t have time to argue about this.’
‘Then don’t. If you take me with you, I can guide you through this. I can see what’s coming before it gets here.’
He checked their surroundings, worried someone might hear her. ‘There’s going to be a battle, and I don’t want you anywhere near it.’
She held his gaze as she said, ‘I’m not going to hide away while your men die—not when I can help.’
She had no idea what the thought of her out there, with steel swinging and arrows flying, did to him. ‘I can’t fight properly with you in danger.’
Her expression softened. ‘I’ll be in far greater danger if they reach the castle.’ She reached for his hand. ‘Let’s stop them at the beach. You’re going to need every advantage you can get.’
He took hold of her face. ‘You risk exposing your abilities.’
‘I think being labelled a covenweaver and tied to a burning pyre might have already clued people in.’
He exhaled, and it felt a lot like defeat.
‘And you’re not going without me,’ Safiya cut in.
They looked in her direction. She was standing in one of the doorways with her arms folded, clearly listening in.
‘I’ve waited my whole life to fight those dogs.’ Safiya walked over to join them. ‘I’m not missing this chance.’
Tariq shook his head. ‘This isn’t the time or place—’
‘This might be the only time and place,’ she replied.
The harrowing sound of a horn rang out through the castle grounds. Tariq looked between the sisters, weighing the risks. He muttered a curse under his breath. ‘Fine, but you listen to me—both of you. You follow every instruction, and if I tell you to fall back, you fall back. Understood?’
Aisha’s reply came without hesitation. ‘Understood.’
Safiya drew her shortsword and inspected the blade. ‘You know me. I’m always respectful of rules.’
‘You’re not getting close enough to use that, by the way,’ he said, gesturing to the sword. ‘Can you shoot a longbow?’
‘As well as any man.’
Aisha tugged off one of her gloves and looked up at Tariq.
‘Catch me if I fall.’ She then proceeded to take hold of his wrist, and her eyes glazed over.
She disappeared to some place he couldn’t follow her.
He tried to be patient as he waited for her to return to him, but his fingers twitched nervously.
Finally, she let go, blinking hard as she drew a sharp breath. He held her steady.
‘There’s a narrow beach,’ Aisha panted. ‘The cliff curves like a hook around it. The rocks are black, and the water’s rough.’
He thought for a moment.
‘Kharid’s Maw’ came Farrah’s voice from the same doorway Safiya had emerged from.
Everyone looked in her direction.
‘It is rather dangerous for ships,’ she continued casually, as if she hadn’t just seen Aisha disappear into a vision. ‘They likely think they are being smart because no one would expect them to come ashore there.’
‘Then let’s surprise them with a welcome party,’ Safiya said.
Farrah stepped out into the corridor, her silks whispering across the floor as she looked between the three of them. ‘Good luck.’