The Bodyguard
The hours turned to days, and the days felt like years.
The chamber door was sealed for good; none were allowed entrance.
It had become a cell, and I was the prisoner.
I spent my free time contemplating my next move, pacing the chamber back and forth and even considering climbing out the window to escape, but I knew I would be met with a fall that would no doubt break all my bones.
I had no choice but to await my death sentence, for surely it was only a matter of time before Shah Jihangir ordered my execution. I had deceived them all.
Knuckles rapped on wood, and the door swung open. I turned to face the intruder, hoping to see Dayyan. Farani swept inside instead, a large smile spreading her cheeks. She waved at her guards to remain in the hall and closed the door.
“Yildiz,” she said, walking toward me with her arms wide.
She wrapped them tightly around me. Her familiar fragrance sank into my senses, and my heart ached to hold her, but I did not return the embrace, standing like a statue until her grip slackened and she pulled away. Her lower lip jutted out in a pout.
“I thought you would be overjoyed to see me. What is the matter?”
A scoff escaped me. I shook my head, stepping away from her to collect myself when I wanted nothing more than to scream at her.
“It’s because of the way I referred to you, isn’t it?
As a mere bodyguard. I had no choice, Yildiz.
This is the only way I can protect you, or else they may try to take advantage of you.
If they know you are my cousin and a shahdokht as well, they may even try to marry you to Bahir.
This way, I’ve rescued you from them. You no longer have to deal with the princes, with anyone. ”
I couldn’t hold in my laugh. It emerged broken and humorless. Farani watched me with lowered brows, confusion marking her features.
“Rescued me?” I said, waving my hand about me. “It is far too late for that.”
“I am sorry, Yildiz. I should have come sooner. You must have lost your mind withstanding them.”
An apology wasn’t what I had expected from her, but it didn’t matter when it couldn’t make up for anything.
“You abandoned us, Farani—your people, your father, me. We were struggling to stop the war, and instead of fulfilling the duty you were entrusted with, you left.”
Farani’s lips parted, and she watched me, stunned. “But this has always been your mission, Yildiz. To protect me. I thought you would be grateful that I have come to spare you this burden.”
I sighed, rubbing my brow. “You referred to a lover in the letter you sent your father. What happened to him?”
She hushed me, glancing at the door, and then stepped closer, lowering her voice.
“I met someone—someone you know.” She hesitated.
“He is the one who convinced me to run away. We planned everything together. I never abandoned the South. We were going to trap the North with a masterful plot, but it all went to ashes when I learned my father gave you in my place.”
“What are you saying?”
Farani stared at me with her large eyes, tears springing forth as she grasped my hands. “I scrapped the plan as soon as I found out. I couldn’t allow you to be sacrificed. That is why I am here now. To save you and the South. To save all of us.”
Her sincerity dripped from every word, and my anger melted away. I could never stay upset with her when she stared at me with those pleading eyes. I squeezed her hands back.
“What are you planning to do?”
Her features hardened. “I will avenge my father. If you aid me, we can kill the heirs and then the shah. The North and South will be united, and I will rule over the desert with you at my side.”
I almost succumbed to her wish, and then I snapped out of it. We were no longer children, when Farani would urge me to join her in her mischief making. This wasn’t a game.
“I am done,” I said. “I will not be part of this.”
Her earnest expression crumbled into disappointment. She recovered quickly. “I understand. You have endured enough, Yildiz. I will grant you leave to return to the South. But you cannot remain here. I cannot protect you for long.”
With those ominous words, she spun in a flurry of golden skirts and exited the room. I sank onto a toshak, drained. How was she planning to accomplish her plan? Killing them would be one arduous task, especially while they were in a guarded palace. Unless . . .
That was why she had offered to lead them to the roots. It was a ruse. A way to separate them from their protection. A way to end them. The thought of Dayyan sinking lifeless to the ground made panic rise within me. I couldn’t allow her to do this, but how could I stop it?
The chamber door opened once again. Esana slipped inside. I smiled at her, but she didn’t return it. Her movements were jittery as she placed a tray of food onto the table, her sleeve shifting upward. She yanked it down and moved to retreat when I caught sight of something odd.
“Wait.”
She froze. I stood and reached out, grabbing her arm.
There, on the inside of her wrist, was a burn scar.
My breath quickened, as did the rapid pace of my heart.
Esana’s eyes flicked to mine and noted the realization that no doubt marked my face.
She reached for the table knife. I yanked her back and unsheathed my dagger while shoving her against the wall, then angled my weapon at her neck.
She swallowed, perspiration coating her brow.
“Please, Shahdokht,” she begged.
Disappointment flared within me. “Why?”
“Shahzadeh Dayyan will murder me, Shahdokht. I beg you not to tell him.”
“Why did you do it?” I demanded. “Whose orders?”
“I received a letter informing me you were a Southern spy. That you weren’t even the princess—” She gulped.
“I would be compensated for killing you. A reward of two thousand tiloh. He convinced me I would aid the North by ridding it of a spy. I wouldn’t have to worry about my brothers being sent into the army.
My servitude would be over once I paid the debt my family owes.
Please understand, I could not pass up this chance. ”
I swallowed, maintaining my firm stance. “Who is he?”
“I thought it was Mahnaz at first and that she had made up a bunch of nonsense about you being a spy. That is why I warned you to stay away from the shahzadeh when . . .”
When you attempted to kill me that night, I finished in my mind.
“I tried to plant Mahnaz as the culprit in your mind as time passed. You were so kind to me. I didn’t want you to be hurt. And I wanted her to be caught.”
I didn’t allow myself to soften at her admittance, keeping my brows lowered and my concentration unwavering.
“But then he revealed himself to me when I was in the market.”
“Who is he?”
“Samir!” Esana blurted. “His companion had been in the market, though he was careful to approach me alone. She called him Samir. He returned to offer me more gold if I tried to kill you again. Properly this time.”
My blood went cold. Samir. Could it be the Samir I thought it was? The wicked general Dayyan had spared to return to the South. What would he gain at my death? What was he plotting? Dayyan was right. He’d told me to suspect my own people to be behind the attempted assassination.
“I refused his offer this time, Shahdokht,” Esana said. “I swear it!”
“Who was his companion?” I pressed the blade closer.
She flinched. “It is her. The woman you were just speaking to.”
I staggered back, my dagger dropping. I stared at it as it thudded on the ground, transfixed.
Farani. Was she working with Samir? Was he the one who had convinced her to run away?
How could she possibly ally with him? Did she know he wanted to have me killed?
Betrayal cut through me. Then I shook my head.
No, she would never agree to that. He was manipulating her.
Using her to take the throne. I had to warn Farani.
Esana clutched her chest, taking in lungfuls of air, fear reigning in her eyes as she watched me.
“Leave,” I spat.
Esana stared at me with bewilderment before she slowly inched to the door, uncertain.
“I will not tell a soul what you’ve done. Leave and never let me see you again.”
My sympathy for her family weighed more than my anger.
“Thank you. Thank you, Shahdokht. I will never forget your mercy.” Tears welled in her gaze.
I didn’t reply as she left the room. Samir had wanted to remove me. He saw me as a threat for some reason. And he was using Farani to get his way. But I was no longer the young girl he remembered. He would soon realize Yildiz, daughter of Shahzadeh Kahraman, was no easy prey.