The Bodyguard
I waited for Zeki’s knock, pacing the chamber back and forth.
The night was growing late. After my revelation, Dayyan had paled and looked as if he’d seen a ghost before turning and striding out of the celebration.
I had never seen him so conflicted. Even more so than when he’d found out I wasn’t the true princess.
I wondered why my admission had caused such a drastic reaction.
He would set off on the journey, and I might never see him again.
My heart tensed with pain at the thought.
Not only would I lose him, but he would also take with him the knowledge he possessed about my father and I would never know where he’d seen him.
I pressed a hand to my chest. For all these years, I’d believed my father had been vanquished in battle.
To hear his name spoken had awakened a strange sort of hope.
I whirled toward the door when the knock finally came.
I hesitated before straightening my shoulders and striding toward it.
I opened the door, seeing Zeki on the other side.
He stared at his shoes, dressed in the same fancy apparel from the celebration, just as I was.
I motioned for him to enter. He glanced at the guard standing there, uncertainty hanging over him.
The guard looked forward, unspeaking. Zeki crossed into the chamber with a resigned look.
“Please,” I said, motioning to the toshak.
Zeki’s lips thinned. “I would rather stand.”
“As you wish.”
I poured myself a glass of water to parch the dryness in my throat and held another out to him. He took it.
“Shahdokht, I shouldn’t be here with you. This is highly improper. What is it you wish to speak to me about?”
“You mentioned how much you revere Dayyan. How you value him above all others. Even the Southerners, your people. Why?”
He stiffened, his fingers whitening around the glass. “What is it you’re after?”
“What happened to you?” I asked instead.
He downed the water in one gulp and set it aside, wiping his mouth with a decided urgency. Then he turned away, heading toward the door.
“You may try to avoid the past, but you cannot escape it forever.”
He paused, his back tensing.
“Delara and Omid sang me a song. One they say you taught them.”
He turned halfway, his profile shadowed in the chamber’s darkness.
“Only three people knew of this song. Shahzadeh Kahraman wrote it.” I walked in front of him. “Did you learn it from him?” Growing desperate, I said with more urgency, “Please, tell me. I need to know how.”
“Like you said, only three knew the song.”
He lifted his head, tears spurting in his eyes.
I looked at him then, truly looked at him—not like I had before when I’d viewed him as an enemy, an ally of the North.
I glimpsed the boy in his features. The youthful longing and innocence that had once been there.
A familiar face I’d never dreamed I would see again.
“Eskender?” His name left my lips in a whisper.
My mouth trembled. Tears bloomed in my eyes, falling in time with his. He slowly nodded. I reached out, touching his blurry face with shaking fingers, daring to hope.
“They said Eskender fell in battle. You died.”
He shook his head. “I was taken prisoner. I would have been killed if not for Dayyan.”
“Is it truly you?”
His smile was shaky. I laughed a sob and launched toward him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
I sobbed into his shoulder, and his arms came around me, gripping me just as tightly.
We sank to the ground together. We had found one another after losing each other all those years ago.
I sniffed, pulling back slightly to look at his face.
“You’ve grown so much, I hardly recognize you.”
He nodded. “I didn’t recognize you either. I believe it was hatred that blinded us.”
“But not our hearts,” I said. “Mine told me you were to be trusted.”
“Khwaharim,” he said, pulling me against him. Sister.
He kissed the top of my head. I laughed with happiness, tears still running down my cheeks.
“You must keep this secret,” Eskender told me, his expression turning grim. “If word that I am a shahzadeh goes to Shah Jihangir’s ears, he will order my execution.”
Worry grew in me. “But Dayyan? Does he know?”
Zeki shook his head. “No soul but yours in the palace knows. I wanted to tell him, and I will. But not yet. He’s not stable right now.”
I nodded. Dayyan’s current actions were unpredictable.
The chamber door swung open. Dayyan’s form filled the doorway. His eyes landed upon us, and he froze, his hands forming fists. I stiffened, pulling away from Eskender and standing. Eskender rose too, his stance protective as he took a pace forward to shield me.
“It is not what it seems.”
Dayyan didn’t heed Eskender’s words. The door closed with a click, and the lock followed. Dayyan’s back was to us now, the muscles rigid across the broad expanse. He spun around, visibly shaking. Cold blue eyes focused on Eskender.
“Dayyan,” I said slowly, true fear spilling into me at the murderous look on his face.
But he didn’t even look at me. He launched forward, grabbing Eskender’s collar and shoving him against the wall. My brother didn’t fight him. Instead, he allowed blow after blow. Against his face, stomach, chest. I rushed forward.
“Stop!” I grabbed Dayyan’s arm, but he flung me away. I flew back, collapsing onto the ground.
Dayyan leaned closer to Eskender. Sweat coated his brow and dripped down his face. “How long? How long have you been seeing each other? You knew her from before, didn’t you? Do not dare lie to me.”
Eskender nodded. “Yes.”
Dayyan slammed his palm against the wall beside Eskender’s head. Eskender flinched. “You betrayed me. You . . . You . . .” He lifted a fist.
“Do not harm him,” I said. “Please do not harm him.”
Dayyan stilled, finally hearing my voice.
He glanced toward me, his eyes widening when he saw me on the floor.
He looked at his hands and sadness overcame his features.
He released Eskender, and my brother sank to the ground, nose and mouth bloodied and head hanging.
Dayyan stepped away, running a hand through his hair, his harried gaze flicking between us.
“You love him this much . . .” he realized.
Eskender shook his head when he saw my face, but I had to tell Dayyan the truth.
“Dayyan, he is my b—”
Dayyan raised his hand, silencing me. “I do not wish to know.” He swallowed, heading for the door. “I will tell no one about this betrayal. Zeki, you will accompany her to the South first thing in the morning. I never wish to see either of you again.”
The door closed with a bang.