“I am looking for something particular I saw once.” I thought of the uniqueness of my father’s knives, of every animal he had carved into the hilt, of the engravings he’d made on the blade. I tapped my lips with the point of the katar and made a humming sound under my breath.
“A halmasti head, carved with camel bone, set with emeralds and gold filigree.”
The man stroked his chin, his eyes darting to the side. “Sahiba, I have seen something similar. But not here. My master, Casildo, has a larger collection of blades at his home that he sometimes shows private collectors. The largest you ever saw. But I warn you, the blades will be costly.”
“Does it look to you that I cannot afford it?”
A faint smile touched his lips, his eyes lowering in deference. “No,sahiba, but I don’t like to catch my customers unaware. I will speak to my master about what you seek. Where can I reach you?”
“I’m in the south of the city, a dwelling called Jasmine Koti, do you know it?”
“Ah, yes, sahiba, I know it. A fine home indeed. Beautiful gardens.”
If possible, his eyes lit even brighter with hunger. He was counting on a big commission from Casildo out of this, and I would not disappoint. “I will send word to your servant in the morning about meeting to discuss Casildo’s other swords. Expect to hear soon.”
“I will.”
That afternoon a nervous servant arrived on our doorstep to tell us that Casildo was interested in meeting with us.
“That was fast.” Noor took the note from the sweaty young man and flung it on the table in the middle of the room. I sat on the large indigo divan, sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains on the surrounding windows. To anyone looking in, I would have resembled a pampered rich girl, eating handfuls of pistachios and sipping rose water chai.
Except for the daggers I was throwing across the room and embedding into the wooden wall opposite me.
“It says he wants to meet tomorrow to discuss the sword you were looking for.”
“His merchant probably shouted to him about how rich we were. Especially with all the jewels in my hair.” I gave a little laugh and paused in the act of throwing my next dagger.
I pressed the tip of the blade to my palm and let the edge prick my skin. I was so close to seeing Casildo. So close to meeting the eyes of the person who’d orchestrated my father’s death. Anger blossomed in my chest as I looked over the note from him.
“Not to mention the diamonds gracing your fingers.” Noor nodded to my hands. “We looked like a walking treasure trove. Good thing you hired all those guards around the house, or we’d be getting robbed right now.”
“Greed and cowardice is Casildo’s language. He was always enamored with my father’s status, with his expertise and blade collection. But he waited until he was on his knees before taking advantage of him. He needs to know exactly what we have to flaunt, and that he can get some of it.”
Noor picked up a dried apricot from the plate in front of me and popped it in her mouth. “By cheating you?”
“Perhaps. If given the opportunity, certainly. But he might even do worse.” I threw the knife at the wall, letting the blade fly. My anger released with it.
I needed a cool head for what would come next.
Noor smirked. “You think he’s going to try and rob you with that army of guards you’ve got waiting outside? Casildo betrayed your father because it was easy, and he had power on his side. He’s a coward. He’s not going to do anything that could risk his life.”
“That’s why he’s going to think it’s simple. Until it’s not. That’s when we strike.”
“You’re so bloodthirsty.”
“Have you met me?” I quirked a smile, then my gaze turned serious. “Wouldn’t you be?” I stood up and wrenched my dagger out of the wall.
Noor looked out the window facing the palace. “He took your father from you. I would want revenge for the exact same reason. But just be careful you don’t become what you most despise. That we both don’t become what we most despise.”
“And what is that?”
“Greedy. Power hungry.”
I considered her words. The power flooding through me was intoxicating; I couldn’t deny that. But there was no danger of mesuccumbing to it, not when I had bigger ambitions. “I won’t forget what we are here for.”
Her laugh echoed through the halls of the cavernous house. “Forget is something Iknowyou don’t do easily.”
Seventeen
