Will you dare speak about my father, you disgusting coward?
“I used to. But now I mostly collect from my travels. You requesteda very specific sword—a pommel carved into a halmasti head?” He made a kissing sound against his teeth. “There are few who have even seen one.”
“My nanu would tell me tales of them when I was a girl. I remember seeing the blade and regretting not buying it.”
“Did your father not purchase it for you?”
“He had more important things to do with his time besides buying young girls ceremonial blades.” I laughed, the sound falling flat to my ears, the lie like ash on my tongue. Of course, my father had gifted me beautiful daggers he’d made since I could walk. But I had to wear the skin of Sanaya Khara now.
“Your family name is an important one in the north, is it not? Quite a powerful warlord’s tribe.” He leaned back in his chair and studied me. “What are you doing this far from home, in the emperor’s city?”
“My father wanted to make treaties and connections without leaving his people. He sent me to Basral in his stead.” I scooped up a mouthful of stewed goat, the sharpness of the ginger and green cardamom alighting on my tongue. I took small, dainty bites, instead of shoveling it in my mouth like I wanted to do. “Your food is delicious. Tell me, who is your cook?”
Casildo laughed. “I’ll not have you steal her away from me. At least not before you see my blades. Come.” He signaled to a servant to pour steaming cups of chai. “Let us take our tea in the gallery.”
“The gallery?” I asked, more harshly than I intended. “I didn’t come to see paintings and sculpture.”
Noor arched her brow from behind Casildo and I nearly gave her a rude gesture. I clasped my hands together, painted a demure smile on my face, and softened my voice. “I would much prefer to see your sword collection.”
He gave me a patronizing smile as he patted my shoulder.
I wanted to break each finger.
“I think you shall like this gallery.”
Casildo led the way and we followed, walking through the ornate halls of his grand house. When I had known him, he was a simple merchant, with a three-roomed city town house and modest means. There was only one thing that could have changed his wealth and status, and that was the profit he made from betraying my father. I raised my chin, the guilt seeping through my pores threatening to overwhelm me. I hadn’t been there to help my father. He’d been alone when his closest friend had betrayed him.
I trailed my hand along a tapestry hanging at the end of the hall, depicting the battle between the former king and Emperor Vahid. On it, Emperor Vahid stood tall and proud, a pile of gleaming djinn seeds in his hand, the old king laid atop a mountain of human bodies.
I thought of the bags of zoraat hidden in our house, the vibrant colors that Noor knew exactly how to blend. If everything went as planned, Vahid’s chokehold on the empire would fall, and it would be because of the zoraat he so vigilantly controlled.
“Ah, the battle of Chidkruh. A favorite of mine.” Casildo came up beside me, so close I almost snapped my head backward and sent his teeth to the back of his throat. I smiled to myself, imagining it.
“The emperor gifted that to me himself.” He returned my smile, as if we were in on the same joke, though he wouldn’t have liked my punch line.
“You are an impressive man to be given such a gift by Emperor Vahid.” I put on a tone of reverence.
He laughed. “Be careful sahiba, or I’ll take your flattery to heart.”
My lip curled with disgust involuntarily. Was he flirting with me?
Noor cleared her throat. I met her gaze and she shot me a look that said I wasn’t keeping my true emotions out of my expression.
But really, the man was old enough to be my grandfather.
I schooled my features into something resembling a coy glance. Let him think his flirting could get him somewhere. If that helped gain his trust, then I would bat my eyelashes enough to cause a windstorm.
Casildo smiled back, clearly delighted. Revulsion rose in my chest.
Ugh, this was harder than I thought.
“The emperor simply rewarded a good turn I did him.”
My ears perked up at that. “A good turn?” I tried to keep my voice curious.
“I told him of a plot against his life and helped him execute a traitor. But things aren’t that adventurous these days.”
I snorted an amused sound, hoping that it conveyed I was pleased with his joke and not that I didn’t trust myself to speak. My hands drifted down again to the dagger strapped to my thigh, snug in its sheath, waiting to be released. The dark need to slit his thick neck and have his blood splash all over the marble floor nearly took over.
