“And yet, if your father is the smith, then he has already agreed to make the emperor’s sword.” He raised his chin.
Rage expanded my chest, leaving me momentarily breathless. I pursed my lips together. “He values his head.”
“You obviously don’t.”
I picked at my nails, attempting to appear calm. “I do, I just know who has the power to remove it. It isn’t you.”
His hand darted to the scabbard at his waist as if to prove me wrong and pull free the curved scimitar hanging there. I knew from the plain handle that it was definitelynotmade by my father.
Ours were solid, sure, and intricately carved. My father prided himself on his silver koftgari-decorated grips and the pommels of camel bone that he usually shaped himself.
But I’d been handling knives since I was a babe, and generally the person already holding one had the upper hand. Mine flashed in the sunlight before this boy could even draw his, and he held up his hands as I pointed my double-edged talwar at him, the sharpest side in the vicinity of his throat.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” I said calmly, not bothering to hide the smile in my voice.
“This is treason!” he sputtered, and I didn’t miss that flash of fire in his dark gold eyes. It seemed the pretty boy had some spirit in him after all.
“Dania!” a voice shouted from across the yard.
I groaned inwardly as my father came up the path.
He bowed to the boy who was at least twenty years his junior, and I wanted to scream. I wanted to wrench his head up with the end of my sword and tell him not to bow to the emperor’s lackeys ever again.
“Forgive my daughter. She is sometimes too passionate.” Baba gave me a warning look, his ochre eyes narrowing on me.
I laughed instead, though I couldn’t hide the bitter edge to it. “I was just playing with the boy. Honestly, does the palace not teach the guards how to fight?”
Baba frowned at me, not buying my act for a second. “He is not a guard, Dani, as you well know.”
I winced. “Nanu wouldn’t like us conversing with him,” I muttered, only to him.
“Nanu doesn’t pay our expenses,” he shot back.
I folded my arms across my chest and settled for glaring at the boy instead. He gave me a dismissive glance and returned his attention to my father. I pressed my teeth together to stop myself from drawing my sword again.
“My name is Mazin, and I’m the ward of the new emperor. I’ve come at his behest to give the specifications for his new sword and provide payment.” He paused, his face bland, but I didn’t miss his eyes sliding to mine. “If your skills should prove satisfactory,” he said finally.
I lunged, anger beating again at my chest. That he would dare to even suggest that my father’s skills wouldn’t be good enough for the emperor made my blood heat. “You know nothing about my father if you think his blades would be anything other than satisfactory. He is the most sought-after bladesmith in all the kingdoms.”
My father placed a hand on my shoulder, stilling me. “It’s all right, Dani. Emperor Vahid has every right to inspect my work to determine if it is up to his standards.”
“So why send this silly boy, then? Especially after he took away the village protections? Why not come himself?”
“Because perhaps he truststhis silly boy,” sneered Mazin, pulling himself to his full height, which I begrudgingly admitted was considerable.
I cocked my head, not letting him intimidate me. “I guess we always knew Vahid was a fool.”
Mazin sucked in a harsh breath, surprise and something like wonder crossing his face. I guess no one had dared to insult Emperor Vahid in his presence before.
Good, he deserved a little grounding. But at my father’s stricken expression, I knew I had gone too far.
“Dania!” My father yanked me back behind him. “Stay out here while we talk.” He gave me a look that dared me to defy him.
Heat flooded my face as I looked at my father, incredulous. “What? Youalwayshave me in the shop when discussing—”
“Not this time. Perhaps when you can guard your tongue better so wedon’tget reported for treason.” He said the words low so that only I could hear them, his voice sharp with frustration.
I clamped my mouth shut. Babaneverspoke to me this way. My eyes narrowed at the boy standing beside us.
