I stared at the cursed rebel on the ground. “What will happen to her?”
“Salt soldiers will collect her. The Viceroy executes those he curses in the square if they’re lucky. Otherwise, the zulmi wander the countryside begging for scraps.”
I thought of the woman who stood at the River.
“How do they live?”
“There are peris in the city that take care of them as best they can. But no one can understand them or recognize them. That is Reza’s power—to take from you who you are.”
His words were bitter, and he strode away, back toward the Viceroy and soldiers.
All that work for nothing.I assumed he wastalking about how much trouble we’d gone to in order to find the crown, only for it to be stolen in the satchel the rebels had carried off with them.
When I had made sure none of the soldiers were around me, I slipped my hand into the pocket of my skirt.
They brushed against the filigreed gold dagger I’d taken and slid into the hidden lining there and finally, the delicate gold circlet, complete with an ornate tikka.
Queen Azari’s crown was there, nestled safely against my leg.
Chapter 39
It’s odd that the thing I miss the most is the flowers you grew.
—Letter from Kiyan to his family, unsent
Kiyan
I knew he would punish me, I just didn’t know how badly. I’d never openly defied him before like that, and though I would usually not hesitate to argue my position, I never attempted to stop him outright. My resistance had normally been one of subterfuge, an insidious chipping away at his power.
But when he raised his hands to curse Talal, I had to intervene.
“Got yourself quite the problem, brother.”
“Shut up and let me think.” I had my hand over my eyes, thinking of how I could free him and Yaseema both.
“I like the girl. She’s grown on me since Tashuna.”
“Tal, I swear, if you don’t stop jabbering—”
“Aren’t you supposed to be getting me to talk? So far, you’ve just muttered incoherently and rubbed your eyes. Some torturer you are.”
“You weren’t supposed to get caught.”
“Reza wasn’t supposed to be there. We took care of the soldiers, like you said. Andyoushouldn’t have stuck your neck out for me. You wouldn’t have in the past.”
I stared at him. “You’re a fool, you know that? Are you actually chastising me for saving your life?”
“Why did you save me this time? What changed?” he continued, ignoring me. “I bet it’s the girl.”
I gaped at him. “Yaseema has nothing to do with this.”
“Yaseema? That’s pretty. I didn’t get her name before.”
I glowered at him, and he gave me a sunny smile. “Should I pretend to scream?”
“Do you know what’s going on here? I need to torture you now to make any of this believable. Reza would normally have all the bones in your body broken before he cursed you. Especially now the rebels have taken the crown—despite the risks. Despite the deaths.”
“You know why we did it,” he said quietly. “Anything to stop him from having it. And now, if we have the crown, maybe we can finally fight back. The Court of River will rally around the true leader of River.” He gave me a pointed look. “They’ll rally around a new King.”
