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Entering the kitchen, I ran into a scene that was all too familiar, uncle Mehdi and my mother whispering in hushed tones, while my little sister was nowhere to be seen. As soon as they saw me, they stopped talking. My mother tried to smile, but it came out more as a grimace.
“What’s going on?” It was always better to know what was going on, rather than be kept in the dark. “What are you looking for today? What dress Hafsa should wear to meet Prince Maedras for the first time?”
My mother and uncle Mehdi exchanged a look. “We might as well tell her.” Uncle Mehdi nodded. “She has a lot of opinions. She also understands the significance of silence.”
That statement made my heart stop.
“What is going on?” I asked again, my voice laced with concern.
“And for all we know, someone has seen them,” my mother murmured dejectedly.
“Who? Who may have seen what?”
“That might be a possibility.” Uncle Mehdi lowered his head. “We’ve caught Hafsa in some sort of scandal.”
“What did she do?”
My mind was racing. Hafsa could be impulsive, but she wouldn’t do anything to purposely ruin her reputation. Not now. Not when we were on the cusp of a political disaster.
“The Lunja provided the Caid with a silver jewel-studded fishing boat.”
“That is quite... generous of them,” I said slowly, not sure where this was going.
The very idea of a jewel-studded fishing boat was ridiculous. Who would want to go fishing in a boat like that? How did it even float?
“But what does Hafsa have to do with it?”
“I believe that was the general sentiment. No one was brave enough to say it out loud. However, Hafsa and her friends were comfortable enough to discuss it in public as they got ready for a trip.”
My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Next to the Lunja?”
“In one of the private courtyards. But the Lunja have access to the whole manor.”
My mother pressed a hand to her throat. “You’ll never know whether they’ve overheard it.”
If the Lunja had overheard Hafsa and her friends discussing the jewel-studded fishing boat, they would consider it an insult. An insult that could not be ignored.
Craftsmanship was important to the Lunja, and they would not take kindly to someone making fun of their work.
An insult to one’s craft is an insult to one’s honor.
That wasn’t the only problem. If word got out that Hafsa had insulted the Lunja, it would reflect badly on the whole of Midar.
Family feuds and wars broke out over less. That was something that everyone knew. History was filled with examples of it. But causing such a ruckus about overhearing something so little... It appeared childish. But it was the way of the Lunja.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was going to be a headache. A big one. “I take it this is not good? So what is the plan now? Surely she can’t marry him.”
Not if she was so unwise as to insult the Lunja. The whole idea was preposterous. Wisdom was important in a political match. It was one of the primary qualities you wanted. And Hafsa… She was not the wisest person. Not by a long shot. This proved it.
Uncle Mehdi and my mother looked at the cards spread on the table.
“Well? People are getting worried. More and more people are leaving the city for the countryside with their families, which is causing me concern. I’ve even heard talk about people armoring themselves.”
Uncle Mehdi muttered something under his breath. “They would never win in a direct fight. Please don’t tell me you’re one of those idiots who thinks we could defeat them in battle.”
“No, I’m not. However, many people are. Winning or even surviving a conflict that would be… They overwhelm us in every single way. What do we do now?”
My hands trembled. This was serious. If the Lunja took military action, it would be a bloodbath. There was no way we could win.
