The Sultan and the Storyteller by Lichelle Slater

Seventeen

I ran until my lungs hurt—out of the palace, down the road, and into Zunbar. My lungs begged me to stop, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not until I burst into the apothecary.

Kiara locked the front door before ushering me into the back room. It wasn’t until she asked me what had happened that I realized tears were streaming down my cheeks. I dropped the black book in a crate in the corner while Kiara busied herself handing me a handkerchief, getting some lemon water, and then scooting a stool over to the old armchair she’d put me in.

I sipped the cool water, which refreshed my raw throat. I wiped my eyes again then took a steadying breath. “He didn’t believe me,” I whispered, unable to coax my voice any louder. “Not only did he not believe me, but he was angry with me for accusing Father of doing such a thing.”

There was a knock on the door and I went rigid.

Kiara swallowed. “Maybe they will think I’ve gone to bed.”

“Your lamps are lit, Kiara.”

“Maybe it’s not the sultan.”

I went to stand, but Kiara pushed my shoulder down and hopped off the stool. “It has to be for me.” She walked to the front door, and I could just barely see from where I sat as she moved the little curtain on the door’s window aside.

Please don’t be Zayne or a guard,I pleaded silently.

Kiara unlocked the door and opened it.

Kasim walked in and his eyes immediately locked on me. He offered a weak smile and said something to Kiara that looked like, “Thank you,” and he made his way in.

“I saw you running,” he explained.

I lowered my gaze to the water in my hand and studied the lemon floating inside. “I needed a bit of fresh air. The palace has been terribly hot all day.”

“The heat wasn’t only in the palace.” Kasim reached out and placed his hand on my knee. “You don’t have to live like this, Shahira,” he said comfortingly.

“Father has controlled Zayne again.” I tightened my grip on the glass. “But I don’t belong in the palace, Kiara. How am I going to be able to do anything to stop Father?” My voice hitched on another sob. “I killed mother and—”

“Even Telama told you that you didn’t kill her,” Kiara interrupted.

Kasim lifted my chin and my heart ached when I realized I actually wished he were Zayne. “Never speak of yourself in such a manner, Shahira. If you want to leave, I’ll take you to Trembuley. You and I. We’ll go now.”

“Y—you know I can’t do that.” I turned my face away from him and drank the last of my water.

“And why not?”

“I’m still his wife.”

Kasim cupped my face. “Please, Shahira. I want to save you. Let me take you away from this nightmare. No one outside of our land would know our laws anyway. None would know you had married him first.”

I put my hand over his. “I love him, Kasim.” My heart tightened and I sucked in another breath. “I think that’s why this hurts so much. I’m in love with him and I have failed him at every turn.”

Kasim’s eyes filled with pain, like I had betrayed his heart.

“You must understand, all of the deaths are not Zayne’s fault,” I added. “He’s a good person. He has a heart, I just have to get it back.”

Kasim lowered his hand and looked to Kiara.

She nodded. “I was with Shahira today and we found a black book and parchments with all of our father’s plans. He chose each wife for the sultan and they were all sorceresses. He chose Jade.”

Kasim ran his fingers through his hair. It was growing beyond his ears now. He needed it cut. “What can I do for you? How can I help?”

I shook my head. “Take Jade and get out. Father must be desperate. Because of me, he had to put his plans on hold.”

He shook his head. “That can’t be all I can do for you, Shahira. No one else could have done what you have.”

“Thirty-nine women came before me,” I reminded him.

“But none of them volunteered, and not one of them had the ability to stay alive.” He rose to his feet.

You must find the right story.

The words rang in my ears as if Telama stood right next to me.

And in my mind, I saw the small book with “Ulley’s” handwriting scrawled inside.

“Wait.” I stood and looked between Kiara and Kasim. “I know how to help Zayne. I don’t know how I didn’t see it sooner. It’s a story from when he was little. It’s on the nightstand in his room. Kasim, I am going to tell him the story and use my magic. But I may need help from the sorceresses to stop my father. Please ask Jade if she will ask for their help.”

He nodded. “She owes you that much.”

I bit my lip. I hadn’t spoken to Jade since stepping into her place and hadn’t received so much as a letter from her.

“I can help with that too,” Kiara offered. “Perhaps I can write some letters to those who have left.”

I hugged her. “I would appreciate all of the help we can get. Hopefully we won’t need it, but tell them to be ready. The time is at hand that the kingdom is about to shift.” My entire frame trembled after I spoke.

“Hopefully it’s for the better,” Kasim said.

He silently walked me back to the palace.

It was much cooler now the sun had set. Cool enough that I felt comfortable. And there was an odd sort of . . . acceptance for what I was about to do. If my father didn’t have his fangs in Zayne when I entered, there was a very real possibility I might be able to tell the story and end all of this chaos.

“Good luck,” Kasim said.

I hadn’t realized we’d made it to the palace gates until we came to a halt. I blinked and drew a deep breath. “Tell Jade I need her. Hopefully, she will find a little bit of courage inside herself.” I glanced up at the young man I trusted with my life.

“It’s time she repays you.” He kissed the back of my hand. “You can do this, Shahira.”

As I walked away from him, I actually believed it.