The Sultan and the Storyteller by Lichelle Slater

Seven

I woke to the sensation of warmth at my side, and when I opened my eyes, I found I had snuggled up to his chest during the night. His arm draped around my side, holding me. In the morning sun, his brown skin glowed. I tilted my head up and Zayne smiled.

“You caught me staring,” he said with a rough morning voice.

“Good morning,” I said softly.

“I didn’t disturb you, did I?” Zayne pulled his arm away and my stomach dropped.

“Not at all,” I confessed, somehow wishing for that tender touch. “How did you rest?” I stifled a yawn.

Zayne’s smile grew. “I had a dream. I haven’t had one in a very long time.”

“What did you dream about?”

His cheeks grew a bit pink and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Actually, I dreamt about you. I think, perhaps, you should show me where you are from. I’ll take the morning off.”

My muscles tightened.

Zayne hadn’t visited Zunbar since his first wife’s death. And because of my story, he suddenly wanted to. I should have been more careful. After all, this would likely reveal I possessed magic, because we were going to run into Telama, and magic was still outlawed from Zayne’s father. If Zayne discovered my magic, would he have me executed in spite of surviving the last two nights?

“You don’t have to show me where you grew up,” Zayne said, drawing me out of my hesitation. “It wasn’t an order.”

“What? No, I was—it’s just that it’s been some time since you were in Zunbar. The people will be happy to see you.” I said, trying to reassure him. But there was no fooling him.

“My hopes aren’t high.” He rolled over and sat up. “I would rather remain as inconspicuous as possible. But—”

I propped myself up on my elbow. “We could find you a disguise. Perhaps we can ask one of the servants for a set of clothing so you can blend in.”

He peered over his shoulder at me. “Won’t people be suspicious if you are with a stranger?”

I shrugged. “I can say you’re a servant assigned to watch me.”

He fretted over his beard. “I hadn’t considered that.”

I climbed out of the bed. “I’ll get dressed and we can eat some breakfast then find a servant. And may I send a notice to my sister?”

“And let her know you’re still alive?” Zayne gave me a knowing look.

I bit my lip, blushed, and nodded.

After breakfast, we met a servant who agreed to let Zayne borrow an appropriate set of clothing that would help him blend in with the common people of the desert. When Zayne changed, he still looked just as handsome but surprisingly more relaxed.

“Let’s not run into my father on the way out.” I winked.

Just as we were about to reach the front doors of the palace, I felt the all-too-familiar sensation of magic—a tingling in the air similar to the calm before a lightning storm—and shoved Zayne into the open doorway of the throne room. I pressed my finger to his lips when he opened his mouth, then took a step back into the main hall.

My father walked around the corner just then and paused. “Shahira. You’ve survived another night. Have you seen Zayne since breakfast?”

I shrugged. “He said he had tasks to attend to.”

Father studied me, the serpent staff in his grip as usual. Slowly, he lifted an eyebrow, which came to a point.

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly parched.

The serpent’s eyes began to glow. “And where are you going?” he asked calmly.

“He gave me permission to visit Kiara.”

“Very well.” But instead of walking away, he lingered.

“You seem neither surprised nor happy to see me,” I pointed out, feeling a sting in my heart.

Darkness flickered over his eyes and he walked toward me. I feared he would notice Zayne, but he set his hand on my shoulder and kept his eyes locked on mine. It took all of my self-control not to flinch under his touch. He touched his lips to my forehead, then looked down at me like I was a child. “You haven’t been using your stories, have you?” he asked in a stern and low voice. “You haven’t been manipulating him with nonsense?”

I narrowed my eyes at my father. “Manipulating him? To do what, exactly?”

His eyes flashed before he straightened. “If you are telling him stories, I recommend you stop. There is a specific order to things in the palace. You are my daughter, and I love you dearly, but—”

“But you would really get upset over me telling him stories?” I cut in. “You may be the vizier, but I am the queen now.” Power burned in my chest. I outranked him. For the first time in my life, he wasn’t in charge of me. And for the first time in my life, I knew he couldn’t lay a hand on me.

Father inhaled through his nose and lifted his chin before bowing to me. “Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I stepped out of line. Enjoy your day with your sister.” Father straightened and turned. “And tell Sultan Zayne I am pleased he has slept so well the past two nights.”

Only when he was safely around the corner did I return to Zayne.

Zayne took my trembling hands. “Are you all right?”

“No. I’m not.” I blinked away the hot tears and I pulled my hands away from him so I could flick my fingers and will the anger from my body.

Father had warned me not to use my magic. So far in my life, I’d managed to only cause heartache for our family. But to think I was manipulating Zayne?

When I exited the palace, Zayne followed after, allowing me my silence until we were safely down the palace steps and on the path to the gates. And once I knew we were safely away from my father’s prying ears, I whispered, “Zayne, what is my father to you? I know he is vizier, but what does he do for you?”

Zayne walked at my side and kept his eyes forward. “He helps me to run the country. Building alliances, protecting our borders, keeping track of our soldiers, and other things.”

“Other things?” I pressed.

We stopped at the gate and Zayne looked down at me. “Why do you ask?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. I am glad he treats you well.”

Zayne studied me quizzically but didn’t prod. “Open the gates!”

A guard stepped up to the iron gates and dragged one side open.

Zayne held his hand out to me. “I hope to enjoy our day together. I want to see what your life was like before you became my wife.”

I looked at his hand, but my stomach twisted. Now probably wasn’t the right time to inquire about the darkness I had seen the night before, but I had to ask, “Do you see shadows at night?”

His brow lifted, his hand still awkwardly extended. “What?”

“At night, before you sleep, do you see the shadows move?”

He lowered his hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. Shadows don’t move.” He began walking.

I sucked my tongue to the roof of my mouth and followed.

My mother’s shop was farthest from the bustle, and not one person gave Zayne a second glance as we passed. We reached the apothecary quickly. The bell on the door handle jingled when I opened it.

Kiara was handing a small bottle of green joint pain liquid to Madame Black when she lifted her gaze to me. “Welcome to—Shahira!” She squealed and ran around the counter to throw her arms around me. “Oh my sands, you’re alive!” She let go of me but kept her hands on my arms. “Two nights now! No one believes it. They were all in shock when soldiers didn’t come to collect another bride yesterday or this morning. I think they believe me now. They’ve all been talking whispering and none of us have dared get our hopes up, but here you are! Still alive!” She hugged me again.

“Calm down,” I laughed.

Madame Black took my hand in greeting and said under her breath, “Kiara was right.” She wandered out the door.

Kiara finally seemed to notice Zayne and dropped her grip on me. Her face paled. She came to her senses and quickly bowed. “Your Majesty. Please forgive my ignorance.” She must not have seen him at my side initially.

“I’m wearing a disguise.” Zayne looked down at his clothing. “How did you recognize me?”

“We’ve met.” Kiara lifted her eyes to me for help.

I set my hand on her back. “You can stop bowing. Kiara, this is Sultan Zayne, my . . . husband.” It sounded strange to hear it spoken aloud. “Zayne, this is my sister, Kiara.”

He bowed his head to her but kept his distance. “Shahira has spoken of you. I am glad you joined her after breakfast yesterday.”

Kiara straightened and gave a stiff smile. “Certainly. What brings you to our apothecary?” She was on edge. I couldn’t blame her. Being in front of the sultan was intimidating enough without Zayne’s reputation. A reputation even I was confused about, now that suspicious things had happened.

“How did you learn to make herbal remedies?” Zayne busied himself by turning to the small table under the window and admiring the hand-carved statues made by Babkak, who carved rare stones and sold them in our shop.

“Our mother taught us,” Kiara answered.

“You haven’t really spoken of your mother,” Zayne pointed out with a glance thrown in my direction. He picked up a carved figurine of a tiger and turned it over in his hands.

“She . . . passed six years ago,” I said.

Kiara folded her arms. “Not that it’s your business.”

“Kiara,” I warned.

Zayne turned to her. “You’ve rubbed off on your sister.” He nodded his head to Kiara. “But I didn’t intend to pry.”

Kiara shook her head. “How could you not when so many sorceresses were executed back then? And all thanks to your father.”

I grabbed Kiara by the shoulders and backed her up. “You should watch how you speak to him,” I warned. “He’s the sultan! Are you ill from the heat?”

“Shahira, I don’t mind having a discussion with her,” Zayne said. “My father found women taking advantage of people distasteful. How many of those women claimed to have magical remedies and charged a fortune?” Zayne still held the tiger in his hand and frowned softly at me.

“Your father shut down the Zauberin Academy, did he not?” Kiara asked.

He nodded.

“And then he signed a decree that anyone who used magic openly should be arrested,” Kiara added.

Zayne shook his head in protest. “My father always believed women were as strong as men. He treated my mother with the same respect as anyone else before she passed.”

“And yet you kill your wives,” Kiara said.

Zayne’s lips tightened.

“Why don’t we go to the bakery?” I chimed in.

“I would like to purchase this.” Zayne fished into his pocket and held out a coin.

“Oh, you can just take it,” Kiara blurted out, remembering her manners.

“Please let me pay you.” It wasn’t a request; Zayne’s voice was firm.

With a flush, Kiara accepted the gold coin. “It really is too much.”

“Then use the rest to help purchase more. I noticed you gave the vial to that woman for free earlier. Consider this her payment as well.”

Kiara blinked. “You noticed that?”

“There is a lot one can notice when one watches.” He looked at me and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was trying to give me a hint.

“Enjoy your day,” Kiara said, acting much brighter.

“You can come with us, if you would like,” Zayne offered.

My sister shook her head. “You don’t need me to tag along.” She leaned to me and whispered, “You might be interested in knowing Kasim and Jade stayed.”

I gasped. “They stayed? I thought they would have left.”

“Well, they had to take care of arrangements for their parents, if nothing else.”

Zayne held the door open for me.

I gave Kiara a tight hug and whispered, “Take care, Kiara. I’ll send for you soon.”

“She’s a lovely young woman,” Zayne commented, though I thought I heard sarcasm in his voice. He reached for my hand and I allowed him to take it.

“Let me take you down to the bakery. I think you’ll love their treats.”

“Lead the way, my queen.”

I blushed and looked sideways at him.

“I got the tiger for you.” He placed the tiger in the palm of my hand.

“Why?” I held it up and examined the blue sandstone figurine.

“I was sort of drawn to it.” He shrugged. “It reminds me of you. Fierce. Strong. A protector.”