Page 76 of The Moon's Fury
But he saw them clearly now for the monsters they were.
And he had a new purpose.
He glanced at Soraya. Her knuckles were white on Zar’s reins as they trotted through the marketplace, the golden sun baking the worn cobblestone streets. The scent of sizzling lamb and spiced oranges wafted through the air, mingling with the sharp tang of fresh citrus piled high in woven baskets.
But something wasn’t quite right.
People moved through the market with hasty footsteps. Many skipped haggling altogether, quickly pressing coins into merchants’ hands and leaving without a word. Eyes flicked to rooftops, toward the few guards stationed at the street’s end. Even the clang of coins felt subdued. The city was holding its breath.
No one paid them a second glance.
Shahbaad Palace loomed over the city. Its gray stone walls were weathered, streaked with dirt and neglect. The emerald domes appeared dull, and winding vines curled along the outer walls, spilling into the courtyard where weeds pushed through cracked flagstones.
Two guards manned the gate, idle and bored. Hadiyah dismounted and approached them.
“Open the gates. King Dharaid’s daughter has returned.”
The guards shared a bemused look, then burst into laughter. Hadiyah glowered at them, and they quickly fell quiet.
Jamil didn’t blame them—he knew firsthand the heavy weight of her glare.
“I am Hadiyah, widow of King Khahleel of Alzahra, mother of Queen Layna of Alzahra, and daughter of King Dharaid. I was born, raised, and wed in this palace. Open the gateimmediately.”
The guards shared another look, uncertain this time. One of them nodded to the other, and he slowly opened the gate.
Soraya looked at him.
That was their cue.
With a snapping of the reins, they took off. Behind them, Hadiyah shouted, “Stop them!”
An arrow whizzed past his head, followed by a pained whinny. In the distance, he heard Hadiyah shout, “Don’tshootat them, you flaming donkeys! That’s my daughter!”
Soraya wasn’t riding beside him any longer.
One of the guards had aimed true, and an arrow protruded from Zar’s hindquarters, slowing him down. The brown stallion was shaky on his legs, whinnying in distress.
“Moons,” he swore and doubled back with Ahmar. Soraya’s panicked gaze met his. The guards seemed to have found their senses and were calling for help. “We have to leave him. Come on.”
She dismounted and clambered up behind him. Soraya had barely situated herself when he snapped the reins, urging Ahmar into a furious gallop.
She pivoted in the saddle, facing the palace. “I’m sorry, Mama!” she yelled. “I love you! I’ll come back! Don’t worry!”
They left Shahbaad behind.
They rode the entire day and well into the night, putting as much distance between them and Shahbaad as possible, only stopping briefly for Ahmar to rest.
“All right?” he’d asked her during a short stop. She was lost in her thoughts, chewing the inside of her cheek as she often did. Another nervous habit of hers he’d come to know. Heranswering nod was unconvincing, and he found himself wishing for the right words to soothe, to comfort.
He came up empty.
Now, he stoked the fire, rotating the rabbit on a makeshift skewer. He chanced a look at Soraya, sitting beside him. She hadn’t spoken a word since they left Shahbaad.
Did she regret her decision?
Would she ask him to take her back to her mother?
Was she nervous—
