Page 114 of Kiss of Fire

“But you support Salaq’s quest for the throne, don’t you?” she asked. “I thought he was reckless, a bad choice of leader for Nush’aldaam.”

Aelfric smiled mockingly.

“And who told you that, daughter?”

“Well… Lord Shadeed.”

“The jinn who wishes to steal the throne for himself.”

“He said the true heir was Kamran, the son of the previous emperor. But then Kamran died in the Forbidden Zone.”

“A terrible accident.” Aelfric gestured carelessly. “I allowed him to go on ahead of me to take the best game. I ordered the bestials to protect him but my message wasn’t heeded and he was lost to us. Now we must look to the future.”

“But how did it happen?” Raya glanced at her father, genuinely curious. “You’re all-powerful here, how did your orders get overlooked?”

His violet gaze rested on her for a moment and the haze in her mind kicked up a notch.

“It is rare, but it does happen. Not even I am infallible.”

She nodded dutifully.

“Yes, father.”

“And now I have a special treat for you, child. Come and look.”

He led her into the throne room. The lords and ladies were swarming round something, poking and prodding. They were giggling like children but there was a cruel edge to their laughter. Raya was reminded of hyenas converging on a wounded animal.

“Enough.”

Aelfric spoke quietly but everyone immediately stepped aside, bowing their heads low in obeisance.

Raya saw what they had been poking at. It was a gilded cage and inside was a woman. At first it was hard to make out what she looked like. She was filthy. Her clothes were torn and she smelled as if she hadn’t bathed for days.

Raya recoiled. Why was such a disgusting creature being allowed to defile the palace?

But then she noticed the red hair.

“Leona?”

The woman in the cage saw her and flew at the bars.

“Help me!”

“Quiet.” She fell silent as Aelfric slowly walked around the cage, examining the prisoner. “Suraya, this is the woman who betrayed you. She came to Feyir expecting a reward.”

The si’lat’s eyes flashed.

“I did as you asked. I don’t deserve this.”

Raya was impressed by the si’lat’s resilience. She refused to drop her gaze and stood straight, despite the dirt and rags.

“I asked you to fetch her unharmed. Silas tells me you struck her on the face. Twice.” He turned to Raya. “Is this true, daughter?”

Leona’s jaw dropped.

“Daughter?”

“Yes father,” Raya answered. She saw fear flash across Leona’s face and felt a frisson of satisfaction. “She hit me.”

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