The prince turned as they approached, his lips curved in the charismatic smile Ella remembered so well.
He had been beardless before, but he had grown a thin beard, sculpted to follow the contours of his face and meeting his upper lip in two lines on either side of his chin. Ella was surprised to find she liked it. Prince Ilathor's near-black hair was very long, past his shoulders, held back with a golden clasp, and his dark skin was smooth and unblemished. He wore an earring of gold and amber in his left ear, and around his neck was a golden chain from which hung a curved turquoise triangle.
The black clothing of the Hazarans sat snugly around the prince's broad shoulders, but it was the yellow sash around his waist that caught Ella's attention. The raj hada in its centre was made of moulded yellow gold, the desert rose of Raj Hazara etched into the gold.
Jehral entered first, the two women flanking him on either side. Jehral bowed, somewhat clumsily for the usually graceful warrior. Ella — and Shani, she was surprised to see — followed suit.
"My prince," Jehral said. "I have been to far-off lands, but now I have returned."
"Jehral," Prince Ilathor said warmly, coming forward and clasping the man's left hand between both of his. "I never doubted you."
"Yet you left without me," Jehral said, his eyes accusing.
"I am sorry, my friend. Binding the tribes together is no easy feat. The reconstruction of Agira Lahsa is well underway and we rediscover more of our lore every day. The men were growing restless, and I could wait no longer. In my position, Jehral, would you not do the same?"
Jehral bowed his head. "I do not think to presume, my prince."
The prince smiled. "We missed you at the fight; rest assured of that, my friend."
Ella exchanged glances with Shani, and then, without quite realising she'd done it, she cleared her throat.
"And I see you brought me my desert rose," the prince said, smiling and directing his attention to Ella.
"She…" Jehral said. "She…"
Jehral stumbled, and then, before any of them could react, fell to the floor.
Prince Ilathor looked at Ella for the first time. "What have you done to him?" he demanded, his eyes blazing. "He is wounded. Can you not see?"
Ella felt the colour rise to her cheeks. "Prince Ilathor —" she began.
"Guards!" the prince called. The door to the room opened. "Take Jehral to the infirmary. Give him the best possible care, understood?"
"Yes, at once, my prince," the guard said.
"Then find these two some chambers. Close by. Don't let either of them out of your sight."
"Understood, my prince."
"If he has come to harm," the prince said to Ella, "I will hold you directly responsible."
"I…" Ella tried again.
Ella and Shani were surrounded by guards, and before Ella could say another word, they were led away.
Shani's parting words followed her.
"That went well," her friend said.
25
PERHAPS the mixed reception was a blessing, for Ella was travel-stained and exhausted. Her next meeting with the prince was to be later in the evening, at dinner, which gave her time to rest, then bathe, and then rest again.
The chambers she'd been given were surprisingly spacious, with a deep bath in an adjoining room where scalding hot water from the volcanic lake was piped directly in. Fresh towels and linens were stacked in a neat pile, and with joy Ella discovered that the chest at the foot of the bed was filled with clean clothing.
The next time she met with the prince, she planned for things to go quite differently.
For some reason Ella found herself spending an inordinate amount of time in front of the silver mirror. She washed her body and hair with soap that smelled like jasmine, afterwards combing her pale blonde hair until it shone. She tried on the garments one after another, finally settling on a sleeveless dress of cornflower blue.
Ella suddenly stopped herself. What was she doing?
She was meeting with a powerful leader. She was representing her people, and the things she spoke about with the prince could have a great impact on the world.
Was it anything else?
No. Of course not.
With that resolved, Ella settled her silver pendant on its chain between her breasts. Was the dress cut too low? Of course not.
She wondered how many people would be at the dinner. Probably at least twenty, she thought. Jehral would be there, if he was well enough, and certainly Shani, and the leaders of the other tarns. She hoped that she would be seated close enough to the prince that she could explain how Jehral had been wounded, and that she'd had nothing to do with his insistence to see the prince immediately.
Ella looked into the silver mirror. Her green eyes sparkled back.
When the summons came, she was ready.
~