A single brow rose. “Truly? Your coloring leaves a great deal to be desired. Have you spoken with Aisha about your health?”
She waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t wish to trouble Aisha with such things. In any case, Irsa has already made me a tonic that has helped a great deal.”
“Irsa?” He paused in consideration. “So Irsa knows how to brew tonics, then?”
“Somewhat. I suppose you should try one first and then decide.” Shahrzad widened her smile.
“I see.” He stopped near his tent, his expression still dubious. Reza then reached for her arm, his touch light, but nevertheless not to be ignored. “Shahrzad? I do so wish to trust you, but I noticed something rather troubling . . . and I can no longer remain silent on the matter.”
Shahrzad pulled back. “I’m sorry?” Her heart began to trip about in her chest.
“I saw the bloodied linen beside the bed pallet, Shahrzad-jan.” He placed a gentle palm on her forearm, as though he meant to comfort her. “You are clearly injured. I’d like to send for Aisha to take a look at it.” Reza turned to direct the guard behind them with a motion of his free hand.
“Uncle Reza . . . truly I’m not.” She tried to pull away again, panic seizing her.
“I insist.” He smiled, his grip tightening on her arm. If it were anyone else, Shahrzad would have felt beyond threatened. But this was her best friend’s father. A man Shahrzad had known for much of her life. A man she had long considered a second father of sorts. “I could not in good conscience let you leave without first knowing whether or not you are well,” Reza continued. “Please allow Aisha to care for your injury. If you don’t mind, I shall wait with you inside until she arrives.”
“Uncle Reza—”
“Shahrzad-jan”—his expression softened—“I’ve neglected you for far too long, and I was unjust when you first arrived. Though it was from a place of pain, there is still no excuse. Please allow me to make amends. Your condition is truly causing me a great deal of concern, and I cannot continue to go about ignoring it. Allow me this small indulgence. Please.” He motioned with a nod of his head for her to proceed into his tent.
Reluctantly, Shahrzad made her way inside. For she could not see how best to extricate herself without drawing even further attention.
The tent was dark. Dark enough that it took her eyes a moment to adjust to the layers of shadow. Then, from the edges of her vision, Shahrzad caught sight of a hulking figure looming by the entrance.
It was the sentry she’d first met the day after she’d arrived at the Badawi camp. The one with the Fida’i brand seared into his forearm. The one who’d dealt her a rather rash judgment, only to be meted out one in kind.
He came for her in a blur of grey streaking through the dark.
Shahrzad spun back toward the entrance, a scream barreling from her lips. She looked to Reza bin-Latief for help. To Shiva’s father. To the second father she’d so long trusted.
He watched, idly. A calm lethality about his gaze.
As the Fida’i assassin grabbed her by the throat. As a nauseating sweetness clouded her senses.
And everything went black.
THE GREATEST OF ALL LIVING POWERS
OMAR AL-SADIQ WAS AFRAID.
It had been many years since he’d truly felt fear. He was far too old for fear. Far too at ease with life. Far too set in his ways.
But he could not find the Calipha of Khorasan. He’d searched for her all afternoon. And Irsa al-Khayzuran was nowhere to be found, either.
Omar had known something was afoot last night, when his most trusted sentry had come to him and reported that Shahrzad had not returned to her tent. Nor had that same sentry seen the calipha anywhere thereabouts this morning. Which was indeed cause for alarm. Before, when Shahrzad had disappeared each night, she’d always returned to her tent by dawn.
And now Omar was certain his worst fears had come to pass.
In truth, he’d known it was only a matter of time.
Which left Omar with a decision to make. It was obvious Reza bin-Latief had lied to him about his intentions, as Omar had suspected Reza might do. But it broke his heart to know the truth with such unequivocal certainty, for Reza had become a friend. He’d been a good man once. A man who had loved his wife and daughter, and lived a life of simple desires.
But suffering had changed all that. For it was easy to be good and kind in times of plenty. The trying times were the moments that defined a man.
And love? Love was something that did much to change a person. It brought joy as it brought suffering, and in turn brought about those moments that defined one’s character.
Love gave life to the lifeless. It was the greatest of all living powers.
But, as with all things, love had a dark side to it.
The darkness had overtaken Reza bin-Latief, as Omar had seen it would.