Palace of Wishes (2020 Reissue) by Helena Rookwood & Elm Vince

Author:Helena Rookwood & Elm Vince [Rookwood, Helena & Vince, Elm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798629895084
Published: 2020-04-15T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The thundering in my chest hadn’t relented since we’d stepped aboard the ship. It seemed like too much of a coincidence, Aliyah and Bahar both on board the same ship, the thief queen Namir’s prisoner, and Kassim apparently unaware that he’d hired a pirate king to transport us to Hidu.

I almost fainted when we entered the captain’s cabin for dinner. Good luck charms adorned every wall, matching the smaller versions Bahar wore pinned to his coat and strung through his hair.

Worse, scarlet drapes lined with shining silver coins hung from the walls, all too similar to the musical outfit I’d worn when I’d played him at cards. As the ship rolled, the coins jangled together, recalling the bells that had hung from my outfit. Had the thieves intentionally dressed me up like the pirate’s ship, The Scarlet Dancer?

At least that explained why he was so happy to trade his carpet for me…

I gritted my teeth. Whether Kassim knew who he’d hired or not, this was bad. How long before Bahar remembers who I am? The ship swayed again, and a carpet that had been rolled up against the wall thudded to the floor.

I stared resolutely at my food, occasionally lifting a forkful of spiced fish and almonds before allowing it to fall back to the plate. The captain’s sullen crew hovered at my back, thrusting platter after platter of unwanted flatbreads, salted meats, and dried fruit toward my face. I shook my head each time, my lips clamped together as the ship lurched and swayed over the waves.

Bahar sat directly opposite me, something I was sure he had arranged deliberately, and instead of eating he just stared at me, head resting in one hand, elbow propped on the table. His other hand toyed with a lamp-shaped silver bead threaded into his hair. He ignored all of Kassim’s attempts at conversation, ignored the vizier’s increasing frustration when he grunted in answer to her questions about routes and charts, and ignored his crew’s questions about what food to bring in, his eyes glued on me.

He moved only occasionally to reach for the goblet of wine before him, which he drained and slammed back on the table to be refilled, before reaching back for the lamp-shaped bead in his hair.

To my left, I was sure Namir took note of everything. I gnawed at my lip. The spymaster’s observational skills were unsurpassed. As well as noting Bahar’s blatant interest in me – which wasn’t exactly going unnoticed by the rest of the table, either – he would certainly be aware of my unusual silence and refusal to meet the captain’s eyes.

I knew Namir would find the time to question me later. But I had questions for him, too.

Why did he capture Aliyah? Does he know Bahar and Aliyah have a history?

I dispiritedly prodded at the plate of fish and nuts again.

“Are you a friend of Lady Yasmine?” Bahar suddenly barked, making all of us jump. “She has a palace in Nimris, in the north of Astaran.

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