Princess of Smoke (2020 Reissue) by Helena Rookwood & Elm Vince

Author:Helena Rookwood & Elm Vince [Rookwood, Helena & Vince, Elm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798640387957
Published: 2020-05-06T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

“It’s really quite extraordinary what happened to your sister.” Sultanah Farideh held out her goblet to be refilled by one of the many servants fluttering around the reception room with large ewers of wine.

White-and-gold banners billowed from the high ceilings, and with the soft hiss of rain on the roof, the immense, guest-filled room actually felt quite cozy in the lantern light.

“However,” she continued, adjusting the emerald green silks stitched with bronze thread that bared her trim midriff. “From what Diyan has told me of your Royal Vizier, it sounds entirely in character.”

Next to his mother, Prince Diyan shuffled on the spot and made a non-committal noise. I noticed he had a book tucked under his arm, no doubt waiting for the next opportunity to slip away somewhere and read it.

Out of all the guests in the reception room, I was most excited to meet the Sultanah of Nahraj. In her fifties, she was a tall, intelligent woman with sharp eyes and a quick tongue. Twin sections of silver hair were pinned back from her face, while the rest of her midnight locks cascaded down to the backs of her knees.

“I’m very lucky to have my sister back.”

We both gazed over to the opposite side of the throne room, where Lalana, dressed in her purple gown, was surrounded by my family, all three of Kassim’s sisters, and the real Prince Cao, who looked identical to the spirit-imitation I’d met previously.

“If you listen to court gossip, you’re apparently very lucky to still be engaged to the sultan, what with your elder sister’s sudden return,” Sultanah Farideh observed, her shrewd gaze never leaving my sister. “She’s just as charming and beautiful as the tales. I’ve heard more than a few whispers Kassim will re-establish the original betrothal.”

My eyes snapped to the older woman to find her already looking at me. Her words, although delivered mildly, stung.

A smattering of applause floated up in the distance, then the soft, warbling notes of Lalana’s voice rang out through the room, accompanied by a simple melody played by Prince Cao, who had somehow sourced a lute.

“Lalana is very talented at many things,” I replied, my throat a little tight.

“You know, I knew Kassim’s mother, Nayana, well. She was also a beautiful singer and raised all of her children with a love of music and song.”

I nodded, not trusting my voice to reply. Even Sultanah Farideh, a woman who ruled her queendom alone, and who had fueled my dreams of becoming a sultanah one day myself, thought Lalana was better suited to the Astarian royal bloodline.

Did everyone apart from the sultan think Lalana was the better choice?

“However,” the sultanah continued, playing with the large, emerald-studded discs hanging from her ears, “I’ve not found charming guests to be a requisite to ruling my country. Nor has being tone deaf ever held me back from being a fine sultanah.”

Prince Diyan smiled at me from his mother’s side. “I told Mother all about you from our time together.” He untucked the book from beneath his arm.

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