The Black Khan by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Author:Ausma Zehanat Khan [Ausma Zehanat Khan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2018-09-12T16:00:00+00:00

35

IN THE BLACK KHAN’S PRESENCE, NO ONE ELSE DARED SIT UPON THE Peacock Throne. In his absence, it was the duty of the Nizam to reign on the Khan’s behalf. Now at the news of the Khan’s return, he descended from the throne to take a position at the head of the reception for the Khan. The Khan’s cousins and aunts and nieces formed two rows, each bearing in their hands beautiful enameled trays decorated in the Khorasani style of turquoise blue and green motifs. The trays were burdened with delicacies: rosewater-flavored sweetmeats, sticky orange loops of hardened syrup, layers of flaky pastry studded with pistachios and almonds, trays upon trays of fresh fruit. The Khan’s youngest niece bore the tray that held his favorite dish: the ruby seeds of pomegranates piled high inside a chalice engraved with an onyx rook.

The elders of the Khan’s family carried garlands of roses in their hands, yet something was amiss. The Nizam realized what it was and frowned at Darya’s absence. The Princess should have been at the head of the reception, but Darya had always shown a regrettable lack of respect for Ashfall’s centuries-old traditions. It was unsurprising that she’d chosen to do so again.

When the Khan entered the Divan-e Shah followed by his commander, the women began a joyful ululation. They scattered rose petals in the air, and as the Khan bent to embrace the women of his family, each of his aunts raised a garland and draped it over his head.

The Nizam frowned. The Khan was dressed in his armor and still bore the grime of the road. Though he smiled and kissed his aunts on both cheeks, the smile was absent from his eyes. He accepted the rituals patiently, tasting something from each of the dishes proffered and fondly kissing the top of his niece’s head before taking a spoonful of pomegranate seeds. He fed her a spoonful in turn, reminding the Nizam that the Khan was prone to these gestures of affection when it came to the women of his family.

Darya was the only one whose behavior unsettled the Prince. She’d earned his suspicion by petitioning for the release of their half-brother Darius from Qaysarieh. And she’d made plain her desire to leave the capital and make common cause with Hira. To the Nizam of the Khan’s empire, the Council of Hira was not a sisterhood to be revered: it was a nest of conspirators, one of whom slithered in their midst. He was waiting for his moment to advise the Khan along those lines. He would also have to account for Darya’s discourteous absence.

It was at his urging that the Khan had prevented Darya from leaving the palace. He had refused her request to study at Hira, and as a punishment for her disloyalty he had banished her from the scriptorium … though somehow Darya managed to slip back into it whenever he was absent from the palace. Now that the Khan had returned, his rules were more likely to be upheld.

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