Page 102 of Silver & Gold
“Doesn’t change the fact.”
“We’ll deal with Kahzir,” Nasrin promised, steel returning to her voice. “We’ll deal with every single traitor, murderer, and abuser. The djinn can say all they like about peace, but sometimes you need justice.”
***
The roc alighted to the sound of shouts. Raider and Seth scrambled up from their cushions. Nasrin, however, was clearly prepared because she practically dove through the slitted opening of the palanquin, skimmed down the ladder, and started barking orders.
Raider blocked the ladder, keeping Seth back while Nasrin got things under control. When the guards stood down, backing away from the roc as it waited serenely, Raider descended the shimmering ladder and stepped down into the grass.
They had flown through the night and into the morning, and the light lay golden through the empress’s east-facing garden. It looked so tame after Jannat. Each tree and bush was in its place, carefully trimmed. Its small pool lay clear and quiet. There were no waterfalls. No wildly rambling vines.
After Raider and Seth were clear of the ladder, which vanished along with the bulbous palanquin, the roc hopped to the little pool. It dipped its beak to the water. When it lifted its head, the pool was half drained and several shining fish flipped their tails at the edge of the roc’s yellow beak before vanishing within it.
Then the giant bird sprang into the air, huge wings lifting it high. Its bold shape glided over Kastari and away into the desert, leaving them to deal with their human troubles.
The guards stood aside as Empress Zarina emerged from a grand, open doorway. Wearing another stiff blue gown that hid her figure, she walked out to meet them. In place of her gold sunburst headdress, she wore a simpler gold crown, and her dark hair was styled high atop her head. Her pace was measured, her expression carefully neutral, but Raider could see the strain. He could feel how desperately she wanted to run to her lover.
Nasrin dropped to one knee in deference and bowed her head in shame. She said nothing though. She wouldn’t speak in front of the guard, but she was communicating the mission’s failure.
Demonstrating nothing of her feelings, the empress ordered, “Come, all of you. We will speak.”
Zarina turned and proceeded toward the doorway. Nasrin climbed to her feet, forced her chin up, and followed.
The empress led them through the garden and into an opulent sitting room. Raider recognized it at once. How many times had he been here with Hassan? Twenty? Fifty?
Why did he feel oppressed by it? Not frightened or sad or guilty. Oppressed.
Maybe he’d always felt oppressed here but hadn’t noticed it amid his relief at being rescued from the streets. After all, he’d been well accustomed to being called a street rat. At least Hassan had said it with something like affection. That had seemed to him quite significant at the time. And yet, when Raider had described himself to Seth with those words, that morning in the kahve shop, Seth had been furious. He hadn’t allowed it.
“Are we alone?” Raider asked as Zarina turned to face them. “Truly?”
“We are,” she said.
“Then stop holding back—and kiss your damn woman.”
Zarina gave a sudden, teary huff of laughter and flung her arms wide. Face twisting, Nasrin hurried into the embrace. She was so damn careful not to smash her lover’s delicate belly with the golden filigree of her armor.
That belly was fully given away even by the gentle press of their bodies. And their love was even more apparent. As Nasrin bent low, trembling in Zarina’s embrace, Zarina ran a shaky hand over Nasrin’s uncharacteristically messy braids. They kissed with a sweet desperation. They would have known they might not see each other again, and they had both been willing to risk it. For the child.
When the two parted reluctantly, Zarina clearly realized what had been exposed. She gasped and placed a hand over her belly.
“It was already obvious, darling,” Raider said.
Zarina lifted a dark eyebrow. “I see you’re back to being comfortable with me.”
“We’re all in a damn mess together, so”—Raider shrugged—“might as well be.” He gentled his tone. “We would never hurt you or your baby.”
Zarina’s eyes hardened. “Some would. That I know all too well.”
Nasrin confessed, “I told Raider of what happened to our beautiful girl, since he had already guessed about your condition. I wanted him to understand why we need the Stone, but … oh, Zarina.” Nasrin bowed her head.
“Before we get into all that,” Seth interrupted. “Do we need to worry about the father? He could very well be involved—”
“Um, Seth?” At Raider’s interruption, Seth looked him with an obliviousness that had Raider covering his mouth to hide his amusement.
“I am the father,” Nasrin declared. “So to speak.” Her face was red, but her jaw was firm. Her gray eyes glinted with challenge. Zarina took her hand.
Seth blinked.