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Chapter no 20

All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom, 3)

ALIZEH WAS STILL STUDYING THEย surreal sight of the pink blooms all around her, astonishment driving the thunder of her heart.

โ€œCyrus did this,โ€ she said again, this time without inflection.

Just saying his name aloud left her with a strange, disembodied sensation. Alizeh felt suddenly desperate to see him, felt this need inside her like a physical ache.

Of course it was him.

How had she not realized right away?

โ€œAs I said, I find it egregious,โ€ Huda was saying. โ€œHeโ€™s acting like some wounded child โ€“ painting the city in flowers as if heโ€™s planning a funeral โ€“โ€

โ€œWhere is he?โ€

โ€œWho?โ€ Huda startled. โ€œCyrus? Oh, I havenโ€™t the faintest. No one does, usually, and he certainly never tellsย meย what heโ€™s up to. All I know is that he cannot be trusted.โ€

โ€œWhy?โ€ Alizeh asked, her eyes widening. โ€œWhat has he done?โ€

โ€œYou mean aside from all his overt sins?โ€ Huda laughed. โ€œHe hasnโ€™t murdered anyone yet, if thatโ€™s what youโ€™re asking. But heโ€™s very, very

secretive, and very irregular. Do you know, on several occasions I caught him speaking, with great feeling, to aย dragon?โ€

Alizeh frowned. โ€œThatโ€™s not very irregular, is it? People talk to animals all the time.โ€

โ€œYes, but who speaks toย dragons?โ€ she said, sounding exasperated. โ€œTheir ears alone are about a mile up their heads, which are about a mile from the ground. Imagine speaking to a dragon and thinking they could hear you! Iโ€™m certain youโ€™d have to be deranged.โ€

Alizehโ€™s frown only deepened. โ€œSurely you might choose some other reason to dislike him? This feels a bit unfair.โ€

โ€œOh, Iโ€™veย loadsย of other reasons for thinking heโ€™s deranged, donโ€™t you worry.โ€ Huda waved a hand. โ€œI neednโ€™t list them all.โ€

At that, Alizeh felt as if something had flickered out inside her, taking her energy with it. โ€œNo,โ€ she said quietly. โ€œYou neednโ€™t list them all.โ€

โ€œAnyway, as I was saying, it likelyย wasย Cyrus who poisoned you, if you could only recall โ€“โ€

โ€œHuda,โ€ she said, staring into her hands, trying desperately to channel calm.

โ€œYes, dear?โ€

โ€œIโ€™d like to leave this room โ€“ to find Hazan โ€“ Iโ€™m feeling a bit faint, and I think fresh air would do me some good. Perhaps we might finish this conversation at a later time, preferably while Iโ€™m wearing undergarments.โ€

Huda made another shrill, birdlike sound, then jumped from the bed as if sheโ€™d been branded. She spun around and said, โ€œYes! Of course, theyย toldย me to bring you a set of clothes โ€“ Iโ€™ll be right back โ€“โ€

โ€œWhat? Whoโ€™sย they?โ€

Huda was halfway down the stairs when she called over her shoulder: โ€œThe Diviners, of course! They had to burn your other ones, you knowโ€ โ€“ she grabbed the door handle โ€“ โ€œbecause of the contamination โ€“ though I

wouldnโ€™t mourn the loss too much, as they were all covered in blood in any case โ€“โ€

โ€œHuda โ€“ wait โ€“โ€

But Huda had already yanked open the door, called for Omid, exchanged a few hurried words with the boy, retrieved something out of sight, then slipped back inside the room, nudging the door closed with her hip. The heavy panel slammed shut behind Hudaโ€™s back, and the young woman smiled up at Alizeh with great joy. In her arms she held a small,

beautifully fashioned piece of luggage, the supple, powder-blue leather of the hard case fastened at intervals by brass hinges and clasps.

Stunned, Alizeh only stared at her.

โ€œCan you not imagine my delight?โ€ Huda said, ascending the steps in a flurry. โ€œNow itโ€™s my turn to dressย you!โ€

Alizeh felt the light fade from her eyes.

โ€œOh, donโ€™t look so horrified! Besides, if you donโ€™t trust my taste, you might trust Sarraโ€™s โ€“ she and I are a similar size, and sheโ€™s been letting me borrow a great deal of her garments.โ€ Huda threw back her head and laughed. โ€œIโ€™m wearing the castoffs of a queen! If only Mother could see me now!โ€

โ€œYour mother,โ€ Alizeh repeated softly, reminded that sheโ€™d overlooked an enormous detail. โ€œHuda, if youโ€™ve been here for almost four weeks,

where does your mother think you are? Your family must be worried.โ€

Hudaโ€™s eyes went round. โ€œOh, no, itโ€™s quite incredible, really. Father is outrageously proud โ€“ he said he always knew the blood of an ambassador ran through my veins! And now Mother hasnโ€™t any choice but to sing my praises, for weโ€™re all practically famous โ€“โ€

โ€œFamous? What do you mean?โ€

โ€œYes, right, best to start at the beginning, isnโ€™t it?โ€ Huda placed the suitcase on the floor. โ€œWell, the news out of Ardunia is that the Diviners have stayed Zahhakโ€™s hand โ€“โ€

โ€œWhoโ€™s Zahhak?โ€

โ€œAh.โ€ Hudaโ€™s brows pinched together. โ€œCan you remind me where you left off in all this? Itโ€™s been a frantic few weeks, and I canโ€™t remember how much you donโ€™t know.โ€

Alizeh stared blankly at the girl. โ€œThe last time I truly saw you, you were trying to beat Cyrus over the head with a candelabra.โ€

Huda reddened at the mention of this, then laughed nervously, and

before Alizeh could question her reaction, the young woman delivered her a mad rush of information. They passed a few minutes in this way, Alizeh prodding and Huda providing. Huda described all that occurred after Alizeh was whisked away from the ball on the back of a dragon, and how Zahhak โ€“ the oily defense minister of Ardunia โ€“ had tried to steal the throne out from underneath Prince Kamran, โ€œwho was basically locked in a tower by the

Diviners โ€“โ€

Alizeh gasped.

โ€œโ€“ but then saved by Simorgh โ€“โ€ Again, Alizeh gasped.

Too, Huda explained her coincidental presence during this difficult time at the palace โ€“

โ€œAnd then all of us, including me and Deen and Omid, flew to Tulan, even though Kamran didย notย want us to come with him, and he was adamant that he didnโ€™t care whether any of us died in the process, because he mostly just wanted to kill Cyrus โ€“โ€

Except that he hadnโ€™t killed Cyrus, and instead the two young men had come to some impossible truce, which resulted in an open invitation for their group to remain at the palace. When Alizeh had asked to know the

terms of this unlikely peace treaty, Hudaโ€™s color deepened very suddenly, and she refused to say more except to explain that the prince, in an unexpected pivot, was being praised by the people of Ardunia as a

compassionate peacekeeper, for it was now passing as common knowledge that heโ€™d traveled all this way โ€“ against the interests of Zahhak โ€“ in the

hopes of preventing war.

โ€œAnd now,โ€ Huda said eagerly, โ€œall of us are being credited for forging friendship between the two empires!โ€

โ€œHeavens,โ€ Alizeh said softly.

โ€œIncredible, isnโ€™t it?โ€ Huda was nodding. โ€œOur kingdoms have never coexisted so peacefully. Itโ€™s been well over a decade since an Ardunian sovereign has even been invited to stay in Tulan. In fact,โ€ she added in an undertone, โ€œIโ€™ve learned from the servants โ€“ who are oddly tight-lipped when it comes to gossip about their king, by the way โ€“ that Cyrus has never hosted a single guest at the palace during his rule, which is quite unheard of, and makes our stay all the more exceptional as a result.โ€

โ€œAnd no one thinks it strange?โ€ Alizeh asked. โ€œThat the Ardunian prince would choose to make nice with the person responsible for murdering the king of his empire?โ€

Huda considered this, tilting her head as she said, โ€œActually, now that I see how itโ€™s all developed, I think it wouldโ€™ve been a great deal worse if Kamran had, in fact, killed Cyrus. Did you know that a mob tried to storm the palace before we left Ardunia?โ€

Alizeh shook her head, horrified.

โ€œWellโ€ โ€“ Huda nodded โ€“ โ€œthe people were so disgusted with Zaal after he was unmasked at the ball that they rioted for about a week. Even the

royals were scrambling to distance themselves from the late king โ€“ some going so far as to praise Cyrusโ€™s actions, if you can believe it. A few even joined the fray to protest.โ€

โ€œWhat were they protesting? The possibility of war?โ€

Again, Huda nodded. โ€œMost were refusing to die in the defense of a disgraced king; but they were also condemning Kamran by association, claiming they didnโ€™t want another corrupt sovereign whoโ€™d just as likely strike a deal with Iblees โ€“โ€

โ€œBut thatโ€™s terribly unfair โ€“โ€

โ€œYes, terribly unfair, but the riots were quelled once word spread that

the prince had already fled Ardunia โ€“ immediately after Zaalโ€™s death โ€“ to try to make amends with the southern empire. The general consensus is that heโ€™s wonderfully selfless to have spared his people unnecessary bloodshed, even while grieving his grandfather.โ€ She laughed, then shook her head. โ€œNot at all the truth, of course, but my point is that if heย hadย killed Cyrus, our empires wouldโ€™ve certainly gone to war, and it wouldโ€™ve been tragically unpopular. Kamran mightโ€™ve faced a veritable insurrection.

โ€œOf courseโ€ โ€“ she leaned in โ€“ โ€œweโ€™re the only ones who know the real reason it all worked out for him, and thatโ€™s entirely thanks to you, isnโ€™t it?โ€ She pulled back and smiled. โ€œCyrus really,ย reallyย wanted to have us all executed, but Hazan pointed out that youโ€™d be terribly cross with him if he murdered your friends, and he hasnโ€™t mentioned it since. And now here we are! Making peace! Best of all, Zahhak looks dumb and Kamran looks grand and โ€“โ€

โ€œAnd you and Omid and Deen have been celebrated,โ€ Alizeh finished for her, feeling dazed. It was a great deal to absorb.

โ€œYes!โ€ cried Huda, who then quickly sobered. โ€œApart from being worried sick about you, of course, itโ€™s been the most exciting time of my life. Iโ€™m getting letters from fans! Can you imagine! Peopleย loveย me.โ€ She hesitated. โ€œWell, itโ€™s mostly children. Some old men, too, I think, though itโ€™s sometimes hard to tell โ€“โ€

โ€œHuda?โ€

โ€œYes?โ€

โ€œHow does Hazan feel about all this?โ€

She stilled, her smile frozen. โ€œI donโ€™t know.โ€ โ€œSurely you might venture a guess?โ€

Huda looked away then, biting the inside of her cheek before she said, โ€œI think it might be best if you talked to Hazan about how Hazan feels.โ€ She looked back. โ€œHe doesnโ€™t share his feelings with me.โ€

Alizeh softened. โ€œIs he all right, at least?โ€

โ€œI suppose so? Heโ€™s been terribly grim. Not as bad as the others, but grim nonetheless.โ€

โ€œI see.โ€ Alizeh averted her eyes, taking a moment to study the shape of a particularly fine rose. She took a steadying breath before she said: โ€œAnd Cyrus?โ€

โ€œWhat about him?โ€

Alizeh struggled to meet Hudaโ€™s eyes. Her interest in the southern king was almost impossible to hide, though she made an effort to appear indifferent. โ€œWhatโ€™s he like?โ€

โ€œWhatโ€™s he like?โ€ Huda echoed, surprised. โ€œYou mean aside from being obviously cracked in the head?โ€

Alizeh suppressed a flinch. She couldnโ€™t explain why, but every insult Huda leveled against Cyrus seemed to prick her with its sting. And yet, she had no good reason to defend him.

โ€œWell,โ€ Huda was saying. โ€œI suppose you should know: he doesnโ€™t act at all like a king. He wears the same dreary clothes every day, no pomp whatsoever. Heโ€™sย obscenelyย quiet; he never sits down; Iโ€™ve never seen him eat; and he performs a shocking amount of magic. Heโ€™s always disappearing, for example, or else appearing when you least expect him.

Iโ€™ve seen more magic from him in this last month than Iโ€™ve seen in my whole life โ€“ and Iโ€™m inclined to agree with Kamran that he must get his power from the devil, for how else could he cast so many spells? And no one knows where he goes when heโ€™s all the time disappearing! Very

suspicious.โ€ She lowered her voice. โ€œThough I overheard Kamran in a rage one day, telling Hazan how heโ€™d witnessed Cyrus in some ungodly state the night prior โ€“ something about him being drenched in blood โ€“โ€

Alizeh inhaled sharply.

โ€œI know! Horrifying! Then again, when I saw Cyrus later that day he appeared perfectly normal, so I fear Kamran mightโ€™ve been exaggerating.โ€ Huda exhaled, deflating as suddenly as she animated. โ€œOtherwise,โ€ she said, โ€œheโ€™s boorish and awful and wastes all his evil magic on stale displays of imitation guilt. Heavens, if he feels so terrible about whatโ€™s happened to you, perhaps he never shouldโ€™ve kidnapped you to begin with!โ€ she cried,

angrily swiping petals off the bed. โ€œI swear, itโ€™s insupportable. Heโ€™s enchanted every inch of the city with the same pink roses, and he refuses to say a word about it โ€“ he hasnโ€™t even accepted responsibility! The citizens, of course, think theyโ€™re all elaborate displays for the Wintrose Festival, but I know better. I caught him once, saw him growing roses in his hands โ€“โ€

โ€œI see,โ€ said Alizeh with a quiet finality. She couldnโ€™t bear to hear more about the flowers; her heart was already too soft toward the notorious southern king. โ€œI take it heโ€™s treated you all poorly?โ€

Huda hesitated. โ€œNo,โ€ she said. โ€œIn fact, weโ€™ve been well cared for.

Omid eats enough for ten of us, and Deen has been delighting in the medicinal stores available in the castle. Deen says that, in Ardunia, heโ€™s only allotted a very small amount of magic from the crown for his business, but here, they have access to a great deal. He asked the king one day if he might try his hand at mixing potions, and Cyrus did not deny him access.โ€ She shrugged. โ€œAnyway, Omid eats a lot, I spy a lot, Kamran skulks, Hazan broods, and Deen spends most of his days working with the palace alchemist. We all meet for meals, though mostly we donโ€™t see Cyrus at all. I suppose he has lots of secretive things to do, being king, et cetera.โ€

Finally, Hudaโ€™s small speech came to a close, and Alizeh turned to face her. A thousand more questions sat at the tip of her tongue, but she was prevented from asking, for Huda had pinned her with a curious look.

โ€œAre you really going to marry him?โ€ she asked.

Alizeh froze. She felt oddly breathless at the thought, and said softly, โ€œI might.โ€

Surprisingly, Huda did not condemn her for it. Instead, she canted her head and said, โ€œI didnโ€™t understand at first, of course. Though I suppose now I can see the draw.โ€

Alizehโ€™s lips parted in astonishment. โ€œYou can?โ€

โ€œOf course I can.โ€ Huda laughed, then frowned. โ€œI might marry him, too, if it meant I got to kill him shortly thereafter and take his empire.โ€

At once, Alizeh felt as if all the blood had rushed from her head. โ€œHow did you โ€“ How do you โ€“โ€

โ€œOh, my dear, donโ€™t look so afraid! No one is upset with you! That is, Kamran was understandably distressed at first โ€“ but just until Cyrus told us about Iblees forcing him to marry you.โ€ She waved a hand. โ€œNot to worry; he clarified the terms of your deal. He even told us heโ€™d offered to make you a blood oath โ€“ which I think is a very good idea, by the way, no matter

how brutal Hazan claims it to be.โ€ She raised an eyebrow. โ€œI certainly wouldnโ€™t risk marrying such a man without a blood oath to secure my future.โ€

Alizeh blinked, stunned. โ€œSo everyone knows? And no one objects to me marrying Cyrus?โ€

โ€œWell.โ€ Huda bit her fingernail. โ€œPerhaps you should speak with Hazan before you make your final decision. I fear he has a great deal to say to you on the subject.โ€

Again, Alizeh blinked. โ€œI see.โ€

โ€œAnyhow,โ€ Huda said cheerfully, and tapped the suitcase. โ€œThe gown Iโ€™ve chosen for you isย sublime. Sarra showed me the trousseau sheโ€™d gathered in your honor, and together we went through the many articles sheโ€™d selected for your wardrobe. Most things have to be remade in your

measurements, by the way โ€“ which I found shocking, considering how well that lavender dress fit you the night of the ball โ€“ but Sarra explained that Cyrusโ€™s gifts had been magicked to fit their wearer, while the garments sheโ€™d chosen were ordinary commissions โ€“โ€

โ€œHuda,โ€ Alizeh said, struggling to center herself, โ€œI donโ€™t mean to offend, but Iโ€™ve grown weary under the weight of these many disclosures. I think Iโ€™d prefer to return to the palace and choose my own clothes. There

are many important conversations ahead of me, and all I need for now is something decent and sensible โ€“โ€

Huda scoffed. โ€œAs if you could wear something decent and sensible to face such a crowd! Youโ€™re their queen, dear, and you have to look the part, especially as theyโ€™ve all been waiting so patiently โ€“โ€

โ€œWhat?โ€

Huda, whoโ€™d been unlatching the luggage, briefly froze. โ€œRight,โ€ she said, wincing. โ€œDid I forget to mention that part?โ€

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