Zahra

My mind is in a scramble. How do I get away from this awful fate?

I am taken back to the harem and Princess Lilly is in the courtyard wearing all white. A brilliant smile is on her face.

How can she be so brainwashed?

When she sees me however she frowns. "I was told you are not Captain Mahmud's sister."

"That is correct," I say.

"You're beautiful, but you're not that beautiful," Lilly says with a scowl. "I'm told you're a witch. A witch who can transform herself into a horse. You're an abomination like Shala."

Quite the difference between the sweet and charismatic young woman I originally met. Her true colors are showing now and I beg the gods assist me in keeping my cool.

"Lilly, if I'm a witch, don't you think you should be more careful of what you say to me?" I ask her, raising an eyebrow.

"You won't harm me, my father would have you killed," Lilly says with a laugh. "You're afraid of my father. Everyone is. My father gets what he wants. He always does. You're his new toy I hear. Once Mahmud knows that, he won't ever think of you again."

"On the contrary, when you love someone, you don't see them as an object that can be damaged, you see them as a soul. Mahmud and I have a bond those with such a shallow perspective will never understand," I hiss at her. "No matter what happens to this body. My heart will be with Mahmud and Mahmud's with mine."

"That's because Mahmud has never tasted the love of a true human woman," Lilly says.

Talking to her is pointless. Lecturing this vain princess will only create more animosity in her towards me. I bite my tongue and look towards the wise woman who sits in the corner of the courtyard.

"Please forgive me, Princess Lilly, I spoke out of turn," I say with a bow and walk over to where Shala sits.

"How long have you been here?" I ask her, sitting beside her. I'm unsure of her loyalty. Unsure if I can trust her, but for some reason, sitting with another magical being feels better than standing among human women who think me an abomination.

"I do no know," Shala says with a shrug. "I've lost track of the days. Why do you sit with me? Shouldn't you be angered at me for telling him the truth? I did you no favors today, horse witch."

"It's horse-shifter actually," I say, and I brush a strand of hair behind my ear. "We prefer that term, although horse witch is growing on me I'll admit." I can't believe I just used humor in my situation. As if I have anything under control. All control and power I've had has slipped like sand between my fingers.

"Do you love the king, Shala?" I ask her. "Is that why you serve him so faithfully?"

"Gods no," Shala says, shaking her head and a wry smile spreads across her lips. "I hate him with every fiber of my being. But he has my life in his hands and I learned long ago that obedience was the only option." She pulls back one of her sleeves to reveal brutal burn scars on her arm.

"He did that to you?" I ask her, my eyes huge. For years Mahmud and I fought in this monster's battles. We carried out his orders. We found honor in doing that, we found purpose in it. Now I feel completely cold inside at the thought.

We'd been sold propaganda against Bandul, but perhaps Bandul was not that bad after all. Perhaps many of the stories spread of their wicked, inhumane deeds were completely erroneous?

"Would you wish to see him dead?" I ask her.

"To say such a thing is unheard of, one of the women here may be listening in on this conversation, are you stupid horse-shifter?" Shala sighs and pulls on one of her light brown braids. "You will be brought to the king tonight. He will wish to have you entertain him."

"I figured as such," I say to her, sighing with her. "I'm not exactly looking forward to that, but what choice do I have? See Mahmud killed or go through the obscenities King Raman mentioned? No, thanks. This isn't my first time being threatened with death and bodily injury. I know you can tell if I'm lying or not, so I might as well speak only the truth."

Shala rolls her eyes. "Then stop talking to me. You're being an idiot. Don't hang around me if you value any kind of discretion, Zahra."

"Will he have you come with me tonight when I go in to entertain him?" I ask her.

"Quite possibly, he may want to question you, that would look ugly for you, he might torture you," Shala says.

"He sounds like such a lovely guy," I say sarcastically. "It's too bad Mahmud's destined to take his throne away. What if he was gone?"

"Others have tried to assassinate him, Zahra," Shala says. "They are all dead now. Except me. He allowed me to live."

"Oh, you tried to off him, aye?" I'm intrigued, and I elbow her with a chuckle. "I think we may yet become friends, Shala. You have to trust me. I'm not like the women of Kanan who have lived all their lives told they have only one purpose: to serve men. I was born in Aura."

"My purpose is to serve King Raman, Zahra, do not attempt to align yourself with me if you plan to rebel, I warn you, it will only go poorly for you," Shala says.

Fear. That's how King Raman does it. He's the biggest bully in the room. My mother taught me a thing or two about bullies as a girl. Bullies get what they want because they make themselves out to be more powerful, more dangerous, and far more clever than everyone else, but I've spent enough time with King Raman to know he is none of those things. I've spent enough time with other men and women in Kanan to know that he is less than most of them. He's less than Shala by far. She just doesn't know it.

"He was born into power. It was handed to him on the day he was born, Shala," I say in a whisper. "You just watch. You will be free one day. I guarantee it. But you're going to have to trust that others want the same thing."