Forty-Six

 

"Here she is, Your Highness," a man's voice said. Not Haidar or Asad.

Anahita settled Vega on her glove and turned to face the newcomer.

She had to look up to meet the eyes of a tall woman in purple. Even her eyes were that unusual colour.

"Who is this?" Anahita asked coolly.

The bowing servant straightened, and she was surprised to see he wore nothing but a loincloth, like some lowly slave.

"I am Lord Kaveh, once the Grand Vizier of Tasnim, now slave to the ring that was once the prince's ring of office. My magic still runs strong through these tunnels, and the doors still open to my touch. I serve Prince Aladdin now," the man said smoothly.

The man who had made the jewelled gardens, Anahita remembered. But that did not give him the right to intrude in her private chambers. She'd set Vega on him if he woke the baby.

"I meant the woman."

He bowed again, even lower and more elaborately this time. "Your Highness, Princess Zuleika the Enchantress, Mistress of Beacon Isle, may I present Her Highness, Princess Anahita, the Princess of Tasnim?"

Anahita stared. This was the woman who had cursed Philemon and the city? She didn't look a day older than Anahita herself, and...was she pregnant? Philemon had never said anything about her being a princess, either. This wasn't the witch she'd imagined at all.

Zuleika inclined her head. "I heard that people were returning to Tasnim, now their prince had been found. There was even talk about the wells refilling. I had to see this for myself. Particularly the princess who could fall in love with a frog."

"He was never truly a frog. He didn't talk like one. And no frog has ever attacked one of my hunting falcons the way he did," Anahita said.

The enchantress closed her eyes. "Ah, you are a witch, then. Your magic is faint, but I see it now. That must be useful. Even I would have to bespell the bird for it to sit as contently as yours does. Especially underground."

"She has the freedom of the air and light wells whenever she wishes. So does Merlin, though she prefers to fish in the wells beneath the city, for she is fond of frogs. All my birds are free to come and go as they wish. I do not believe in enslaving anyone." Anahita sniffed. "I would not expect some barbarian king's daughter to understand."

Zuleika's eyes snapped open. "I am the daughter of an enchantress, not some king or prince. But I married one, and this one will be king when his uncle dies." She patted her belly. Definitely pregnant. "I have seen more of the world – and of slavery – than you ever will, daughter of the desert. I think if more women ruled this world than the foolish men who mess it up now, we might see an end to such things. But I cannot turn all of them into frogs, so it will not be in my lifetime." She smiled sadly.

Frogs or corpses – what was worse? Fakhri, Basit and their ilk would never trouble the world again, while frogs could be redeemed. Or maybe Philemon was unique in that. "It will take more than one woman to change the world. This city is enough for me," Anahita said. This girl...woman...whatever she was, was more like Maram than Anahita. One who played at politics, who had more power than Anahita could ever want.

"Keeping the Prince of Tasnim from drying up the city's wells through more foolishness is certainly enough to keep any woman busy," Zuleika said.

"At least nothing a good storm can't fix," Anahita said, thinking of what Asad had told her about the rivers that ran below the desert dunes. A wail rose from the next room. Mirza was awake. She sighed. "And teach my son to be better."

Zuleika nodded. "You should know Philemon promised me a great deal of gold for helping him. Gold which is still in your treasury, for he refused to pay me. I have no need of it now, so you may keep it. Consider it a wedding gift, or a wager, if you will, for I never thought there would be a woman willing to do what you have. Loving a frog – ha! Even my husband would not believe it. Wait until I tell him."

Anahita opened her mouth to thank her for her generosity, but the enchantress had vanished. So had the djinn.

Anahita tended to Mirza and fed him until he fell asleep, but the enchantress did not return.

And all was well in Tasnim, safe beneath the desert sands, where the wells never ran dry again.