Silence met the statement.
‘The Princess—’ Zeb’s expression was uneasy. He looked to Ahmed before continuing. ‘She would be a good bargaining chip. To ensure Malik apologises, takes responsibility...’
Amir felt a surge of disgust and then rage. ‘Even if he had nothing to do with it?’
‘I find it hard to believe an attack of this kind could occur without his involvement.’
‘This is what we will discover. But in the meantime Her Highness remains our honoured guest. No one is to speak to her of this, to touch her, to even think of using her in any way. Understood?’
Zeb frowned. ‘It is my job to advise you on the best military strategies...’
‘Fine. You’ve advised me.’
‘The death toll could be in the hundreds. You must act, sir. I have the eleventh division mobilised. They could retake one of our strongholds in the mountains—’
‘No.’ He shook his head, then in a tone designed to placate, ‘It’s too soon.’
‘Too soon? The destruction. The inevitable death count—’
‘We are no longer at war.’
‘What is this if not an act of war?’ Zeb pushed with obvious impatience.
Amir fixed him with a stare that was designed to strike fear into the other man. It worked. Contrition overtook his expression. While Amir allowed—and appreciated—a lot of latitude from his advisors, he remained the ultimate power holder.
‘We don’t have enough information to know yet.’
‘But if it was state-sanctioned?’
Amir considered that. He had met with Malik and seen in his eyes the same desire for peace that lived in Amir’s heart. They both wanted this, for their people. ‘We’ll discuss that if we come to it.’
‘And you’ll respond accordingly?’
Amir compressed his lips, not inclined to answer that without having more of an idea as to the circumstances of the attack.
‘The Princess should be held until we know,’ Zeb pushed. ‘Detain her, show our people that we’re not feeding our enemies cake and wine...’
‘She is not the enemy,’ Amir said cuttingly. ‘And I have already told you—no one is to bring her into this.’
‘She is in it, though,’ Ahmed said gently. ‘Her presence alone requires some kind of action.’
Ahmed’s words reached inside Amir and shook him, forced him to see clearly the tenuousness of Johara’s place here in the kingdom. He had come to know her, beyond the fact she was a Qadir and a princess of Taquul, but why should he expect his people to feel as he did? She could easily become a focus for anger and revenge. His gut rolled with a burst of nausea; his skin felt hot and cold all over.
He turned back to the men. ‘I want a meeting in the tactical rooms. Fifteen minutes. Discover what you can in the meantime. I need answers. And I want to speak to Malik Qadir. Arrange that as soon as possible, Zeb.’ His eyes met Ahmed’s. Something passed between them. Understanding. Agreement. ‘Let me be clear here—my goal is to maintain the peace.’ He softened his tone. ‘For too long we have answered violence with violence; I understand your instincts now are to do the same. But that will only perpetuate what we’ve always known. The fight for peace will be won with diplomacy, not military force.’
He paused, knowing what he had to do and hating the necessity of it. But for her safety...to prevent anything ever happening to her as had happened to his parents? An image of his mother’s face filled his mind, as she’d been the last time he’d seen her, in the tombs beneath the palace. Fear hardened into resolve. Johara would be protected at all costs.
‘Johara Qadir will leave the country immediately.’ He faced Zeb. ‘Her safe passage is the most important job you will have tonight, Zeb. If anything happens to her—’
‘I know. It will inevitably renew the war.’
Amir waited until they were gone before pushing the door to his room open. Johara was awake now, looking at him, her eyes huge and hair tousled. He wasn’t sure what she’d heard, but it was clear she knew something was amiss.
She stood as he walked towards the bed, her nakedness taking his breath away even then.
‘Something’s wrong?’
He contemplated not telling her. He contemplated saying nothing, but she deserved to know. Besides, her brother would undoubtedly contact her imminently.