“I think it’s time for us to be going,” I said firmly. “Who knows when that painting was stolen or from whom? It is not an untraceable coin, and you would do well to leave it be.”
“Yes, I suppose so.” He sighed before brightening again. “I shall soon be able to buy a painting of my own with these coins. It is just a matter of patience.”
I grabbed the leads of the two closest donkeys and began to tug them out of the cave. They came eagerly, unnerved by the flickering light and the vast cavern.
“Sensible creatures,” I muttered as I hurried us outside again.
When the five of us were safely in the clearing, I turned back to the cave mouth.
“Close sesame,” I proclaimed loudly and clearly.
For a tense moment, I thought nothing was happening. But then the now familiar grinding began, the hole shrinking rapidly. Was the entire tunnel flattening behind it as well? I shivered as I imagined being caught in the tunnel when it closed. But the final rays of afternoon sun made it harder to hold on to such dark thoughts.
I shook them off and led the way forward, lingering for a moment on the edge of the trees to check for any changes to the clearing. There were none. It looked just as it had when we first arrived.
Ali hurried to keep up with me, shaking his head.
“You cannot really be so unmoved by the wonder we have just witnessed,” he exclaimed. “Think how different this discovery could make your life!”
“I am thinking about it,” I said. “I’m thinking of being stalked by forty cutthroat thieves—or being branded a thief myself if I turn up in the market and try to spend golden coins. I’m thinking of living every moment waiting for the enchantment to finally reveal itself and for my new life to dissolve into nothing. Given the danger from the thieves, we cannot risk telling others what we’ve found. So I would have no way to explain my change in fortune. And I have no desire to leave my friends and city behind and start again where I know no one.”
A sharp pang shot through me at the idea of leaving. It was a familiar feeling and one I never prodded too closely. I pushed it aside now, trying to concentrate on Ali’s response.
“Goodness, no! We cannot breathe a word of what we’ve found!” For the first time Ali seemed to understand my reluctance. “The revelation would be inviting disaster.”
“On that, at least, we agree,” I said grimly. “There is plenty of room for disaster even before considering the possibility of an enchantment. And just because it was not readily apparent doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”
“Don’t worry so, Zaria.” Ali’s perpetual cheerfulness no longer seemed a pleasant trait, but I shut my mouth on my frustration, knowing it would do no good to argue with him.
“I’ll think of something,” he assured me. “And I shall find a way to share this change of fortune with you. We must both of us only hold our tongues, and the future will be bright.”
I ground my teeth, wanting to tell him to leave me out of his plotting. But whether I liked it or not, the day’s adventures had bound us firmly together. Just as Nyla feared to let me go, knowing a truth that could hurt her, so Ali would now be sure to keep me close.
I sighed as the city gates came into view. Today had turned out to be far more complicated than I could have imagined. And that was without considering my unexpected run in with the crown prince.
Ali’s smile seemed a little forced as he exchanged pleasantries with the gate guards, but none of them appeared to notice. He was a familiar figure at this gate, and they waved him through with friendly greetings. As soon as we were within the shadow of the city walls, he winked at me.
I was about to let out an indignant protest when a low voice spoke, startling me enough to forget about the stolen gold.
“Zaria! So it really is you!”
I turned slowly, a single word slipping from my lips.
“Rek.”
CHAPTER4
The prince’s white horse stepped out of the shadow of the wall, moving toward us. Ali’s eyes grew wide, and he bowed deeply.
“Your Highness!”
Jolted into action by his movement, I also bowed. Rek’s frown grew deeper, dissatisfaction on his face as he watched me. The brief anger he’d shown in the forest flashed back through my mind, followed by a surge of my own anger. What reason did Rek have to be so scathing? I had not been at fault for my change in status, and I had never tried to push myself on him since.
“This is an unexpected surprise, Your Highness.” The words came out more stiffly than I’d intended.
He raised one eyebrow. “Unexpected indeed. I didn’t realize you were back in Kuralan.”
“Back in Kuralan?” I repeated, too confused to form a more coherent question.