The thought left a sour taste in my mouth. As much as I disliked Nyla and Kasim, I had always taken pride in my work, doing it to the best of my ability. I didn’t do it to honor them but for my own sake. It was what my father had taught me, and I credited my approach with buying me respect among the traders in the market and the staff of the other merchant families. I hated to think of that being sullied.
The door behind me opened, and I shook myself out of my thoughts and turned with a smile. An elderly lady—Mariam’s sole servant who had followed her from her parents’ household—stood in the doorway with a shocked expression.
I stepped toward her, keeping my smile in place. Agnes must still be dazed at the dramatic upheaval in the family’s fortune, especially given its source.
But her words had nothing to do with the gold.
“Zaria, there’s someone here to see you.”
“Someone to see me?” I stared at her. “Here? But…who?”
Had Nyla sent someone chasing after me? Another servant from her house wouldn’t be hanging back in the courtyard and sending a formal message with Agnes, though, as if I were a grand lady receiving visitors.
Agnes didn’t answer, just shaking her head, the dazed look still in place. I hurried around her and pushed open the door, giving me a clear view of the small courtyard between the building and the gate.
I stopped halfway out the door, staring at the familiar figure standing calmly in front of me.
“It’s Prince Tarek,” Agnes said superfluously from behind me, having apparently overcome her shock.
“Yes,” I said, my eyes locking with Rek’s. “I can see that.”
CHAPTER7
“So you do work here.” Disappointment lingered in Rek’s tone.
Yesterday, I would have attributed it to his distaste at associating with a servant. Today, everything seemed different and uncertain.
“Actually, no.” I kept my voice level.
His expression changed to confusion, his glance flicking from me to the building behind me. I glanced back myself and saw Agnes had left—probably to inform the rest of the household of their shocking visitor. So much for my telling Mariam I had no royal connections.
I looked back at Rek. “I can understand why it’s a bit confusing, but I actually work in Ali’s brother’s household. They sometimes release me to help Ali, which is why I was with him yesterday and why I’m here now.”
“Oh.” Rek was silent for a moment. “Then I’m glad I found you.” Another pause. “What is Ali’s brother’s name?”
My heart leaped despite myself. Did that mean he intended to come looking for me again? I took several steps forward, bringing me to a more comfortable distance for a conversation.
“It’s Kasim. I work for his wife, Nyla.”
“I’ve heard their names. They’re among the wealthier of the city’s merchants and must have a large household. I’m surprised this Nyla sends you to help with woodcutting.”
I grimaced. “Only when she’s particularly irritated with me.”
A crease appeared in his brow, so I hurried to add, “Not that I mind. The joke’s on her, really, because I enjoy the occasional break beneath the trees.”
His expression lightened. “You always did love the palace gardens.”
A stab of pain hit me at the reminder of happier times, but I kept the emotion from my face. It wasn’t Rek’s fault my father had died and my life had changed—and I no longer believed it was his fault I’d lost my friends, either.
“You seemed surprised to see me in Karema yesterday.” Beneath my calm exterior, my heart beat quickly as I waited for his response.
“Of course,” he said. “We didn’t know you were back in the city, let alone living here now.” Unspoken behind his words was the accusation:You didn’t come see us.
“I never left the city,” I said softly. “I’ve been working for Nyla ever since my father died.”
“What?” The startled word burst out of him, and he took a hurried step toward me. “Working right here in the capital the whole time? Impossible! You went to relatives in Ardasira.”
“Ardasira?” Now it was my turn to be startled. “But I don’t have any relatives there. I don’t have any close relatives left at all, as far as I’m aware. But the ones I did have were all Kuralani.”