“I hope Benjamin’s cousin is still at the gate or we’re going to get some questions,” I said lightly, my eyes straying to my horse.
“He’ll be there.”
It was almost certainly my imagination, but Rek’s arm seemed to tighten slightly, pulling me marginally closer—almost as if he was regretting the end of the ride as well.
I shook off the thought.Beware, beware, I shouted at myself in the back of my mind.
Forcing myself to pull away slightly, I sat bolt upright as we approached the gate. Once again, we made it through without questioning, and the streets between the gate and my home flew past. It seemed impossible that I had thought them so long on the reverse journey.
When we stopped in front of the gates, I twisted slightly to look up at Rek’s face.
“This is going to be a very painful scene. And Nyla, Kasim’s wife, is not someone who can be trusted with the full story of what’s going on. Given that, I think it would be simpler if only Navid and I go in. With…with Kasim, of course. We have to assume he told her about the cave when he collected the donkeys, but I think we should just say that we followed him and found him killed by the thieves.”
Rek frowned, looking down at me. “I don’t like abandoning you like that.”
“It really will be easier if you aren’t there.”
I honestly couldn’t imagine what Nyla would make of the situation if two royals were added to the mix, but I had no desire to find out.
“I agree,” Navid said from beside us. He swung down and reached up to help me down as well.
For one second, Rek’s arm lingered around my waist, as if reluctant to let go. Then I was sliding down the side of the horse into Navid’s waiting grasp, and Rek was nodding.
“Very well, if you judge it best. Does that also mean you don’t want either of us to visit you here?”
Navid and I exchanged glances.
“I think that would be wisest.” He sounded almost as reluctant as I felt.
“Goodbye for now, then.” Adara nudged her mount forward. “I’ll make sure you’re sent invitations to the upcoming ball at the palace. We can meet there, at least.”
“To the ball?” Rek frowned. “Is that wise?” He was carefully not looking at me all of a sudden.
“I don’t care,” Adara said, tired defiance in her voice. She looked across at us. “I’ll send them.”
We both nodded, although I couldn’t fathom the thought of balls and dancing with this violent night still dark around us, and Kasim’s wrapped body on the ground at our feet.
In silence, Navid and I watched the other four ride off, leading our two horses with them. Once they were gone, he drew a deep breath and turned toward the gate.
“We should get inside and out of sight as quickly as possible.” He raised his hand to the brass knocker on the gate, but I caught his arm.
“Wait. We don’t want to rouse everyone inside. Give me a moment.”
I dashed around the corner of the wall and down the narrow alley that ran along the side of the house until I reached the small door that led into the stables. At my urgent knock, it swung almost instantly open, Rowan’s concerned face peering out. He must have been waiting there for my return.
“We need your help.” I beckoned him to follow me, and he came without question.
When he rounded the corner onto the main street, however, he paused. His eye took in first Navid, and then the wrapped body at his feet.
“Who is that?” he asked, as if afraid of the answer.
I glanced up and down the street, but it was deserted and dark except for the moonlight peeping out from behind a cloud.
“It’s Kasim,” I said, feeling the weight of the night’s happenings all over again.
“Kas—” Rowan cut himself off. “No, we need to get inside.”
“Yes, but we need your help to carry him,” I said.