“It’s tomorrow night, so we should take our last chance to celebrate anyway,” Navid said gloomily.
I shot him an inquiring look.
“My delightful aunt gets out of her mourning isolation the day after tomorrow,” he reminded me. “And I’m sure you can imagine what a ray of sunshine she’ll bring to the house.”
“Oh gracious!” I shuddered.
Mariam’s generosity made more sense now. She wanted me firmly on their side when Nyla reappeared.
The outfit she had provided was a simpler one than the gown I’d worn to the ball, the chemise and robe more suitable for an informal party. Kali had sent the golden dress back to me, wrapped in plain cotton, but I stashed the package away beneath my bed next to my small pouch of gold. I wasn’t ready to relive any part of that night.
On the day of the party, I received a short note from Rek, but, as I had expected, he was being kept busy at the palace with the thirty-eight new prisoners. I suspected his father had something to do with keeping his son so busy, but I wasn’t worried. Rek and I had survived three years apart. We could survive a few days.
That didn’t stop me from missing him, though, especially when I left for Yasmine’s party with Navid at my side. While I liked my friend’s company, I couldn’t help wishing for a different escort.
Yasmine’s large home was only a short distance from ours, so we walked, accompanied by three guards and a servant carrying a large lantern.
“Excessive?” I asked, watching the servant leading the way.
Navid chuckled. “Just a little. My mother doesn’t usually have my aunt’s desire for grandeur, but Yasmine seems to have an effect on everybody.”
As we neared the wall surrounding Yasmine’s enormous mansion, we met a trickle of other people heading in the same direction. I only vaguely recognized some of them—faces I’d seen in the market—but most of them seemed to know each other, calling friendly greetings as they converged on the gate.
I kept my face neutral, although inside I was already regretting the necessity of coming. We were going to be out of place in this gathering.
When the gates were swung wide to grant us entry into the courtyard, my initial impression was confirmed. The party was in full swing, the darkness of the night broken by picturesque torches that burned on long poles scattered throughout the grounds. Between the torches, people called to each other in over-loud voices, drink passing freely among them.
Navid grimaced. “I’d forgotten just how…excessive it is.”
“That’s one word for it,” I muttered as I watched a man who was already staggering take another long gulp from the glass in his hand.
“It might be a good idea if we stay close together.” Navid eyed the same man before glancing at a man and woman who stood to one side of the courtyard, their foreheads touching and their arms entwined around each other. They appeared to have lost track of their surroundings, murmuring to each other too quietly to be heard.
“Agreed,” I said promptly. “And if we’re going to stay here, I need to fortify myself with some of that excellent food you promised.”
Our guards and lantern bearer left us at the gate, so it was just the two of us winding our way between the clumps of people. A few called cheerful greetings to Navid, but he kept his replies light, refusing to be drawn into conversation.
Just inside the door of the house we were greeted by Yasmine. I blinked at the sight of her, struggling to keep my face impassive. Her dress at the ball had been daring, but this one was suggestive in a whole different way.
“Navid! Zaria! How lovely to see you both.”
We exchanged the necessary phrases of greeting and thanks, extracting ourselves as quickly as possible with the excuse of food. She didn’t seem to take any offense, her eyes already traveling to the next arrival as she directed us where we might find the refreshments table.
It was set up in a long room that contained several clumps of chairs scattered throughout. Given the serious conversations going on at three of them, the room seemed a quiet haven from the courtyard.
We both loaded up a plate, finding a place on the edge of the room where a small, raised table gave us somewhere to put our burden while we remained standing with the room in view.
I was only halfway through the admittedly excellent food when Navid stiffened.
“Did you see something?” I asked, looking around the room.
He pointed out to the corridor. “Someone I know from my apprentice days. I didn’t expect to see him here, but he’s just the sort of person we need. He always knows all the city gossip.” He hesitated and glanced at me with a creased brow.
“But he’s not likely to open up if I’m with you,” I supplied since he seemed reluctant to say it. “You should go on your own. I know we said we’d stay together, but this room seems quiet enough. I’ll stay right here and finish eating, and you can come back as soon as you’ve finished talking to your friend.”
When Navid still hesitated, I gave him a small push. “Go! Before you lose track of him.”
Reluctantly, Navid hurried away, and I selected a small cake from my plate. My most likely woe in his absence was going to be boredom if he took too long.