I glanced at Rek, and he nodded his agreement, falling into step beside me as we wove through the crowd. It took determination not to get caught in multiple conversations, but we finally reached our target.
“Well?” Navid looked between us anxiously. “Did it—”
“It worked.” Rek grinned at him. “And don’t worry. We’ll be right behind you.”
Adara appeared at my side, her fingers digging so sharply into my arm that I winced.
“Sorry,” she said without looking my way, her wide eyes focused on the bundle in Navid’s arms.
He drew a deep breath and led our small group the short distance to where the sultan and sultana were in conversation with the Lanoverian ambassador to Ardasira.
As soon as he reached them, he dropped to one knee, bowing his head respectfully. Those closest to us all turned to look, curious, and the sultan broke off mid-sentence to stare at him disapprovingly.
Navid looked up, his gaze steady although he stayed on his knee.
“Your Majesty, I request your blessing on my betrothal to your daughter, Princess Adara.”
The sultan’s face darkened, his eyes flashing, but his wife put a hand on his arm, her eyes jumping between all of us, a crease in her brow. She knew nothing of our scheme, but she sensed something bigger was going on.
Navid spoke again into the silence.
“I know the price of marrying one of the royal children, and I come prepared to pay it.” Unwrapping the bundle, he held out an ordinary looking brass lamp. “I present to you the key to unlocking the treasures of the second cave.”
The sultan sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes going to Rek.
“It’s true, Father,” he said. “It was tested earlier today. In two months, we have found no way around the enchantment, but with the use of this lamp, the entire treasure can be retrieved.”
“I have loaned the lamp to Navid,” Cassie said, joining us. “Since the idea of using it comes from his inheritance. But when the cave is empty, we would request it be returned to Ardasira. It is no longer able to be used as it once was, but it has historical significance to us.”
“I don’t understand,” the sultan said gruffly, directing his words at his son. “How is this lamp the key, and what does it have to do with him?” He wouldn’t even say Navid’s name, but after two months, I had started to get to know my future father-in-law, and I could tell he was softening.
“The lamp was one of two personal enchanted objects of the youngest brother,” Rek said. “Some ancient texts belonging to Navid’s family showed us that the brother tied the enchantment on the second cave to those objects, to ensure he could retrieve the treasure himself.”
“If you accept Navid’s gift,” Prince Zain said from behind his wife, “then of course you may keep the lamp for as long as you need to empty the cave. I understand it is very full.”
Despite his grave tone, I caught the slightest twinkle in his eyes. The sultan regarded him suspiciously for a moment, as if he saw it too, and then he suddenly released his breath.
“How could I turn away a son-in-law who comes bearing such a gift?” He raised his voice. “We celebrate two betrothals today. My son’s and also my daughter’s to Navid of Karema. And we may also celebrate the turn in our kingdom’s fortunes.”
“Thank you, Father.” Adara ran forward to embrace him, tears in her eyes. “You’ll grow to love him, I know you will.”
The sultan made a non-committal grunt, but I caught a soft look in his eyes as he watched his daughter return to her new betrothed. Adara was a hard person to resist.
And the expression grew to a bright gleam as he turned back to the Lanoverian ambassador. The ambassador, too, seemed more animated. With the cave unlocked, the treaties would soon be flowing from all sides.
“This really is a day to celebrate,” a satisfied voice said from just beyond our circle.
I turned in delight to welcome Yara, Rowan, and Layla.
“Congratulations, my dear,” Yara said as she enfolded me in a warm embrace. But after a moment, she pulled back. “Am I allowed to hug you, now that you’re a princess?”
I laughed. “Of course you are. You’re like a mother to me, Yara, so your hugs will always be welcome. And besides, this is only a betrothal. I’m not a princess yet.”
“Congratulations all the same,” Rowan said from Yara’s side.
“I should be the one congratulating the two of you,” I cried, seizing Yara for another hug. “I’m glad you finally decided to bow to the inevitable.”
“The cheek!” Yara said, but her grin didn’t falter.