Chapter 53

Last Night I enter Maryam’s office and find the council already assembled, like she told me it would be. They look at me as I enter with cautious eyes. I don’t know how much Maryam has told them about the purpose of this meeting. I know she has been slowly but surely talking to them since my lashing about the type of king they have been so loyal to, but are they ready to cast that king aside is the question.

“Thank you for coming here at such a late hour,” I greet them when I come to stand before them.

“Advisor Maryam tells us you have something urgent to address with us,” Bilal says. “Although, given what our discussions have been of as of late, I can imagine I already know what this meeting is about.”

I nod. “My father.”

“What of the king?” Hunayn asks with an emphasis on the last word.

“It is time for him to no longer be king. It is time to end his rule and all the struggle and suffering that has been brought about because of it. It is time for the council to stand up against what has been allowed to continue for far too long.”

“We have no power to…” Hunayn begins, but Maryam cuts him off.

“We do. You know the laws as well as I do, well almost as well. And there is a law that gives the council the power to vote, unanimously, to remove Qarun from the throne. It has never been used. It has never been needed before.”

“But it is now. Severely needed,” I point out.

“Even if we did remove King Qarun, you are leaving after your wedding, Princess. You will be crowned queen, but I think we all know very well what that means for Nur, since Azar would then be our King. Is that not a worse fate than what the future looks like with your father?” Zayd asks. “I have heard, and I’m sure you saw what Sameer is like. Do you wish that for your people simply to be free of your father?”

“I will marry Azar tomorrow, yes, but I will not be going to Sameer.”

Their eyebrows furrow in confusion, except Maryam’s.

“I do not imagine King Azar will let you stay here,” Medinah speaks. “He does not seem a man who will change his mind. And through his messages with your father, we know his mind is set on taking you back to Sameer. And your father was all too happy to agree.”

“Azar will be dead. So unless his corpse can force me to go to Sameer, it will not be a problem.”

“You speak of treason,” Hunayn hisses.

“To kill a king who is not our own?” I arch a brow.

“To kill a guest of Nur. It will bring dishonor upon our kingdom.”

“More dishonor than the way our people live in poverty, barely able to sustain themselves from what’s left over after the taxes we take from them? More dishonor than having a king who bargains his daughter away to save his own crown, rather than fighting and risking all to protect his people?”

“But…how?” Medinah quietly asks.

I have already taken enough risk even telling them that I plan for Azar to die tomorrow. I will not tell them that Hamza is a part of it.

“I will take care of it. He will die. Have no doubt about that. The only question is if you will allow me to take advantage of his death and join Sameer and Nur together as their queen.”

“You do not know how to be queen,” Hunayn persists. “Although it is a shortcoming against the king, we’ve all seen that he has not taught you how to rule.”

“No, but I have,” Maryam states. “I have taught her since even before Haman died. I have taught her our history, our laws, our customs. She knows of every village and their individual ways. She knows of each noble, and their reputation with the people on their land. But most importantly, she knows not just how to rule, but how to rule with wisdom, with justice, with kindness, and when needed, without mercy. She will be a great queen.”

She turns her head to look at me. “But what’s more is that she has already shown what she is willing to do for her kingdom and her people. She has agreed to marry Azar knowing full well what that means for her, for what her life would become should this council not agree with her plan. It is she who goes into the villages to see the state of the people. She who gives her jewelry to the people King Qarun has lashed, to supplement them losing their wages for an unjust reason.”

Her eyes sadden before she continues. “Her back bears the marks of what she has done for this kingdom. She summoned The Unspoken One to save us, from Azar, from falling under the army of Sameer. Not to save herself, not to take her away from an unloving father and harsh king, but for Nur. And paid for it dearly. So the question of whether she’s fit to rule is a ridiculous one.”

Medinah, Bilal, and Zayd look convinced. It is Hunayn who still looks at me with critical eyes.

“And what of our king? What will become of him? Will you kill him like you plan to Azar?” he inquires.

“He will be given options other than death. It is up to him to choose them,” I answer.

His eyes narrow at my non-answer. As much as I want to see my father dead, I worry about how it will look to the people of both Nur and Sameer. To Nur, even to the rebels, I don’t want them to think I am heartless, merciless and will murder anyone who gets in my way. To Sameer, I will already be killing their witch, whatever affection they may hold for her, and their King. Further killing my own father may be too much for them to swallow all at once.

Otherwise, my father would very much get the death he deserves. I have no grapples with it, father or not.

“And if Sameer does not support your ruling them? Then what?” Bilal asks. “Are we to go to war even after all this?”

Maryam begins speaking again. “I have studied Sameer law at great length ever since the engagement between Azar and Ameera was announced, wanting to see what advantages she might have in escaping his grasp. What I learned about their succession is that although Azar did change the law so that sons inherit the crown before daughters, he did not change any laws regarding the crown going to a queen should a king die, even if that queen is a foreigner. In fact, their laws state that should anyone try to contest any ruler’s reign, they would be guilty of treason and hung. One can only hope Sameer adheres to their own laws.”

“I will try to avoid war at all costs,” I state. “But if it must come, then what better time is there than when they have no king or witch? When their strongest soldiers have been brought to Nur and remain in our palace because I have no doubt that is who he brought with him. There will be confusion and many will be grabbing for power in Sameer, whether they accept me as queen or not. If we must strike, then that would be the time. But again, I do not wish for war and I hope they do not either.”

“Can she count on your support?” Maryam asks, bringing the conversation full circle. “We will be called upon to vote, and it must be unanimous to force Qarun to surrender the crown.”

“I will support you, Your Highness,” Medinah says.

“As will I,” Bilal agrees.

“I do not like this,” Zayd speaks, shaking his head. “It will set a precedent that rulers can be easily removed, replaced. But I also agree that we must put an end to the reign of Qarun. I do not know how much longer Nur will survive under him if we don’t. So, you have my support.”

“And you Hunayn?” I question, his hesitation filling the room with tension. “How much more can you stand by and watch my father bring down on Nur before you see him for what he is?”

He stares at me, his face blank. I stare back, refusing to back down or show any anxiety.

“I will support you,” he says, rather unconvincingly.

But I take it, tilting my head in thanks.

“I appreciate it. And I will not forget this meeting.”

“So what will happen tomorrow?” Zayd asks.

“All will go as has been planned. I will marry Azar and have the feast afterwards. Azar and I will retire for the night and when everyone leaves the hall, the council will assemble here. I will come once Azar has been handled, and we will call my father here. Then we will vote.”

“It all sounds too easy,” Medinah comments.

“If only it felt like it would be as easy as it sounds.” I sigh. “I must leave now. There are other things I have to do tonight.”

I turn to go, but Hunayn’s words stop me.

“And what of the rebels?” he questions.

“What of them?”

“Will this appease them? I have heard much about the plans they’ve been making to ensure you became queen sooner rather than later. Will they be content with all their plans becoming meaningless because you took matters into your own hands and took power for yourself?”

What plans does he speak of? And how does he even know of them? It makes sense for Maryam to, given her involvement, and because she and her family are trusted amongst the people. But Hunayn is known for being as greedy as some of the nobles. His family has been untrusted since they took their seat on the council only because the last descendant of the original advisor died. Some say they bought their seat on the council.

“The Princess knows nothing of the rebels,” Maryam says.

Maybe she’s thinking the same as me right now, that Hunayn seems less trustworthy with his every question. More like he’s seeking information than wanting to know what will transpire. And so, of course Maryam would deny me knowing anything of the rebels, so my father would be told so if this gets back to him. As if everything I’m planning wouldn’t be enough for my father to punish me severely already.

“But I have spoken with their leader,” Maryam continues. “And as long as Ameera becomes queen and Qarun is removed, they will be content. They have certain changes they wish to see in the kingdom and those will be presented to Ameera once she has taken the crown.”

The advisors nod and begin talking amongst themselves, but instead of leaving like I’d been in a rush to do, I walk over to Hunayn. His eyes watch me as I get closer.

“Advisor Hunayn,” I say low when I reach him. He leans to the side for me to speak in his ear. “If anyone discloses what we spoke of in this room tonight, I will know it was you. And rest assured if my father hears a word of our conversation, I will torture you until you beg for death, then give it to you. I plan to kill Azar. Do you really think I would fear killing you?”

He straightens and clears his throat. “I am loyal to what is best for Nur.”

“And what is that?” I ask.

“You, Your Highness.”

“Hmm.”

I lock eyes with Maryam across the room, and the narrowing of hers tells me she suspects the same thing I do.

“I thank you for your loyalty.” I smile before walking away from him to Maryam. “I don’t trust him,” I whisper to her.

“Neither do I. I have told a guard to watch him tonight and tomorrow, just in case he tries to speak with your father alone.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you afraid?”

“Terribly,” I admit.

“Good. Then that means you will be smart and careful. And you will need to be both with Azar. He is no fool. The soldiers he brought with him show that. He does not trust us, which means he will have made plans of his own for his time here.”

“I know. But I can only plan for my part and hope it is enough.” I sigh. “I must go to the hot springs now.”

“Yes. Hud is there tonight.”

I smile. “Goodnight, Maryam.

“Goodnight, Your Majesty.”

“Not yet.”

“But soon.”