Despina canted her head to the side in thought. “I suppose that would be fine. No one expressly forbade you from going outdoors.”
Shahrzad resisted the urge to retort as Despina backtracked down a corridor to the right. The Rajput stalked alongside Shahrzad, his posture as rigid and implacable as his expression. After several minutes of traversing in silence, they came to an open-air gallery with a series of arched double doors leading outside.
An attendant pushed through one set of doors to allow them passage, and Shahrzad walked into a terraced courtyard arranged like colossal steps in a descending staircase. The first of these terraces was filled with flowering trees and an elaborate aviary enclosed on all sides by carefully wrought trelliswork. The sturdy acacia wood was covered with a thin layer of white paint and anchored by bolts of polished bronze. Lush blue-green grass flourished between pavestones of coarse granite.
Shahrzad strode past the aviary, glancing at the colorful trove of songbirds flittering within: nightingales, goldfinches, larks, canaries . . .
A loud squawk blasted from behind her. She twisted around to find a peacock strutting across the lawn, his plumage of malachite and gold fanning in the sun, catching errant beams of light.
Shahrzad glided closer. The peacock stopped to glare at her before lowering his fan and scurrying away.
She laughed to herself. “So quick to strut. So quick to flee.”
“What are you talking about?” Despina asked.
Shahrzad shook her head.
“Are you talking about men?” Despina snorted.
Choosing not to reply, Shahrzad paced the length of the top terrace and took the stone stairs leading down to the next tree-lined expanse. This garden was bursting with white citrus blossoms and green figs hanging heavy on their boughs, still awaiting their moment to ripen.
She passed through this tier, pausing only to breathe in the scent.
Despina regarded her thoughtfully. “What are you trying to do?” she asked with a trace of suspicion.
Shahrzad lifted her hand to shield her eyes as she focused on signs of movement in an expanse of sand and stone below them.
“If you’ll tell me what it is you’re planning, I can take you there,” Despina offered.
“I’m not planning anything. I’m looking for something.”
“What are you looking for?”
“A handmaiden who doesn’t ask so many questions.”
Despina snickered.
Shahrzad quickened her pace as she flew down the last series of stairs, making her way to the intended destination of sand and stone.
The Rajput grunted his disapproval as they neared the entrance.
So he’s not mute, after all.
Despina huffed audibly. “I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to be here.”
“You said I could go anywhere, as long as the Rajput is with me,” Shahrzad reminded her.
“I don’t think anyone expected you to come to the training grounds.”
Shahrzad’s keen eyes ran over the sea of male faces lost in the art of swordplay, training with spears and perfecting their deadly aim with the axe-like tabarzin.
He’s not here.
“Are you looking for the caliph?” Despina demanded.
“No.”
But I assume the second-best swordsman in Rey will practice at some point today . . . if he intends to maintain his title.
And I need to learn his weakness, so that I may destroy him with it.
“Liar.” Despina smirked.
“Actually, I came here because I wanted to—” Shahrzad glanced around until her eyes fell on something she recognized well. “I wanted to learn how to use a bow and arrow.”
“What?” Despina exclaimed.
Feigning ignorance, Shahrzad moved toward the rack of weapons.
The Rajput raised his arm to block her path, a note of warning in his onyx gaze.
Shahrzad steeled herself before returning his belligerent stare. “Would you teach me how to shoot? I’ve always wanted to learn.”
He shook his head.
She affected a pout. “Nothing will happen to me. Anyway, I won’t be your concern after tomorrow. Please grant me this small request.”
“Maybe he’s not worried about you,” Despina stated caustically.
Shahrzad attempted to sidestep his mammoth forearm. When he thwarted her again, she pursed her lips.
“Must you be so difficult?” she said in harsh undertone.
“He’s not being difficult. That’s how he normally is,” a rich male voice remarked from behind them.
Both Despina and Shahrzad swiveled to meet the amused scrutiny of a young man with a curly mop of mahogany hair and a warm, affable expression.
The Rajput stiffened.
“Perhaps I can be of assistance?” the newcomer offered with a grin.
Shahrzad shot him a winsome smile. “I hope so. I’m—”
“I know who you are, my lady. By now, everyone in the palace knows who you are.” His brown eyes sparkled with mischief as he winked at Despina. She averted her gaze, her cheeks coloring.
He’s quite the flirt.
“Then you have a decided advantage over me, sir,” Shahrzad said.
“I’m Jalal.” He bowed his head, his fingertips brushing his brow.
“He’s captain of the guard and the son of General Aref al-Khoury . . . the Shahrban of Rey,” Despina clarified in a rote tone.
“Don’t let the title fool you, my lady. I’m no one of consequence, even if my father is the highest-ranking general in Khorasan.”