Atefeh & Imad al-Din in Damascus.

“What was that in there?” he asks as he matches her step.

“They are fools,’ she spits. “They are all fools. My brother’s court is littered with fools, and it seems my father’s is doomed to be as well.”

Beside her, Imad straightens with a sigh. “The curse of a monarch… This may be so, Princess, but you cannot speak out of turn. This is not your brother’s court, no liberties can be afforded you in there. And besides, I cannot protect you if you refuse to cooperate, Princess.”

“You can tell my Father that I can do without the pretence, Imad.”

“Is that what you think—that this is all just a farce?” With his free hand, he gestures to the palace grounds she can hardly remember. “That he doesn’t care?”

Atefeh is silent, except for the echoing sounds of her footfalls along the mosaic, accompanied by Imad al-Din’s.

“I’ve known you to be right on many occasions, Princess… but this is not one of those times,” Imad continues. “Besides, Allah knows it is not your father I’m afraid of.”

Part of the From Eden series.