Title Page

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Dedication

For those who pray for wanting and wish to be seen.

Map

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

KUSHAILA

Amani bint Tariq: a young village girl from Cadiz kidnapped to the imperial palace. The body double to the Imperial Heir, Maram, and temporarily a rebel.

Maram vak Mathis: the half-Kushaila, half-Vathek daughter of King Mathis and Queen Najat, and the Imperial Heir to Andala and the Vathek empire.

Idris ibn Salih: the scion of the Banu Salih and Maram’s fiancé.

Tala: Amani’s handmaiden and confidante.

‘Imad Mas’udi: one half of the ruling pair of the Banu Mas’ud; I’timad’s twin brother.

I’timad Mas’udi: one half of the ruling pair of the Banu Mas’ud; ‘Imad’s twin sister.

Khulood al-Nasiriyya: the ruler of the Banu Nasir.

Tariq: Khulood’s younger brother and heir.

Itou al Ziyadia: the exiled Dowager Sultana of Andala and former Ziyadi queen. Maram’s grandmother.

Najat al Ziyadia: Maram’s deceased mother, the last Ziyadi queen of Andala. Brokered the peace between Andala and the Vath.

ZIDANE

Rabi’a bint Ifran: the newly risen ruler of the Banu Ifran.

Buchra bint Ifran: Rabi’a’s younger sister.

Furat al Wattasia: the last living Wattasi, living largely in exile with the dowager sultana. Maram’s distant cousin.

TAZALGHIT

Arinaas: Massinia reborn and the leader of the rebellion.

Tinit al-Hurra: Massinia’s mother, and the queen of the Tazalghit.

THE VATH

King Mathis: king of the Vath, committed patricide to gain control of the empire. Father to Maram and her elder half sister, Galene.

Nadine cagir Elon: the high stewardess of the Ziyaana and Maram’s caretaker.

Galene vak Mathis: Maram’s half sister and aspirant to the Vathek crown.

Ofal vak Miranous: Maram’s cousin and one of the only family members she gets along with.

one

NASIB: PRELUDE

PROLOGUE

Once upon a time, there was a girl—a nestling—and she was a glorious creature. Born of sacred fire, cloaked in jeweled feathers, she could pass from one realm to another, could cross the space between stars as easy as breathing. She was raised in a crystalline palace wreathed in sacred flame.

When the nestling was a child, long before she’d ever been sent out into the world, her mother told her the story of her long-ago ancestor, Tayreet.

Fi youm minal ayaam …

Once upon a time …