For long moments Maram stared at her as if what she was—who she was—might resolve itself in her mind. She’d never seen her before on the estate. Certainly, she’d never seen someone at such ease and in such harmony with a wild hawk. Part of her wondered if she’d wandered into a dream.

At last the woman turned her gaze from the sky to Maram, and the princess flinched at the directness of her stare. Her eyes were so dark they were nearly black, and Maram felt them cut through her like a scythe through wheat. When the woman bowed she didn’t lower her eyes, and the bemused, half-cocked smile did not leave her features.

“Your Highness,” she said, then straightened.

Something like lightning rushed up Maram’s spine and she didn’t know if it was fear. She was on her estate alone, with nothing but a horse for protection, with a stranger who should not have been able to make it onto the grounds.

“Who are you?” she said at last. “And what are you doing on my estate?”

“I am Aghraas, a master falconer.”

Fatiha had hired her.

“It’s been twenty years since humans have disturbed this ecosystem,” Aghraas said. Maram had at last descended from her horse only to find that Aghraas was a head taller than her. “Your stewardess—”

Maram startled, frightened that her secret might have escaped her already. “My stewardess?”

“Fatiha,” Aghraas said patiently.

Of course. Nadine was no longer her only stewardess.

“Your stewardess,” Aghraas continued, “wanted the whole of the estate mapped, including potential hunting and nesting grounds. She was quite insistent that I attempt to calendar breeding cycles, which is a bit harder.”

“Why was I not informed that you were hired?”

“I only started yesterday,” she said and then smiled. “You must not scold Fatiha too harshly. I was eager to start as soon as possible, and I took advantage of her divided attention.”

Maram turned her face away sharply. “Well?”

“Well?” Aghraas repeated.

“The falcons—how are they?”

The falconer smiled at her and Maram felt that rush of lightning again. Her fists clenched in anger.

“Come here at dawn and I’ll show you.”

4

I thought with the wedding over and my part finished I might be given a reprieve. I returned to my chambers in the early hours of the morning free of the weight of Maram’s jewelry and heavy wedding regalia. I bathed and broke my fast, then settled down to work on my tapestry. I had only just picked up my loom when Tala arrived.

“Her Highness has summoned you to her chambers,” she said, holding out a cloak and veil.

I frowned, startled. “What for?” She had done this once before, in the days just after my return to Gibra. Then it had been boredom, but what a new bride could be bored of was beyond me.