He scoffed. “They collaborated with the Vath during the conquest, why would you want to…” he said, and then his expression cleared. “Oh.”

“They could be the line, couldn’t they?” she said, eager.

“Collaborators?” I said with a frown. “Truly?”

“They’re the closest Andalaan allies the Vath have on the planet,” Maram said, excited.

“The Ifrani matriarch was a Vathek loyalist, but she passed recently—the new one, Rabi’a, is a little older than us. If she can be made loyal to Maram—” Idris said.

“Instead of her father,” I continued, and looked over at Maram. She looked so hopeful, I couldn’t help but smile. My mind whirled with possibilities.

“Amani,” Maram snapped and I looked up. “You will do it, won’t you?”

I stared at her blankly. “Do what?”

“Cajole her into friendship.”

I was so startled by the idea that I laughed. “You can’t be serious,” I said. “Dihya, you’re serious. I am not a magician, Your Highness. I—”

“You have done well with the Vathek aristocrats,” Idris said quietly. “The makhzen should be easy.”

“I cannot use any of my knowledge to help you, because Maram doesn’t have that knowledge. I would be harming you in the long run,” I protested.

“It’s not your knowledge I need,” Maram said, coming to sit beside me. “You are … you have a clarity of sight that I lack. Please.”

“Is this your plan?” I asked her. “For the rest of your life?”

The idea felt like a yoke round my neck.

“I had not thought—”

“Of the rest of your life?” I interrupted. “Or the rest of mine?”

At that, she seemed to feel some shame and lowered her eyes.

“Not forever,” she said at last. “I promise.”

I drew in a breath. This was what I’d wanted, wasn’t it? For Maram to take an active interest in not simply being a Vathek scion, but a good queen. One who cared. If I could help—and I knew that I could; I had done well the last few days—wasn’t it my duty to try? I’d seen the beginnings of greatness in her. I’d told her so myself.

“She is right,” Idris added. “You would do well. You have done well.”

I gave Maram a weary smile. “Of course,” I said, and squeezed her hand. “Sisters support each other, don’t they?”

Her face blossomed into a bright smile. “Thank you.”