Several days passed as I turned my conversation with Rabi’a over and over in my mind. It had gone well and I knew Rabi’a was firmly a Maram loyalist, who understood the traps and pitfalls of Maram’s position, but had allied with her anyway. If Maram could commit to an act of trust, it would solidify the alliance permanently. It would demonstrate to Rabi’a that Maram not only needed her but valued her and trusted her enough with a secret only Idris knew.

The afternoon belonged to me—to Maram—since Idris had gone off with the Mas’udi twins to look through the city market. Maram was sitting in the double’s suite’s tower, curled up beneath a blanket, with fire crackling cheerfully in front of her.

“I didn’t expect you,” she said without looking up from her tablet.

“Idris is in the city,” I replied, still standing.

Something in my voice must have given me away, because she looked up with a raised eyebrow.

“What is it?”

“I think telling Rabi’a that there are two of us will secure her trust completely,” I said.

Her face went very still even as she gestured for me to take a seat.

“You trust her so much?” she asked quietly.

“Yes,” I replied.

Her nails tapped rhythmically against the tablet she still held in her lap.

“It’s not fair to you, is it?” she asked. “That you keep shouldering it alone.”

“I—”

She smiled. “Don’t deny it, Amani. Martyrdom doesn’t suit you. And I promised to be a better friend.”

“If you think it will endanger you—” I began.

“I fear everything,” she said, and her smile turned bitter. “One cannot lead with fear.”

“No,” I said softly, my eyes wide. “You can’t.”

Her eyes met mine. “Have I surprised you, Amani?”

I let out a breathless laugh. “Yes,” I said. “You have. I thought I would have to convince you.”

“Some things are self-evident,” she replied. “Have Tala call her in.”

“Now?” I said, alarmed.

“Why put it off?” she said.

When at last the suite was clear, I dispatched Tala to Rabi’a with a message to meet Maram in her private garden. Maram was resplendent in seafoam green, her dark hair threaded with pearls, and a chiffon and organza cape of forest green trailing on the ground behind her. She stared down at her reflection in the pool, its surface covered here and there with lily pads, her brows drawn into a small frown.