“Simple.” Gulalai tore into a samosa. “Because I want your favor and I intend on gaining it through friendship and loyalty. Kurra does not have want or need for much, and I do not intend to achieve anything through conniving. I wish for us to be sister tribes, one day. Whatever you offer through goodwill is enough for me.”

“What if we have nothing to offer?” Durkhanai responded.

“Shehzadi, you mustn’t bother with false pretenses,” Gulalai said with a smile. “All the mountains know of your soft spots and kindness. Even if the Badshah and my father see no use in an alliance at the present, I think one day you and I will benefit from it. Besides, I don’t think you want war between our zillas, and neither do I.”

Durkhanai nodded.

“And to prove my loyalty, here is a secret: Jardum and Teerza have become more brothers than cousins,” Gulalai said.

“What exactly does that mean?” Durkhanai asked.

“I can’t say more, for Jardum is Kurra’s ally as well,” Gulalai responded. “And even that I shouldn’t have said, but take it as a token of my commitment to an alliance with Marghazar. Keep an eye on Teerza.”

“I will,” Durkhanai said. “Thank you for the warning. As for our alliance, only time will tell,” she added, but she had a good feeling about it. Her gut wasn’t very often wrong.

“Have you considered the possibility of it being the Kebzu Kingdom?” Gulalai said after some consideration. “I’ve given it much thought, and they would have an incentive—keep our zillas weak so that we cannot become more effective at fighting them. It’s a similar incentive to Marghazar’s.”

“The Kebzu Kingdom only pushes on Marghazar’s borders in the north,” Durkhanai replied. “Why would they care if the southern zillas unified?”

“Perhaps they would see it as a future threat?” Gulalai responded. “If Marghazar joined the unified zillas in the future and pushed back harder on the northern border?”

“Hm,” Durkhanai said. “You bring up valid points. But how would they have known about it at all? The summit was only known to the five walis, particularly the date and location.”

“So it had to have been a wali.” Gulalai bit her lip. “I wish I had been there. Perhaps I could have gauged something better.”

“Do you know all the walis personally?” Durkhanai asked. “I’ve never met any of them.”

“We’re acquainted, but I don’t know them that well,” Gulalai replied. She considered something for a moment, then shook her head. “But do you know who does know them all quite well? And who was at the summit?”

Durkhanai had a sinking feeling she already knew the answer.

“Asfandyar-sahib.”

Durkhanai sighed as Gululai continued.

“If anybody will know something, it’ll be him.”

Chapter Four

The clouds kissed Durkhanai’s cheeks. It brought her peace.