“Enough small talk,” she told him. “We must focus on finding evidence. Let’s go to my library—we must be discreet.”

“I assure you, princess,” he said with a wink. “I can be quite discreet.”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help being amused.

They walked toward her library, but as they did, Saifullah and Zarmina approached. When they saw her with Asfandyar, an identical look of concern crossed the twin’s faces.

“Ambassador,” Saifullah said, giving Asfandyar a nod.

“Where are you two headed?” Zarmina asked Durkhanai, eyes worried. Durkhanai didn’t want to lie, but she knew her cousins wouldn’t understand the truth, either. Knew they would try and stop her, thinking she was being a fool. But she could handle herself and her people.

“I’m just loaning the ambassador . . . a book,” Durkhanai replied with a smile.

Neither of them believed her, but they let her go. Zarmina gave Durkhanai one final glance that said, we will discuss this later.

“You don’t lie easily,” Asfandyar noted, when they were out of hearing range.

“I try to avoid it whenever I can,” she replied.

They walked in silence the rest of the way, until they arrived at her library, which was quiet and serene, as usual. Thoughts spinning, Durkhanai boiled down to one solid theory: that the Kebzu Kingdom was behind the attack. She told Asfandyar as much.

“What do you think?”

In the past few weeks since Gulalai first proposed the idea to her, Durkhanai had been considering it, and it made sense.

“It is plausible,” Asfandyar replied. “But who would have given the Kebzu Kingdom the information? ”

“And why? Who would risk their Wali’s life in such a manner? That’s what I can’t figure out.” Durkhanai paused. “But since you were there, and you know most of the walis and their advisors, I figured you would have a better idea.”

Durkhanai pulled out a piece of paper and pencil, sitting down in front of Asfandyar.

“Walk me through the events of that day,” she said, ready to take notes. “Any detail, anything that could be useful.”

“Alright,” he said. “Well, it was held in Teerza—at the Wali’s mansion. The four walis were there—from B’rung, Jardum, Kurra, and Teerza—as well as two to three advisors each. So about fifteen people total, I would say. We all sat in a large room with great big windows. As people were arriving, we were discussing casual things with one another.”

He paused, trying to remember.

“Then, the Wali of Teerza quieted us all down, telling us to take our seats once everybody had arrived. He began distributing papers—there was an excitement in the air. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it could be something worthwhile.”

Asfandyar stopped, swallowing.