“Your honeyed words will have no effect on me.” Rukhsana-sahiba shook her head. “Perhaps, instead of attempting to wheedle information from me, you should be a good little Shehzadi and focus on your people,” Rukhsana-sahiba’s expression sharpened. “I hear whispers of unrest because of the wars against the Luhgams in the east and the Kebzus in the north. A shame, really.” She smiled, then sipped her kava.

Durkhanai pressed her teeth together. This again, with the joining of tribes into a united nation. Even united, Marghazar would be barely stronger and probably, inversely, would be weaker from carrying the other zillas’ weight.

“It is a thing to consider,” Durkhanai said, trying not to be hostile. It seemed the conversation was over. She stood, telling herself to give Rukhsana-sahiba a chance. A united nation was Teerza’s main objective. Of course she would be pressing for it, even now.

Despite how antagonizing Rukhsana-sahiba was, Durkhanai still wanted to believe she was good at heart. Durkhanai tried to see it from her perspective. Rukhsana-sahiba was just looking out for her people, same as Durkhanai. Plus, the Shehzadi was young and impetuous and spoiled in her eyes. It must be difficult for an older woman to speak to a teenager.

“Khudafiz,” Durkhanai said, taking her leave. Ruhsana-sahiba nodded, lowering her head in respect. Only when Durkhanai reached the door did she offer her parting words.

“If only Marghazar had allies in the other zillas,” Rukhsana-sahiba said. “If we were all united as one nation, we would be undefeatable.”

Durkhanai did not turn. She left without another word, mind spinning.

Spent from the meeting, Durkhanai went to visit her people, expecting the love she often received.

But today, something was different. Something was buzzing, like bugs around spoiled meat: they lingered, but did not attack.

Until somebody broke the silence.

“Would unification be so awful, Shehzadi?” a young woman, Shazia, asked her. Durkhanai saw the mother give her daughter a warning glance, but Durkhanai smiled to let them know it was alright.

“Would it not make us stronger to fight our wars?” Shazia continued.

“We are going through a troubling time, now, Shehzadi,” her father added, emboldened. “My three sons off to war with no news of return, and Shazia ill a few weeks ago. We were among the lucky who were blessed with medicine mysteriously in the night, but what of all those who were not so blessed?”

“I understand your qualms,” Durkhanai replied. “But we have always been against the unification of the zillas into one nation. It would only spread our resources even thinner than they already are.”

“Yes, but the times are changing,” he replied. By then, a few of the neighbors had joined in to see what Durkhanai would say. They regarded the Shehzadi with something that flavored strongly of disillusion.

“Would it be truly so horrible to consider it, at least?” someone said.

“The Badshah did not even attend the summit meeting,” someone else added.