How did illness spread? How could it have spread so fast amongst the people? It almost seemed deliberate, a cruel punishment sent from Allah—but, no. It wasn’t arbitrary, enough. No one in the palace or court had fallen ill, except for Durkhanai, and that was only because she had strayed.

And Rashid’s sister, but that was also because she went down to the villages to teach.

Durkhanai tried to recall the pattern of the illness, how it had spread from the top of the mountain, the villages closest to the palace, then further down. And even in the village, it seemed to be the workers who were getting most ill, not the women who stayed at home with their little babies or the older men who spent all day cooking.

What was it?

And then, clear as day, she remembered a detail: the water from the well.

Anxiety struck through her heart like lightning, spreading through her veins, filling her and filling her. No. Durkhanai pressed her fingers into her throat, felt her pulse thrum furiously.

Durkhanai tried not to run back to the main throng of the gathering, but still her steps quickened into something close to a jog.

Of course, the moment she entered, Rashid found her.

“Feeling better?” he asked, voice concerned. Durkhanai nodded, distracted, looking around the room.

“Rashid, do you know where your sister is?” she asked, scanning the crowds.

“Hala?” Rashid asked. “Come, I’ll take you to her.” He took her hand. Durkhanai obliged, not even noticing how easily she gave her hand to him until he was already pulling her along through the crowds and it was too late to withdraw. What had gotten in Rashid? Always so prim and proper, careful not to even bump shoulders with her, now suddenly holding her hand in his? A creeping feeling spread across her chest, but there was no time for that now.

“Hala!” Rashid called. “The Shehzadi was looking for you.”

Hala lowered her head in respect, but even she noticed her brother’s hand with the princess’s. She was a pretty girl, with the same wavy brown hair and warm hazel eyes as her brother. “What an honor,” she replied.

Durkhanai shone her brightest smile. “Come, take a walk with me.”

She slipped her hand out of Rashid’s and looped her arm through Hala’s.

“I’ll find you after,” Rashid told her, trying to give her a bright smile to hide his downcast countenance.

Durkhanai smiled in response, but made a point of moving out of hearing distance. “How are you doing?” she asked Hala, trying to remain calm. She did not need to alarm anyone, not when all she had was a suspicion.

“I’m well, Shehzadi, shukria,” Hala replied. “And how are you? Is everything well?”

“Yes, thank you so much for asking,” Durkhanai replied. “I was ill some time ago, but alhamdulillah I have recovered.”