The place had been built as a sanctuary for women. Reya had told her that the noble daughters of the realms Gahalatine had conquered had been brought there, and she could see that many of the women in the zenana were indeed of noble birth. There were girls with outlandish headdresses, some literally burdened with necklaces and bracelets that lined their arms from wrist to shoulder. An air of haughtiness, pride, and splendor pervaded the tower. Trynne saw women coming in and out of rooms on the higher levels. There were people everywhere. Her heart sank as she realized just how difficult it would be to find Lady Evie.

The servants offered warm greetings to the newcomers. One of them, a matronly woman who was beautiful and proud, approached Trynne. “Welcome, daughter, to the zenana of the Forbidden Court. You are from the deserts, if I judge you well by your appearance.”

“Thank you,” Trynne said, pressing her hands together and giving a little bow as she had seen Reya do.

A sudden whoosh of power and magic filled the air, and a Wizr appeared in the center of the fountain on the lowest level, his hand gripping a girl’s arm. Both the Wizr and the girl were unfamiliar to her, but she saw how very few of the people around her paid them notice. Everyone was talking, their conversation filling the air with noise and laughter.

“A new arrival,” the matronly woman said, noticing Trynne’s attention had been drawn away. “The Wizrs bring in girls regularly. You will get used to it.”

And then Trynne saw a figure dressed in a black cloak and a silver mask. He was walking along the outer edge of the room, away from the center, gazing at the women assembled, keeping to the shadows. Her heart quailed when she saw him, pricked by that sense of wrongness.

“Is that a Wizr?” Trynne asked, gesturing surreptitiously to the man in the mask.

The matronly woman turned, gazing out at the room. “Who are you speaking of?”

“The person over there. With the mask.”

The woman scowled a little. “Oh, he is one of the Mandaryn. They oversee the zenana. The only other males you will find here are guests invited by the emperor. There is nothing to fear.”

“Why do they wear masks?” Trynne asked.