“It’s ten in the morning,” Zara deadpanned.
“Is it?” He looked out of the balcony to see the sun and squinted his eyes. “Yes, it is.”
“As I was saying before Zayed interrupted us. I want to bring Nasrin back and by the way I treated her, she is mad at me,” I announced.
“She definitely hates you,” Zara agreed, nodding her head. “Probably punch you when she sees you.”
Everyone murmured their agreement while I gaped at them. “That doesn’t help me.”
“We are not here to tell you pretty lies, Zain. You fucked up and you are owning your mistake,” Khalid said, and rolled out the map of Azmia and Maahnoor. Rahim helped him with pointing out the capitals and making a red circle where our palaces were situated.
My brother was right. Again. It was about time that I accept my mistake of pushing Nasrin away when I could have handled it way better. I didn’t have to treat her as a sultan would, I should have listened to her and talk to her like her husband. Because of that, she had almost been killed with poison. I would never forgive myself if that had happened.
I will go to Maahnoor and bring her back.
“Sultan, allow me to arrange your safe journey to Maahnoor,” Rahim said, already making a plan and writing it down.
“I will beat some sense into you before you leave,” Khalid said, crossing his arms. I nodded at him.
Zara beamed, her smile giving me hope. “I can ask Nasrin to give you a chance so you can talk and make out and woo her back!”
“You are reading way too many romance books,” Zayed commented and yelped when she pinched his arm.
“Thank you, Zara, that would be helpful.”
“I will make sure the palace is ready to celebrate the return of Sultana,” my grandmother piqued in, smiling at all of us.
We all agreed and started planning about my journey to Maahnoor and how I should talk to her without getting stabbed and win her back.
“Hey.” Zayed frowned at all of us. “What should I do?”
“We almost forgot that you are useful to us,” Khalid commented and glanced down at the map before looking at his friend. “Provide us with the fastest horses you have.”
Zayed grinned, “On it!”
“But why horses?” I asked.
“Because horses make everything more romantic, duh!” Zara answered, shaking her head as if it was common knowledge.Maybe I should invest in romance books from now on.
* * *
“Whatever happens, don’t get killed.”Khalid wished me his good luck when I climbed the horses, making sure I had everything that I needed.
“You say that because you don’t want to be crowned as the sultan,” I teased.
He smiled, “You know me so well, Brother.”
“Don’t forget the gift!” Zara said when the guards started moving, the sound of their horses neighing surrounding us.
“I won’t,” I replied, and looked at the palace one last time. I hope I will have Nasrin riding with me when I see the palace again.
I couldn’t risk having Khalid, Zara, or Zayed with me. Like how we travelled differently through airplanes to be safe in case something happens. I didn’t want to risk their lives for a mistake that I had caused.
I hadn’t told them about the risk of sneaking into the palace of Maahnoor. If I get caught by their guards, I would be as good as dead. The people of Maahnoor, especially the royal staff, were angry with Azmia for taking Hamid Elbaz as hostage. Even if he had been accused of murder, it was a crime to take a guest as a hostage. I had done just that by ordering him to be kept in the dungeons when he had visited Azmia to have lunch with us and his daughter.
That is why I have to try my best not to get caught.Or they would keep me as their hostage.
The sound of horses galloping was pressed down by the harsh wind of the night. Our plan was simple, go to the Palace of Maahnoor, talk to Nasrin, woo her with my charms and good looks and bring her back to Azmia where she belonged. Rahim had suggested to travel in the night and reach the palace before dawn. As Maahnoor was our neighboring country, the desert provided us with the access of sneaking into the country.