When their mother started toward the palace entrance, Maal and Letiri gave Lannahi a similar look but said nothing. They all felt that making the king wait was a bad idea.
It didn’t take long for them to see that they were right.
“Leave!” Sarkal shouted at two servants who entered the council room.
Stunned, the servants froze before rushing to the door. Lannahi understood their surprise. She had never seen her father in such a state. Annoyed, yes, but never furious.
When the sound of the door closing rang out, Sarkal turned to face his family and she suddenly remembered all the bleak stories told about him.
He’d conquered two cities without leaving a single enemy alive. He’d forced those who refused to swear allegiance to drink poison. He’d tortured traitors before ordering their execution.
It was hard to believe the stories were true when he looked upon her with a bright smile, but now his lips were tight and the warmness in his countenance was replaced by a cold, dangerous glint. Suddenly, Lannahi had no doubt that the merciless man from the stories and her father were the same person.
Her throat was dry. If her greatest ally became her enemy, her plan would be meaningless.
And if Sarkal considered her a traitor, she would be killed.
“Do you know what you’ve done?” her father asked her sharply. “Those who know me laugh at my stupid daughter. The rest think that this was my plan all along. That I’m so old and bored that I’ve decided to play again. Even though I’ve been trying to keep the peace for the last fifty years, they think I want them to Challenge me. What were you thinking, Lannahi, when you Challenged the landshapers? Are you so bored with life in the palace? Or are you waiting for my death?”
With every word his voice rose, but he abruptly stopped his tirade and regarded his youngest daughter. His gaze didn’t soften, but his next question was nearly a whisper. “Did someone tell you to do it?”
“I did it of my own will,” Lannahi replied, making an effort to remain calm. Sarkal felt betrayed and his anger was justified, but she was used to being treated differently by him and his anger caused her physical pain. “I do not wish for you to die. I would like to sing for you for another hundred years. But you know as well as I do that this is impossible.”
A surprised silence filled the room. Lannahi felt the gaze of her siblings and mother, but she focused on her father.
Sarkal narrowed his eyes. “I still have some years ahead of me, Lannahi.”
Lannahi lowered her gaze tactfully. “Do you think those years will be peaceful?”
“I must look old if you believe that I am such an easy target,” her father said after a long pause.
Although there was bitterness in his voice, his tone lost its sharpness and Lannahi dared to raise her eyes.
The king crossed his arms. “So? How does issuing this ridiculous Challenge relate to my death? Aside from the fact that it will speed it up.”
“It won’t,” Lannahi said with a confidence she didn’t feel. “People saw that you were as surprised as they were. If anyone asks, tell them the truth. Your daughter is acting on her own. Call me stupid if you think it will help.”
Sarkal stared at her for a long moment. “Why did you do it, Lannahi? You have some chance of winning, but losing is just as likely. Even if you win, the landshapers will try to take back the city. Why are you risking your life? I thought you wanted to devote yourself to music. You were supposed to go to the courts of Maal and Letiri—” He looked at his son and his tone became sharp again. “What was that, Maal? I know that it was your machinations that led to Lannahi having to perform today. Why? After I asked you to protect her? You could have destroyed her career.”
Lannahi struggled to contain her surprise. Sarkal asked her siblings to protect her?
Maal, who had watched the exchange between his father and younger sister with interest, said in a neutral tone, “I acted in accordance with your request. If Lannahi had backed out or given a poor performance, people would have thought her harmless and lost interest in her quickly. If all went well, she would gain access to other courts and perhaps find additional protection at one of them. I created opportunities for her.” His lips curved in a barely perceptible smile. “I didn’t know that she had other plans for herself.”
Despite herself, Lannahi blushed. Wasn’t Letiri also talking about creating opportunities after introducing her to Llazaros and Sammais? The fact that her father interceded for her with her siblings was humiliating, but at the thought of being at their mercy, she choked with anger.
Asirri said, “Arrogance can be your downfall, Maal. Lannahi is inconspicuous, but she’s still my daughter. If you really thought she would leave her fate in someone else’s hands, you have a lot to learn. Underestimating a weaker opponent’s will to fight is a fundamental mistake.”
Maal frowned. No man in his forties liked being lectured by their mother, but for a prince who had ruled his own city for nineteen years, it was a bitter pill. His gaze rested on Lannahi. The blush on her cheeks betrayed embarrassment, but there was a defiant gleam in her gaze that she made no effort to hide. A muscle in Maal’s cheek twitched, but Lannahi saw a hint of amusement in his eyes. He returned his gaze to his mother and bowed. “I will remember this lesson.”
Asirri sent him a brief smile. Maal was her son. If she pointed out his mistakes, she did it only for his sake.
“Did you know?” Sarkal asked Asirri. “Did you know that Lannahi would Challenge the landshapers?” Struck by a sudden thought, he added, “Did you suggest it to her?”
His wife answered him with a hard look. “With these questions, you have not only cast doubt on my loyalty to you, but you have shown that, like Maal, you consider my daughter a spineless puppet. Because of the years we’ve shared together, I’ll give you the opportunity to retract your words before I consider them an insult and demand retribution.”
As far as Lannahi knew, no one had challenged Sarkal in years, and for a moment she stared at her mother with an equally puzzled gaze as her siblings, but on their father’s face, there was no trace of surprise.
“It wasn’t my intention to offend you.” Despite this declaration, his voice sounded challenging. “I take back the question.”
