The Queen of Forty Thieves Read online

  Elm Vince & Helena Rookwood

  The Queen of Forty Thieves

  Desert Nights Book 2

  Copyright © 2019 by Elm Vince & Helena Rookwood

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  Elm Vince & Helena Rookwood asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  First edition

  This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

  Find out more at reedsy.com

  Contents

  Free prequel

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  A note from the authors

  The Desert Nights series

  About the authors

  The Sisters and the Sultan

  Get your free copy of The Sisters and the Sultan, the prequel to the Desert Nights series

  A rebellious princess, her perfect sister, and a forbidden love that threatens their kingdom…

  Sisters Zadie and Lalana are both princesses of Khiridesh – but that’s where the similarities end.

  Lalana has always been the perfect princess, a great beauty who’s engaged to a distant, powerful sultan. And that’s always suited Zadie just fine, since all she wants is to spend her days riding, reading, and rebelling against palace life.

  But as the wedding draws closer, it seems Lalana’s been keeping secrets of her own…

  With the future of their kingdom hanging in the balance, Zadie is forced to choose: her sister’s happiness, or her own freedom?

  Your secret download link to Zadie and Lalana’s story can be found in the back of this book.

  1

  It looked like it was going to be another glorious day in Kisrabah.

  Above the gleaming palace domes, the sky was a cloudless blue. The sun warmed the neat, symmetrical gardens of the courtyard as doves cooed and insects hummed around us. The sweet scent of pollen floated on a light breeze.

  Yes, it would have been the perfect morning – if I hadn’t been trapped under a canopy painting flowers.

  “How’re you doing, Zadie?” Princess Safiyya set down her paintbrush.

  “Hmm?” I looked up at the sound of her voice. “Oh… Fine.”

  The tent was shaded, its four sides open to the courtyard. Despite being surrounded by hundreds of flowers in the garden, Safiyya and I were painting a vase of carefully arranged pink and yellow blooms set on a marble plinth.

  I looked down at my parchment. I had no interest, not to mention talent, in art, and spirits, did it show.

  Yet I was the one who had insisted we spend the morning painting in this exact location. Voices floated from the open shutters at the windows of the palace behind me, and I smiled to myself as paint dripped from my brush.

  The real reason I wanted to sit here had nothing to do with painting.

  Inside, the Sultan of Astaran and his council were meeting, and I could hear everything they were saying. I hoped they’d discuss the situation with the Phoenite armies moving toward Yadina, so I might know more about my sister Lalana’s safety. But so far, the only topic of discussion had been mystic acquisitions…whatever that was.

  “…trouble is, Your Highness, we have no idea where to locate it.” The Royal Vizier’s voice floated into the courtyard.

  “Are there any reports of when it was last seen? Or who last owned it?” Kassim replied in his deep voice.

  “Nothing from my sources yet,” Namir admitted. “Rare items are difficult to track down. There’s no paperwork on the black market.”

  I swirled my paintbrush in a rich, cerulean blue and absentmindedly swiped it across the top of the parchment, focusing on their conversation. Why does Kassim need a black-market item?

  “How important is this talisman to your plans anyway?” Elian, Kassim’s captain of the guard, sounded about as excited to be in their meeting as I did to be painting. “It’s just a necklace. We ought to focus on our armies right now, not chase children’s stories–”

  “The Night Diamond talisman is vital.” The vizier’s voice sounded hard and smooth as marble. “I’m working on a plan to acquire it, but it may take a little time.”

  The Night Diamond talisman…

  That definitely sounded magical. And based on Elian’s comment, it might have something to do with the Phoenite armies gathering at our borders. My brush tinkled against the edges of the glass as I swirled it around, turning the turpentine a murky brown color and filling my nostrils with a pungent smell.

  Could the talisman contain a spirit, like the djinni in my ring?

  “That’s nice.”

  I jumped at Safiyya’s voice right by my shoulder. I’d been so engrossed in the council’s conversation, I hadn’t noticed her stand and walk over.

  “You don’t need to be polite. I know it’s awful.” I dropped the paintbrush with a clatter and scratched my cheek with the back of my hand.

  “No, no! It’s just very…” Safiyya tucked her long, black hair behind her ears as she appraised my painting with a barely concealed wince. “Very vivid.”

  Kassim had started talking again, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying over Safiyya’s comments. Reluctantly, I tuned out the council’s conversation and turned back to Safiyya.

  “And you’re very tactful.”

  I leaned over to gaze at her paper. It looked exactly like the vase of flowers, the delicate colors capturing the morning light perfectly. It reminded me of the paintings Lalana used to do at home – neat and pretty, with everything in proportion.

  “Oh, come on, Safiyya! It doesn’t even look like we’re painting the same thing.”

  Safiyya looked between the two paintings and giggled. “Well, at least you’re practicing.”

  A throat cleared behind us, and we turned. The vizier stood in the doorway of the palace, her long, beetle-black robes flowing to the floor. She turned to Safiyya with a tight smile.

  “Princess, did you realize the council is in session? We can hear everything you’re saying.” She sniffed loudly, her gaze sliding to me. “And it reeks of turpentine. I’m sure it was an accident you decided to paint right outside the council rooms…”

  Does she know I was listening in?

  “Oh, sorry!” Safiyya cried, then cringed and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I mean… Sorry, Hepzibah. We’ll be quiet.”

  The vizier nodded, her lips pressed together.

  I hadn’t seen her since yesterday, when she’d convinced the council not to believe what I’d told them about the thieves in the treasury. It didn’t look like she’d warmed to me since then.

  She strode back inside the palace. A moment later, the shutters on the windows banged shut.

  Ah. Maybe she does know I was listening.

  “Let’s go and paint somewhere else.” Safiyya looked stricken. “We could draw Lotus. He’s very good at sitting still.”

  “I don’t know…” If I couldn’t manage a simple vase of flowers, I doubted I’d
be any better at painting Safiyya’s pet tiger. Besides, the whole point of painting anything at all had been to set up next to the council rooms.

  I twisted around in my seat to glare at the closed shutters. Spirits, I can’t hear anything now. When I became sultanah, I would find a way to be invited to all the council meetings.

  I looked down at the ring on my finger. I hadn’t had one moment to myself since I found it. If I wasn’t with Safiyya, I’d been surrounded by handmaids or guards. I had begun to worry I would never have a chance to speak to Tarak alone again.

  I needed to find out how these wishes worked. I hadn’t decided what I was going to use them for, but it would be nice to know if I had the power to turn Hepzibah into a dung beetle. And if finding out information about the sultan’s council continued to be difficult, maybe the djinni could somehow help.

  I bit my lip. If Kassim wouldn’t let me out into the city, maybe Tarak could get my letter to Lalana…

  “Zadie!” Mehri’s breathless voice called out as she rushed into the courtyard, ducking into the shade of our tent. My other handmaid, Jevera, followed her. Their faces gleamed with perspiration.

  Safiyya shushed her and emphatically pointed to the council chambers.

  “Sorry.” Mehri instantly lowered her voice, bobbing into a harried curtsey. “Zadie, we went to the market to look for blue damask roses like you asked, but we couldn’t find them anywhere.” She wrung her shawl between her hands. “I’m so sorry. We asked at twenty different stalls, then we went to one of the growers. He said he’d never heard of a blue damask rose.”

  “It’s almost as if they don’t exist,” Jevera added drily, crossing her arms.

  “I’m sorry. I know you wanted them for your painting.” Mehri glanced down at my parchment, quickly masking her grimace with a smile as she looked back up at me.

  “That’s okay,” I replied with a sigh.

  They’d been gone just under an hour. I needed them out of my hair for longer if I were to have any hope of finding somewhere to speak with the djinni alone. I was quickly running out of fake errands to send my handmaids on. They had been far too efficient at getting what I’d asked for yesterday, so if I wanted them away for any significant amount of time, I had to start making my requests more complicated.

  “Perhaps you could find me some Khirideshi star jasmine instead.”

  Mehri and Jevera exchanged a glance.

  “If it’s not too much trouble,” I added with a smile.

  “But that’s out of season, princess.” Jevera replied sharply.

  “Well, see if you can find some that isn’t.”

  “Of course, princess. We’ll try.” Mehri nudged Jevera in the ribs. “Can we get you anything before we go? Another drink? We could freshen your hair… maybe wash your face?”

  I declined. Mehri curtseyed low while Jevera gave a half-hearted bob, before they disappeared back the way they came.

  I blew out a breath. That should give me at least a few handmaid-free hours to find somewhere to speak with Tarak.

  Honestly, I had no idea how Safiyya put up with it. Never having any time alone was exhausting.

  The door behind us swung open again and the sultan stepped out into the courtyard, followed by Elian, Namir, and Hepzibah. His dark brows lowered and his amber eyes squinted as they adjusted to the bright light. As always, Kassim was dressed impeccably. Today he was a vision in ivory silk, his fluid robes gleaming in the sunlight.

  “Kassim!” Safiyya beckoned her brother toward her painting. I stiffened in my chair, smoothing down my lilac skirts.

  The sultan left the rest of his council standing by the doorway to move behind his sister, hands clasped behind his back as he admired her painting. “You never cease to amaze me with your artistic talents, Safiyya.”

  Safiyya flushed at her brother’s praise. “Thanks,” she gushed. “It was actually Zadie’s idea to paint today.” She smiled at me encouragingly. “Wasn’t it, Zadie?”

  “It was,” I said reluctantly.

  “How wonderful.” Kassim’s eyes flicked to me, and I silently willed him not to walk over.

  It didn’t work.

  He closed the space between us in two strides, pursing his lips as he frowned down at my painting. “How…expressive.” He paused. “I’d been told your sister, Lalana, was quite the artist. I see you’re less interested in the creative arts…”

  “Kassim!” Safiyya looked outraged on my behalf.

  Heat rose to my cheeks, even as I brushed off the jibe. “It’s fine, Safiyya,” I reassured her. I twisted to look up at the sultan properly. “It’s true. Lalana was the artist, not me. But perhaps you would like to go for a ride with me later today, sultan? That is something I know how to do quite well.” I forced my words to sound polite. “Besides, I’d like to take my new horse out.”

  When I’d asked if I could have one of the Khirideshi stallions from my dowry, I’d been surprised that the sultan had agreed. Perhaps he’d hoped it would placate me after he’d refused to listen to me about the thieves. Whatever his reason, I’d immediately claimed the brave horse I had ridden during the attack on the road here and named him Bandit. I hoped that since Kassim had granted me a horse, he might reconsider his no riding rule. Besides, if I could spend some time alone with him, perhaps I could warm him to my way of thinking…

  The sultan crossed his arms. “No.”

  So it seemed owning a horse and being allowed to ride it were two very different things.

  The vizier materialized by the sultan’s side like a noonday shadow. She didn’t have one dark hair out of place. “Kassim, we have several important visitors to prepare for this afternoon.”

  I kept my gaze on the sultan. “Well, perhaps while you’re otherwise engaged, I could ride to the bazaar today? I’d like to see some of the city. Perhaps go shopping in the market.”

  He shook his head. “No. It’s too dangerous for you to ride out unaccompanied. Send your handmaids to buy whatever you need.”

  I gritted my teeth. “What if the guards–”

  “Princess Zadie.” The vizier cut me off this time, her tone harsh. “If you ever have a legitimate need to travel beyond the palace walls, we will happily arrange a palanquin and a full cadre of guards to escort you.”

  Ugh. Just the mention of a spirits-cursed palanquin made me queasy.

  “Quite,” Kassim drawled. “Come, Hepzibah. Let’s leave the princess to finish her…masterpiece.” He fixed me with a glare, then strode away.

  Resentment rippled through me. I didn’t give two hoots about my painting, and I was fast growing used to being denied my usual freedoms, but to be spoken to so disdainfully in front of Safiyya, Namir, and Elian… I bit my tongue.

  I just needed to wait this out until we were married and I was officially sultanah. Then I’ll have the authority to start making some changes around here.

  The vizier turned to Safiyya’s handmaids, who had all dropped into curtseys the moment Kassim stepped into the courtyard. “Don’t just stand there gawking. One of you deal with Princess Zadie’s face. She looks ridiculous.”

  What? I raised my hands, my eyes widening. They were streaked with blue.

  All four of Safiyya’s handmaids launched at me with their handkerchiefs raised.

  I stood, protesting, then declared I would visit the bathing pools…alone.

  2

  Arms crossed, I walked through the gardens. The sun beat down on my uncovered head, and I unpinned my hair as I walked. It dropped down to the middle of my back, its thickness covering the nape of my neck.

  Safiyya had seemed upset at how our painting session had ended. She’d insisted she accompany me to the bathing pools. In the end, I had to feign heatstroke to get away from her and her gaggle of handmaids. I hadn’t returned to my chambers to lay down, though. No, that would be the first place Mehri and Jevera would look for me when they returned.

  Instead, I found myself wandering toward the stables. My handmaids would never
think to look for me there. I doubted they even knew where they were.

  I needed somewhere quiet to speak with Tarak, to find out how these wishes worked and whether I could trust him. After he’d tricked me into a deal on our last encounter, I was hesitant to call on him at all.

  The stables were bustling, several soldiers and stablehands busy with their chores. I was pleased to discover the Khirideshi stallions were kept in a separate, quiet corner at the very edge of the barracks. There was just one guard, with a neat, clipped beard and kind eyes, at the door. He simply nodded when I expressed my desire to groom one of the horses and let me in without a word.

  The scent of sweet hay and earthy musk felt like home. Two stablehands were clearing out the stalls closest to the door, but I could see they were almost done. Then I would finally be alone.

  I found Bandit in the stall at the far end. He seemed restless, his velvet nose huffing at my outstretched hand.

  “You want to get out, too, hmm?” I murmured.

  Bandit’s coat was already lustrous, but I grabbed a body brush anyway and set to work grooming him, waiting for the stablehands to finish and leave. I soon became lost in the repetitive rasp and sweep of the brush as my hand smoothed the length of his white flank.

  This morning had been a waste of time…mostly. I knew nothing more about the Phoenites, or whether Lalana was safe in Yadina. I still needed to get a letter to her. Tarak might be able to help. If not, I would find a way into the city and use one of the bird merchants there.

  But I had learned something. Kassim needed a Night Diamond talisman, and it was possible it had something to do with the Phoenite threat. I didn’t know much about magical items, only what I’d picked up from Mother, but I knew an amulet was for protection, while a talisman was supposed to give the wearer power. I wondered what power it held.

  “Sneaking out, Princess Zadie?”

  I almost dropped the brush at the sight of Namir leaning on the door of the stall. I hadn’t heard him come in. When I’d seen him the other night, his dark clothes and even darker hair had melted into the shadows, but in the light of day, they looked stark against the light, sandstone building of the stables.