The Magician's Witch

Crown, Hands, and Heart

Eilis walked in a daze behind Behzad. Two armed guards flanked her as they made their way through the labyrinth to the Shah's private rooms. Were they there to protect her, or to prevent her from running?

Eilis worked hard to control her dread. Instead of focusing on her revulsion for the situation she found herself in, she concentrated on her options.

Option number one: The Shah falls for the trick and passes out almost immediately, best case.

Option number two: The Shah takes a little more time to fall asleep, but he gets there before too many clothes are removed.

Option number three: Either the tincture doesn't work, or it isn't potent enough, and Eilis would have to resort to physical resistance; the Shah was not a big man, and she was sure she could thwart him if she needed to. It was the armed guards and the retaliation of the Khanum she was more concerned about.

How would she make it back to her room? Could she make it out of the palace if she had to? And what about Erik? What would they do to him if she ran away? Would they do anything to him? Would they guess his involvement?

If worse came to worse, she could teleport them somewhere. Regardless of it being a bad time of year to run, it was still an option, although not her first choice. Leaving the palace with just the shirts on their backs was not the best plan.

Still, Eilis thought longingly about running to Turkey or Iraq, or South to the Persian Gulf. She confessed to herself that she was intrigued to see the Ottoman Empire in action.

Eilis kicked herself for not coming up with better options. The Shah and the Khanum were proving themselves to be more than a nuisance.

Another thought wheedled its way to the front of her mind and almost made her backpedal from the whole scheme; this was exactly what Azar had kidnapped her for: to be the king's concubine.

Her stomach did a backflip and her vision blurred. She stumbled but caught herself, still sandwiched between Behzad and the two guards behind her. She felt hot and then cold as the realization hit her. Perhaps, somehow, Azar and his parasitic accomplice were still working from afar to make good on their promise.

It won't be fulfilled, she vowed.

Behzad was speaking to her, but Eilis wasn't paying attention. She had no interest in what he had to say, anyway.

They finally halted in front of a pair of large, ornate double doors—the Shah's chamber. Two guards stood on either side of the entrance.

Eilis breathed deep, smoothing the front of her dress.

"Did you hear what I said," Behzad asked?

Eilis looked sideways at him. "Excuse me?"

Behzad huffed, exasperated. "I was instructing you on how to behave in his presence".

Eilis's eyes burned. "I will behave with respect. But I am not bowing to him like a slave. He wants me to be here, I'm here. I will not pretend to be enthralled with the situation—or him. He really isn't my type," she bit back.

Behzad turned to face her. His eyes were remorseful, pleading—not what Eilis was expecting.

"I am sorry for this, Eilis," he said humbly. "I know your attentions are...elsewhere. But I have a duty to perform, as do you".

Eilis couldn't find it in herself to be gracious and understanding at the present moment. He was facilitating her being offered up like a choice cut of meat to a man she barely knew, and the daroga could barely see the utter repugnance of such actions.