THE DANCING GIRL

Chapter 7

THEY were called after breakfast.

It was Noor who noticed the guard striding up to them.

She signaled to Amir, and they waited together as the guard approached.

"You have been summoned," the guard said, his gravelly voice low.

They nodded and followed the guard, ending up in an unfamiliar part of the castle. This was a wing they weren't allowed to step foot in usually. They stopped in front of a pair of doors.

The guard knocked and stepped aside.

Noor glanced at Amir as the doors opened, and they were shown in.

It was a small sitting room, with two scarlet sofas, and a table between them. The Rajkumars were sitting side-by-side on one of the sofas.

Noor and Amir walked in, and the doors closed sharply behind them. Noor saw Amir flinch at the sound.

"Please, sit," Rajkumar Vikram said, standing. His brother did the same. Rajkumar Vikram looked as immaculately well-dressed as ever, his brother as well, a stark change from the night before.

Noor sat down on the other sofa, opposite them, and Amir did the same. The Rajkumars sat down.

"Chai?" Rajkumar Vikram asked, gesturing at the tray on the table in front of them, with four cups of light chai and some sweets.

Noor shook her head. She wasn't overly fond of chai.

Amir, however, took a cup and leaned back. "Thank you," he said, and blew at the steam wafting off the light brown liquid softly to cool it.

"I'm sure you know why you're here," Rajkumar Fayyaz said, leaning forward.

"You want us to tell you about Sher Butnam," Noor said softly.

"Fayyaz," Rajkumar Vikram said, pursing his lips at his younger brother. He turned to Amir. "I'm afraid we forgot to ask your names."

"Amir Qashat," Amir replied, holding his cup of chai carefully.

Rajkumar Vikram turned to her.

Noor blinked. The Rajkumar knew her name already. Still, she said, "Noor Kassab."

Rajkumar Fayyaz nodded sharply. "Now, let's get to business. And remember, whatever we speak of in this room remains in this room." His tone made it clear that it was a warning. A threat.

"Of course," Noor said, glancing at Amir. He nodded.

"What do you know about Butnam?" Rajkumar Fayyaz asked.

Amir was only staring at his cup, so Noor took the opportunity. "He's a tyrant. He does not care about us, only himself."

Rajkumar Fayyaz pursed his lips. "We knew that. I mean specifics. Has he ever said anything—suspicious people he meets, where he goes, anything suspicious at all?"

Finally, Amir spoke. He lifted his eyes from his cup of chai and looked at the straight-backed Rajkumars opposite them. "Are you going to punish Sher Butnam? Take away his power?"

Rajkumar Vikram sighed. "If we get proof he's up to something, we're hoping to do much more than that."

The words hung over the room for a moment.

Noor was surprised at the grim satisfaction curling in her gut. She wouldn't have ever thought she'd be happy with another's downfall, but if it was Sher Butnam, well...she would thank all the stars if he was ruined.

Amir nodded briskly. "Anyone can tell you he's up to something. What are you looking for? Addiction? Bribery?"

"Treason."