Chapter 24

The princess walked through the door on the arm of an older woman, followed by her entourage. The slaves she brought with her had been trained since birth to remain passive and indifferent, yet even they gazed in wonder at the mystical palace that had appeared overnight outside of their city.

“Do you like it?” The voice came from a man who had stepped around the throne. He was dressed in fine silk and carried a scepter adorned with enough gems to finance an army. “A beauty such as yourself deserves only the finest palace in the world.”

The princess bowed her head in greeting. “Many of my people speak of your generosity, and my father thinks highly of you. Yet you have me at a disadvantage. My father wishes for me to be wed to you, yet I do not know your name.”

The man removed his fine silk hat and tussled his hair. It had been hard for her to see past the nobility of his garments, but when he smiled, she recognized him as the man who had spi