The servants offered warm greetings to the newcomers. One of them, a matronly woman who was beautiful and proud, approached Trynne. “Welcome, daughter, to the zenana of the Forbidden Court. You are from the deserts, if I judge you well by your appearance.”
“Thank you,” Trynne said, pressing her hands together and giving a little bow as she had seen Reya do.
A sudden whoosh of power and magic filled the air, and a Wizr appeared in the center of the fountain on the lowest level, his hand gripping a girl’s arm. Both the Wizr and the girl were unfamiliar to her, but she saw how very few of the people around her paid them notice. Everyone was talking, their conversation filling the air with noise and laughter.
“A new arrival,” the matronly woman said, noticing Trynne’s attention had been drawn away. “The Wizrs bring in girls regularly. You will get used to it.”
And then Trynne saw a figure dressed in a black cloak and a silver mask. He was walking along the outer edge of the room, away from the center, gazing at the women assembled, keeping to the shadows. Her heart quailed when she saw him, pricked by that sense of wrongness.
“Is that a Wizr?” Trynne asked, gesturing surreptitiously to the man in the mask.
The matronly woman turned, gazing out at the room. “Who are you speaking of?”
“The person over there. With the mask.”
The woman scowled a little. “Oh, he is one of the Mandaryn. They oversee the zenana. The only other males you will find here are guests invited by the emperor. There is nothing to fear.”
“Why do they wear masks?” Trynne asked.
“To keep their identity concealed, of course,” the woman said. “Please don’t trouble yourself about them. They will not hurt you. One of their duties is to find suitable brides for the emperor. They observe the girls, nothing more. Some of you will be selected to meet Gahalatine. Now, since you are new here, you will stay in one of the dormitories on this level. You may come and go as you like. But to become noticed, you must display some form of talent. A talent for conversation, music—such as the lute,” she added, gesturing to the lute case Trynne wore over her shoulders. “Poetry, languages. If you impress the Mandaryn, you will be chosen to advance to the next tier.” She gestured toward an upper level. “There are more private rooms and higher rewards for those who are deemed exceptional. Some girls come here to heal after they have been . . . mistreated.” She gave Trynne a sympathetic look. “You may stay as long as you desire. Gahalatine blesses this place with food, leisure, and opportunity. Some of his generals are permitted to come here to choose wives. Listen for the sound of the trumpet. That is the signal that a dignitary has arrived. That will be your chance to impress them. If that is why you came. If not, well, perhaps you can learn new skills while you are here. Improve upon your talents.”
Someone was approaching them. Trynne turned toward the sound of footsteps and nearly gaped in shock. It was King Sunilik.
“I recognized your clothing from my beloved oasis!” Sunilik said in a charming voice. He was looking at her face, but his expression betrayed nothing. “You must be one of the minstrels who used to serve me. I think I may even recognize you. Welcome!”
The matronly woman looked pleased. “I thought you would want to know about her,” she said, bowing and flushing. “I was going to tell you straightaway.”
“You are always so thoughtful, Jenaya,” Sunilik said, pressing his hands together and bowing to her. “Thank you.” He turned to Trynne graciously, still not revealing even a hint that he knew her identity. “You must be missing the delicious fruits of the oasis! I have some brought here regularly. The zenana grounds are being expanded, you see, and I’m overseeing the undertaking. Follow me. It will give you a taste of home.”
“Thank you,” Trynne said, swallowing. She bowed to Jenaya, who excused herself and walked away.
“Well, my dear,” Sunilik said in a low voice. “When I first saw you, I imagined you were my daughter. As I drew closer, I recognized you for who you are.” He shook his head in disbelief and his voice dropped. “How is Reya?” he asked with a throb of concern. He gestured for her to keep following him.
“She is safe,” Trynne said, her stomach bubbling with excitement. “I had not expected to find you here of all places.”
“I’m relieved to hear it,” Sunilik said. “My heart feared you brought ill news. We won’t be able to speak privately for long without attracting unwanted eyes. I understand that the invasion of Kingfountain is under way. I’m privy to some court secrets now, but not many. If you had been captured, a Wizr would have brought you here.”