Page 42 of Sands of Atonement

“Ezra ordered that we bake for the palace as well—for the funds that were needed.”

Without my consent, my heart did a little flip.

The rest of the walk was quiet.

So, Ezra helped a starving family. Did that make him a good person? No, he was a killer, and he killed my family.

“I don’t mean to pry, but how are you here? After I met you, news spread of a woman caught in the arena, and now you’re here? Living in the palace.”

No one could know I was here as Eshe, and I knew that Casimir and Ezra were not going to let anyone know I was alive just yet. They wanted the upper hand.

I said the first lie that came to my mind.

“I got a job at the Khraus. We were dancing at one of the celebrations recently, and I got invited into a harem at the palace.” It was the only thing that made sense.

Seda smiled, thinking patiently. “It’s funny, for all the information I have accumulated over the years, I know not one family that has sent their daughter to Ezra’s.”

I remember what she had said before. Exclusive harem.

“Any father would know sending their daughter would not benefit them in the slightest. Ezra can’t see past his own reflection.”

Seda laughed, most likely thinking I was jesting.

“I’m assuming then you belong to Casimir’s?”

Definitely not Ezra. Even if this were all a lie, attaching me to Ezra made me want to gag.

“Casimir’s, yes.”

We continued walking through the hallways, arms linked.

“Where is Ezra’s harem?” Seda asked politely.

“Probably underground in a dungeon,” I contemplated.

We both laughed.

“He’s not that bad, I’m sure,” she said.

I snorted, “Then you don’t know him at all. He is the closest you have to the devil prowling through the desert. I wouldn’t be surprised if he kept his women in the dark where he could perform the darkest of sins on them.”

Seda’s eyes grew wide, and her jaw dropped slightly. She probably had no idea what I was referring to. She seemed as innocent as a dove. And I was too, but I had brothers, and they’d tell me what went on in harems.

“Do you mean he harms them? That would make sense as to why I have never heard where they come from before.”

“I’ll find out more and let you know.” I gave her a nod of determination. We both chuckled again, knowing Ezra was not likely to be the person we accused him of being, but I wouldn’t put it past him either.

After saying goodbye to Seda, I noticed Ezra wasn’t lurking about, which meant I still had some time before getting any sort of backlash from him. No doubt he was on some urgent Qahl business, judging by the look on that guard’s face.

Determined now more than ever before, I needed to know more about Ezra.

It was a borderline obsession.

Why had everyone and their mother learned so much about Casimir’s life but nothing about Ezra? What was he hiding?

I walked outside along the palace walls until the sun was just about to set, when I saw a white building surrounded by one of the oasis’s gardens. A small pond glittered against the setting sun, making it inviting. The outdoor columns had green silk wrapped around them. It was quiet in a peaceful way and reminded me of a secret garden that I wanted to explore the depths of, but oddly, there were several guards in front of it.

My lips curved up.