The Wanderer's Mark: Book Three of Imirillia (The Books of Imirillia 3) Read Free Page A

when and how the storm would break. As much as he tried to listen, Basaal could not take his eyes from the doors of Arsaalan’s grand salon, speaking only an occasional observation, waiting—and waiting.
    It took longer than Basaal had thought for Ammar to come into the room, white-faced and stern.
    “Basaal.” Ammar tilted his chin at him and stepped into the corner of the room. This was the first test, acting a part before his brothers. Basaal stood and walked to Ammar.
    “Yes?” Basaal held a drink in his hand, swirling its contents. “Is Eleanor well? You did tell her I was coming?”
    “She’s not there,” Ammar leveled.
    “Isn’t there?” Basaal said, drawing his eyebrows together. “Strange. She must have gone to the women’s quarters.”
    “I searched there.” Ammar led Basaal by his elbow farther away from the other brothers. “She has not been there all day.”
    “But—”
    “Hannia has not seen her either,” Ammar said.
    Basaal could no longer look Ammar in the eye. He swore and stepped away, marching from the room. Kiarash called out to him, but he did not turn around. Ammar followed at Basaal’s elbow.
    “Certainly she’s somewhere,” Basaal said through gritted teeth. “Did you check the archives? The gardens?”
    “I have begun asking, that is all,” Ammar said. “I did not want to put the palace into an uproar unless—”
    When Basaal reached his palace, he encountered a panicked Hannia, who repeated that Eleanor was not there and could not have gone anywhere else. Basaal walked from room to room, ignoring the frantic questions from the maid and ignoring the unspoken questions emanating from his brother. He walked through all of his gardens, and he checked every room. Servants and guards stepped away, wary of the murderous look Basaal conjured onto his face. By the seven stars, he hated this deception.
    “The women’s quarters,” Basaal said, finally addressing Ammar. “You’re certain they were searched in their entirety?”
    “Yes.”
    “Hannia, have them searched again,” Basaal said.
    After the maid left, Ammar narrowed his eyes at Basaal. “She won’t find her there.”
    “I know,” Basaal said. “I wanted her out of the way.”
    “Where is Eleanor, Basaal?”
    “I can think of only one other person who might know,” Basaal said.
    “You are really going to bring this accusation before the emperor?”
    “No—perhaps,” Basaal said, moving his hand across his face. “But who else could have done it?”
    Ammar’s mouth twitched, his response sounding thick. “Who else indeed?”
    ***
    If Basaal had expected the luxury of taking the news to the emperor himself, he was not surprised when he did not receive it, for it was not long after Hannia had been sent off that the captain of Shaamil’s imperial guard arrived.
    “The emperor wishes to know if the rumors are true,” the captain said.
    “I am certain she is somewhere on the premises,” Basaal answered angrily.
    “He has ordered that all personnel be charged with searching the entirety of the seven palaces.”
    “Yes,” Basaal said. “I was planning on mobilizing my own men immediately.” Basaal nodded to one of his personal guard, who stood waiting near the doorway. The soldier bowed in return then left to organize the search.
    “If you have nothing further to say,” Basaal said to the captain, pulling at the sleeve of his coat. “I will join my men.”
    “You are to return to your palace with the Vestan,” the captain insisted. “They will track her movements from there.”
    “But the Vestan are out of the city,” Basaal said. “Let my own guard—”
    “The Vestan are in the emperor’s palace,” the captain interrupted.
    Basaal’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?” he demanded. “It’s the day of purification. They should be gone from here.” The captain did not answer, rather he turned on his heels and disappeared down the corridor. Basaal felt genuinely furious now. “The