He paused and looked straight into Ahmad’s eyes. “I will make you another kind of offer, an alliance of kings. As I said, I must travel to Ravan in several weeks to attend your brother’s coronation. I will be taking a retinue with me. If you would wish to return to your city in disguise, I could offer you a position in my guard. Once there, you might have the chance to assassinate your brother and Shammara and reclaim the throne for yourself. Beyond helping you through the gates, I would take no action—but I and my men would support you if you were successful.”
Prince Ahmad’s eyes glazed over, and his friends looked at him with some alarm. Selima, in particular, knew how much the throne of Ravan mattered to him. Ahmad had never gone back for fear of being recognized and killed at the gate
