married off his daughter

the wind—all of it vanished, replaced by a roaring in Zainab’s ears. She stumbled back, her cane striking a root, nearly sending her sprawling.

“He’s a liar,” Aminah whispered. “Ask him about the ‘Great Fire of the East.’ Ask him why he can’t show his face in the city.”

Zainab fled. She didn’t use her cane; she ran on instinct and agony, her feet finding continue reading …