Equal of the Sun A Novel - By Anita Amirrezvani Page 0,72

she could.

“Brother of mine, I swear that is my fondest wish,” she said.

“How can I know that you will work for me, not just for yourself?”

“I would like to prove myself to you—to be your confidante—to use all I have learned to advance your interests.”

Pari was on the right track at last. Kiss his feet! I commanded her in my head.

“There is so much I can do,” Pari continued, and I became ill at ease again. Why couldn’t she stop there?

“I can advise you on the best governors to rule, recount the deeds of all the khans who served our father when you were away, or provide you with suggestions for wives—and that is just the beginning.”

He looked skeptical again, his desire to believe her fading as quickly as it had bloomed.

“I have plenty of men to advise me,” he said.

“Then what can I do?”

He was at a loss, but then he rallied. “If you like, I will arrange a marriage for you to help fill your days. Small children are very demanding of their mothers.”

Pari shivered as if ill with a fever, and I was reminded of a maple denuded of all its leaves by an autumn wind.

“How very gracious,” she replied coldly, “but I prefer to remain alone and devoted to the memory of our father.”

“It is up to you,” he said indifferently.

Yet again, I was maddened by his lack of statecraft. After you kick a faithful dog, even if it has misbehaved, you would be well advised to throw it a bone. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if it sinks its fangs into your throat. But it was Pari’s task to try to tame him, since she had the most to lose, and instead she had merely managed to make him growl.

As we left, Pari looked as if the fire that raged inside her might consume all who were near her. Her cheeks and her normally pearly forehead were red, and a wave of heat emanated from her body. I didn’t dare to touch her even by accident for fear she might loose her rage upon me.

When we were in the gardens far from malicious gossips, Pari’s words tumbled out on top of one another. “How dare he claim the royal farr! It remains with whoever deserves it most,” she said between gritted teeth. “We will see who that is.”

“We already know it is you.”

Pari sighed. “I have been given all the tools of a ruler—except the blind, blunt instrument that seems to matter—but none of the opportunities. When I read through history, my desires don’t strike me as so exceptional. Genghis Khan placed his daughters on the throne in every corner of his empire, where they ruled in his name. Our qizilbash ancestors allowed women more freedom because they lived a nomadic life. Those traditions are being buried, alas, and our women with them.”

“It is the same in many places,” I replied. “Yet the ruler of England has been a woman for the last twenty years because her father didn’t produce a male heir.”

“That is not quite true,” said Pari. “King Henry had a son or two, but they weren’t born of the one wife he was allowed to marry at any given time. What a foolish practice to deny his children their patrimony.”

“It is very limiting,” I agreed.

“But what a boon for Elizabeth. Here we are awash in male heirs; the dozens of women my father bedded made sure of that. My only chance is as an advisor to one of his grown sons or as a regent, which would suit me best.”

“You would be an excellent ruler,” I replied, “but I must admit I had to learn this by serving you. Esteemed princess, I used to think my father superior to my mother. After I began serving the royal women, I learned they could surpass men in intelligence and strategizing.”

“How well you understand! Sometimes I feel like the one solitary creature of my kind, malcontent with the way the world is made and my place in it. Yet what am I but what those around me have created?”

Her black eyes became as transparent as pools, and I felt as if I could see straight into the dark loneliness of her soul, which reminded me of my own.

“Lieutenant of my life,” I replied softly, “I empathize with your troubles with all my heart.”

She put her hand on my arm. “I know you do,” she replied. “How curious it is that you were sent to me: I