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Prologue

“T his is an i Mukhtar of El Deharia announced as he paced the width of his private chambers

Princess Lina watched her brother, thinking it would be ith of his chaht of hi

Mukhtar spun back unexpectedly, then stalked toward her “You seable age Three! And has even one of the heirs? No They are too busy with their work How did I produce such industrious sons? Why aren’t they out chasing wonant? At least then we could force a e”

Lina laughed “You’re co and that they’re not playboys? What else is wrong, my brother? Too much money in the treasury? Do the people love you too much? Is the royal crown too heavy?”

“You mock me,” he complained

“As your sister, it is not just e, it’s my duty Someone needs to mock you”

He glared at her, but she was uniether It was hard to find awe in the man when one had seen the boy with chicken pox

“This is serious,” he told her sternly “What arandchildren by now and I have not a single one Qadir spends his ti our country to the world As’ad deals with do econo the old ways” Mukhtar gri?”

“Kateb has always been a bit of a black sheep,” Lina re

Her brother glared at her “No son oflike a lion of the desert or a jackal”

“So he is the black jackal of the family”

“Woman, you will not act this way,” Mukhtar roared in a fair imitation of a lion

Lina re, brother? Have you ever seen ?”

“No, and you are poorer for it”

She covered her mouth as she pretended to yawn

His gaze narrowed “You are intent only on your own amusement? You have no advice for me?”

“I do have advice, but I don’t know if you’ll like it”