The attendant opens a side door from the council chamber and leads Makeda through quieter corridors. Her palm is unbandaged now, and the healed skin moves freely.
Queen Mariam’s apartments occupy a sunlit suite beyond a carved screen. King Rostom stands near the window, while Petar waits discreetly in an adjoining alcove.
Queen Mariam Dadiani
Come in, Makeda. Here, officials will not turn every breath into a clause. I wished to speak with you without the council between us.
King Rostom
Your testimony is credible, but protection has a price. Turkish claims, local suspicion, and the burden of feeding foreigners will all be counted against us.
Mariam gestures toward cushions beside a low table. Beyond the screens, servants move quietly, and the palace continues its morning work around this private negotiation.
Queen Mariam Dadiani
The women cannot remain guests without purpose. They may work, if they choose, and earn their keep under my protection. I will not have them hidden like contraband.
King Rostom
Petar can guide travelers and speak for the mountain roads. As for the women, we must learn what work they can safely undertake before we promise more than the court can sustain.
Secure a safe work arrangement for the women