“It has been our way for a thousand years. In the past generation or so the thieving has stopped, but the legacy is still there. In time we can discuss returning some items, but not yet.” He took a sip of his drink. “Since you have so much interest in the treasure, perhaps you would like to begin cataloging it.”
She glanced at him over his shoulder. “No one’s done that? You don’t even know what you have?”
He shrugged. “I know we have enough. But no. There’s no detailed inventory. Also, I believe some of the items might require special treatment to prevent them from being destroyed as they age.”
“You’re right. There’s a tapestry in one of the halls that is turning to dust. It needs to be protected.” She turned to face him. “But you’re talking about thousands of items. Jewels and paintings. It would take years.”
“Perhaps your father will be slow to pay for you.”
He’d expected some kind of teasing response, but instead Sabrina sighed, then nodded slowly.
“I don’t doubt that he’ll be happy to have me out of his way,” she said. “I’ll begin in the morning.”
Kardal frowned. “I hadn’t meant to remind you of something unpleasant.”
“My lack of relationship with my father is hardly your fault.” She crossed to the tea cart and poured herself a soft drink. “At least working with the treasure will give me something to do. What about the royal watchdog? Is he going to trust me?”
“I will speak with Rafe.”
“I saw the mark.”
Kardal was not surprised. “Don’t worry. He will not speak for me in matters of slavery.”
She smiled slightly, then grew serious. “He nearly died for you.”
“And I rewarded his loyalty.”
“So now he’s a sheik.”
“You know the ways of the city. Rafe has a fortune of his own and my trust.”
She glanced at him. “He doesn’t strike me as the type of man who would be content watching over a bunch of vaults. What is he doing here?”
The newspapers and tabloids had given Sabrina many characteristics, but they’d never mentioned that she was intelligent.
“There’s more to running a hidden city than simply stealing from the neighbors,” he told her. “Rafe has many responsibilities.”
“Which is a tidy statement, but doesn’t answer my question.”
A knock on the door interrupted them. Figures, Sabrina thought. Kardal always seemed to have a lucky escape planned. He crossed to the door and opened it.
“Thank you for coming,” he said by way of greeting, then stepped back to let a beautiful woman enter the room.
She was a couple of inches taller than Sabrina, with dark hair swept up in an elegant chignon. She wore a dark purple pants suit with a gold-and-pearl pin on her lapel. Wide brown eyes twinkled with humor as she took in her surroundings.
“At least you put her in a nice, large room,” she said, glancing from Kardal to Sabrina. “I would hate to think you’d chosen one of the dungeons.”
“I’m difficult,” Kardal said, “not a barbarian.”
“Sometimes I can’t see the difference,” the woman murmured before turning her attention to Sabrina. “How nice to meet you at last.”
Kardal stepped between them. “Mother, this is Princess Sabra of Bahania. Sabrina, my mother, Princess Cala of the City of Thieves.”
Sabrina blinked in surprise. She took in Princess Cala’s unlined face and youthful features. She was beautiful and couldn’t be more than thirty-five.
Cala laughed. “Your shocked expression makes me feel positively youthful. I was nearly nineteen when Kardal was born.”
“Practically an infant yourself,” Kardal said, urging both women toward the low table that had been set with their dinner.
For the first time Sabrina noticed that Adiva had provided three places. She waited until Cala was seated, then settled across from her. Kardal sat next to his mother. Cala sat on the cushions as if she’d been doing it all her life, which she probably had. Sabrina studied her, noticing the similarities between the two in the shape of their eyes and their smiles.
Cala motioned for Kardal to open the wine sitting at the end of the low table. She leaned toward Sabrina.
“I want you to know that I don’t approve of my son’s behavior. I would like to blame someone else for his bad manners, but I fear the fault is mine. I hope you can find some enjoyment during your stay in the City of Thieves, despite the circumstances.”
“She wants for nothing,” Kardal said firmly. “She has books to entertain herself during the day. I dine with her each evening and I have just agreed to let her catalog the city’s treasures.”