Read Tiger Thief for Free Online Page B

to hide whoever was inside. Just then he saw a flutter of movement and heard the sound of laughter. Despite his misgivings, he felt a thrillof curiosity. This must be part of the Imperial
Zenana
, where the royal women lived, protected from the eyes of strangers.
    The elephants were led into a grand stable with vaulted ceilings. Hussein whistled, impressed.
    “They say Suleiman loves his animals,” he told Sharat.
    Lemo had dismounted already and was calling out instructions. He caught sight of Sharat still sitting on Tara’s back.
    “Are you ready?” he demanded.
    Sharat slid down the elephant’s neck and jumped to the floor. “Yes, Father,” he said.
    Lemo nodded and was about to turn away when Sharat caught his hand.
    “Father. Wait!” he said.
    Lemo frowned. “What is it?”
    Sharat pulled out the amulet Uma had given him. “Do you recognise this?” he asked.
    Lemo looked down at the golden bee. “I’ve never seen it before,” he said, frowning as he glanced up at Sharat. “It looks valuable. Where did you get it?”
    “The witch gave it to me,” Sharat told him. He studied his father’s face. “Are you
sure
you’ve never seen it?”
    “Of course I’m sure,” said Lemo impatiently. “Why are you bothering me with this now? We’ll be on any minute. Go and check on Emira.”
    Sharat felt a strange mixture of disappointment and relief. Surely his father would have recognised the amulet if it had belonged to his mother? And if Uma was a liar,perhaps he wasn’t in any danger after all. Still, once he reached Emira’s cage, he tucked the bee safely away with his things.
    Just then Risa flounced past, dressed in gold. He grabbed her arm.
    “Hey! How are you?” he asked.
    Risa stopped. “No injuries, thanks to you,” she said with a satisfied twirl.
    “I wanted to see you after the accident, but they said you were resting,” Sharat told her.
    “My father thinks it was all your fault,” said Risa.
    “It wasn’t me!” protested Sharat.
    Risa rolled her eyes. “Of course it wasn’t you,” she said. She leaned towards him. “I heard you saw a jinni,” she whispered. “What did it look like?”
    Sharat was about to reply, when Risa was whisked away by a scowling Pias and he found himself facing Mohini. He stepped back to avoid the smell of her heavy perfume, but she just moved closer.
    “Ah, Sharat,” she said. “Don’t run away. I have something for you.”
    She passed him a new hoop and whip.
    Mohini’s scent was making Sharat feel sick. With a grimace he reached out and took the unfamiliar equipment.
    “Why are you giving me these?” he said.
    “They’re gifts from the Emperor,” Mohini told him. “They’re for you to use in the show.”
    Sharat cracked the whip once or twice. He had to admitit was better than his old one.
    “Not bad,” he said.
    Mohini smiled. “The Emperor also left something for Emira,” she said.
    She lifted her hand. A ruby collar glistened against her white fingers, like drops of freshly drawn blood.
    Sharat stared at the glittering rubies. He knew he should be overjoyed to be given such a valuable gift but for some reason he didn’t want to touch them.
    “Go ahead, put them around Emira’s neck,” whispered Mohini, stepping forward to envelop him in a cloud of her perfume.
    Numbly, Sharat took the jewels and turned towards Emira’s cage. She was pacing angrily, but as he opened the door she turned to face him with a stony glare.
    “Come on, Emira,” he said gently as he reached out to grab the fur on her neck.
    She let out a yowl of protest as Sharat hooked the rubies around her throat.
    Mohini was waiting for him to finish. “Beautiful,” she said.
    “I’m taking them off after the show,” muttered Sharat.
    Mohini bowed. “As you wish,” she murmured.
    Just then Lemo hurried past. “The Emperor’s coming,” he called out. “Take your places, everyone!”
    Despite his sense of foreboding, Sharat felt a flutter of excitement. He