Free The Stone Lions by Gwen Dandridge

won’t
you?”
    “I can’t. I’m not good at geometry like Ara,
and I’m not brave and…”
    Tahirah squeezed Layla’s shoulders. “You are.
Everyone can do mathematics. It may be easier for some, but
everyone can master the principles. We need you. Suleiman is
counting on us. Both mathematics and bravery can be learned. You
must decide if it’s important to you. Suleiman needs all of us
now.”
    Layla ducked her head. “But it’s so very hard
for me.”
    “It’s going to be hard,” Tahirah said. “Hard
for Ara to keep her counsel about Suleiman and not to accidentally
betray herself before the wazir. Hard for me to admit I need the
help of two girls to solve a mathemagical problem—and very hard for
Suleiman to be a snake. He has placed his faith in us, and we hold
the key to his release. We can lean on each other for strength.
I’ll help you learn symmetry. Ara and you will help me learn about
teaching girls. Oath?” she held out her hand.
    “Oath,” both girls replied, their voices
solemn, and grasped her hand in a three-way clasp.

 
    Chapter 14
    “But why did you bring us here in the first
place?” Ara asked, turning her head to the side. “We thought we
were being punished.”
    Astonishment and hurt flashed in Tahirah’s
eyes. “Do you think me an evil djinn? I hoped you would prefer me
to the diet of bread and water that others suggested.”
    Ara mouthed the word, “Oh.”
    “I thought we could explore the Alhambra
together. I would teach you mathematics and Sufi mysticism.”
    Tahirah tilted her head up at the ceiling’s
honeycombed recesses and winced. “The Alhambra is in pain—I can
feel it—I had a vision showing a key. I believe both of you are
part of that key.”
    Ara reached one hand out, touching the
ceramic tiled wall as if to comfort the Alhambra.
    “My visions are sometimes cloudy, but this
one was clear. I spoke with Suleiman not long before he was
transformed. He offered to go into town for me to retrieve a
scroll. He spoke with such pride about the two of you.” A sudden
memory made her shake her head. “I do think that you should begin
by removing the red stains from the lions’ chests. The color makes
them restless, hungering for a kill. They are lions, after all.
Your father wished them cleaned, and I agreed to see that it was
done,” she added. “I hope you don’t mind.”
    “The stone lions? They have feelings?” Layla
said.
    “Of course they do, though they are lions,
and their thoughts are not like yours and mine. They were created
long ago as defenders of the Palace of Lions, placed in its central
court facing out in twelve directions, so that none could approach
without their knowledge. Each lion was imbued with a trait to
support the sultan.”
    “Do you talk to them?” asked Ara.
    “I have tried,” she replied directly to Ara.
“But they have not responded. Nor is your father’s lion at his
side. I worry…perhaps it’s just that they don’t trust easily or
perhaps many things. We can’t know.”
    “My father has his own lion?”
    Tahirah looked thoughtful. “Yes, it is said
each lion trails the ruler of the Alhambra, though not every ruler
of the Alhambra is granted the ability to see this wonder.”
    “But if you can see them, why won’t they talk
to you?” Ara asked.
    “They are the guardians of the castle and are
wary of outside magic. I’m still not sure what the wazir is trying
to do. Why is he harming the Alhambra?” Tahirah mused, then shook
her slender shoulders. “Is he embroiled with the Castilians or with
the Saracens or the Aragons—or some other group entirely—or is he
on his own?” She closed her eyes. “All in good time, as Allah
wills. We have more pressing business. I need to teach you the next
symmetry. Here, Suleiman, come and wrap around my wrist so we can
do this together,” she said directly to the snake, extending her
arm.
    Suleiman uncoiled himself from Ara’s wrist
and slithered across the floor to