Chapter 26 · Untitled Chapter

The silence that settled over the majlis was heavy, carrying the bitter cedar edge of the dying coals in the mabkhara. Neither of the two notaries dared to reach for the brass clasps of their leather cases. The younger one, whose fingers had hovered near an ornate cylindrical pen case, withdrew his hand as if the polished wood beneath it had turned to red-hot iron.

“Ya ustadh,” the older notary began, his voice dry, clearing his throat as he kept his eyes lowered toward the woven edge of the runner. “We were summoned under the impression that the agreement was ready for attestation. The family representatives stated—”

“The family does not speak for this threshold,” Bandar cut in, his voice neither raised nor hurried. It was the calm of a man who did not need to shout to command an entire quarter. He did not look at the notaries; his gaze remained fixed on my uncle, whose chest rose and fell in shallow, frustrated breaths. “You were misinformed. Pack your seals.