Chapter 26 · Chapter 26

The parchment of the decree rested beneath the elder's hand, heavy with red wax and the lineage seals of Al-Qahtani and Al-Harthy. The scribe sat poised, ink drying at the nib of his reed pen, waiting for Ammi to nod.

Across the low perimeter of the majlis, the cousins sat with their palms flat on their knees, anticipating the words that would formally strip Nawaf of his custodianship, cancel his signing authority, and sever his name from the central register.

"The council does not convene to debate personal whims," Ammi said, his voice flat, dropping like a lead weight onto the carpet. "Nawaf Al-Harthy stands before the family to answer for the five years that were taken. If you will not sign the declaration, Hanan, the council will read the censure without your hand. We will not allow the house’s standing to linger in uncertainty."

He raised two fingers toward the scribe. "Read it."

"Stop," I said.

I did not raise my voice, but the word cut clean through the slow murmur of the air conditioning and the faint hiss of the Mabkhara burning near the door.