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“Please, have a seat,” Zayed said in his lightly accented voice, gesturing to one of the low chairs at the table

Zelda took a quick, deep breath and sat doing against the dry feeling in her throat This is where he de like that, she thought worriedly

The Sheikh called out to the owners of the shop in a language that Zelda didn’t understand, and they nodded, getting to work on whatever it was he’d called for

He sat down and for a moment just looked at her, his eyes not quite i “You could have been in very serious trouble back there,” the Sheikh said finally

“I know,” Zelda said

The Sheikh sst the crew”

Zelda raised an eyebrow, confused at that co?”

Zayed nodded, just as the owner of the cafe ca the table with an ornate coffee carafe and a sht that both savory and sweet options were present, though she couldn’t be sure

“Help yourself,” Zayed said, as the cafe owner set the pastries down and poured coffee into two s one in front of Zelda and the other in front of the Sheikh

Zelda didn’t feel particularly hungry—her stoh it had twisted itself into an enormous knot—but she obediently plucked one of

the pastries froey yellow filling that she thought ht be citrus

The owner left the table and onceher

Zelda took a sip of her coffee—it was strong, thicker than she expected, and strangely sweet—and a bite of her pastry, under the Sheikh’s watchful gaze She decided the filling was apricot, but it was also heavily spiced with so she couldn’t quite identify, but which thrilled her palate “You said sost the crew?”

“Interesting because I personally interview every member of the creorks on htly He lifted his coffee cup with deft fingers and brought it to his lips, inhaling the stea a sip “As I’m sure you’re aware, I never interviewed you for the job So it was interesting”

“Youthat I was…” Zelda sed another bite of pastry with difficulty; her throat was sandpapery once again

“I knew that you had soed to sneak aboard“Wise of you to pretend to be a uest”