Tamina watched Roshtam tenderly linking his hands into Shaheen's and the warmth of expression on her face. Shaheen looked so very happy. Her eyes sparkled like lights by the flames of the enormous candelabra. Tamina despondently stuttered forward when a hand roughly clutched the crook of her arm and half-pulled her towards a secluded spot tucked away behind a hedge wall.
"You lied to me!", spat Dastan in real anger. "The sleeping powders, the designs for the contraption - I asked you specifically if Vishhuddi had any secrets to hide and yet you lied to me!"
"A person like you couldn't possibly grasp the true meaning of Alchemy!",countered Tamina,crushingly. She twisted free from Dastan's grip with a cry. But Dastan stormed closer. "The hope of Alchemy is oneness with God,isn't it? It is a peaceful, solitary pursuit. Yet your Roshtam delivers a finer battle speech than my own father!"
Tamina's lips tightened in silence. Her face was white and grave.
"Returning the Astra to Vishhuddi was the worst mistake we could have made!"
There was so much disgust in Dastan's tone that Tamina accused bitterly,"You have no proof of Roshtam's intentions!"
"No I don't",admitted Dastan. He roughly caught Tamina's shoulders and bent lower so that his fiery eyes pierced into hers. "But I think you know where to look for such a proof,Princess"
Tamina glared defiantly.
"I saw that look on your face as you studied that drawing. You've seen that contraption here somewhere in Vishhuddi,haven't you.. or something like it? You know its whereabouts!"
Tamina put up a stoic front. Her face remained annoyingly impassive. Dastan grew frustrated but there was nothing he could do. The time for his own rendezvous with Navid was drawing near.

Roshtam had stopped speaking now and most of the guests were feasting at their tables.

Dastan reluctantly released his hold on Tamina. He was about to turn away when she said,
"Bring your swords and meet me at the Palace gates. I will take you there"