“Return my child to me,” I demanded. “Return him to me now, Melhem.”
“Layla.” His lips quivered. “You must calm down first. It’s best that I procure the tithe from the child. The aristocrats have been unsatisfied with the contributions of this sanjak, and they’re unlikely to be as accommodating to its constituents as they have been before.”
“Now.” I rose and stormed toward him. “Hand him to me now.”