that night with the wolves, I felt certain it was Edan.
It was as if the sun and moon were helping him keep his secret. The past few days had grown so long that night lasted merely a few hours. And when night did fall, the moon hid behind the clouds, wrapping such a dark blanket over the landscape, it was impossible to stay awake. Soon, though, the days would grow shorter again.
“How did you make that coin disappear?” I asked.
“With the children?” Edan said. “Just a little trick I picked up during my travels, not real magic. I could show you if you like.”
I realized I wouldn’t learn his secret tonight, not while we made camp with Orksan’s family. I stood. “Maybe when I’ve finished the dresses.”
I left to sit alone on a rock near the camels. There, with my back to the sun, I worked on my embroidery. The light was gentle yet brilliant, casting upon the sand a red-orange glow. After my ordeal in the Temple of the Sun, I’d never expected to enjoy basking in its light again.
“Enough with the knitting,” Orksan said, coming up behind me.
I pushed my needle into the edge of my embroidery so it wouldn’t drop into the sand. “I’m not kn—”
“We’ve opened three casks to enjoy, and your husband is already partaking. Come join him.”
So everyone did think Edan and I were married. My eyes widened. “I don’t drink much. I really have to get back to work—”
“Woman, you have all your life to sew pretty things,” Orksan said. “Enjoy yourself for a night. What, is the world going to end if you don’t finish your needlework?”
Yes, I almost muttered.
But then I saw Edan. He was smiling, and he raised his hand to wave me over. How happy he looked here. Happier than I’d ever seen him in the palace.
“My wife loves good food,” Edan said, wrapping his arm around me, “though the desert’s offerings make it hard for her to make a decent meal.”
I wasn’t as mortified as I thought I would be when Edan called me his wife. And that was mortifying in itself!
“Will you stop blabbering so we can start eating?” I cried.
Everyone laughed at me, and I blushed. I hadn’t meant to cry out like that. I’d gotten so used to being around only Edan that I’d forgotten to mind my manners.
No one seemed to be offended, though, and I got up to help Korin serve the men and children. The stew smelled delicious. It was a feast of spices, with chunks of cactus and juniper, though I didn’t recognize the meat.
“What are we eating?” I asked Korin.
She glanced at me, as if I didn’t want to know.
“You can tell me.”
“There was a storm a few days ago, and the morning after, our camp was crawling with rats.” I eyed the pot skeptically as she continued. “Never heard the men curse so much while hunting.” Her shoulders shook with amusement. “I started drying some of them into jerky, but we’re so close to getting out of the Halakmarat, Orksan wanted a nice stew.”
“Oh…,” I said, spooning an extra-large serving for Edan. My hunger had subsided.
Korin smiled at me. “They’re delicious, I promise. And there’s some beans I’ve been saving. Since we’re almost out of the desert and have new friends, what better time?”
We ate, laughing and getting to know each other until one of Orksan’s brothers claimed the blanket next to me. He didn’t smile as the others did. A string of coins interlaced with human teeth dangled around his neck, and a copper earring hung from his left lobe. He made me uncomfortable.
“You don’t look A’landan,” Orksan’s brother said, eyeing Edan suspiciously. “Your trunk is full of books and amulets. Books in languages I’ve never seen.”
“Vachir!” Orksan barked. “Did you go through his things?”
Edan waved him off, but I could tell his smile was forced. “It’s fine.”
Vachir’s stare didn’t leave Edan. “There’s word Emperor Khanujin’s enchanter is away. The shansen has offered a great deal of money for his capture.”
Edan chuckled. “Do I look like an enchanter?”
“The enchanter is away on a quest,” Vachir repeated. His icy stare moved to me. “With the imperial tailor. They were seen in the Samarand Passage.”
My breathing became shallow.
Had Norbu seen Edan, too? He must have spread word we were traveling together, knowing it’d cause trouble for us.
Gritting my teeth, I summoned my courage. “The imperial tailor is a man!” I said in as shocked a tone as