doing nothing. Keeping low, she made her way down the path. The headscarf she wore blocked some of the sun, but the goggles she’d donned earlier cut down on the glare. Six men snapped to attention as she rounded a bend. Sweat rolled down her back. Her heart raced a mile a minute. She raised her hands in the air but kept hold of her blaster.
“She is with you?” Qasim asked Zaxe.
“Yes.”
“Ah.”
She was beginning to hate that word that said nothing but was ripe with implication. Since no one tried to stop her, she made her way over to Zaxe. He didn’t smile or frown, his expression as neutral as ever. She didn’t need him to glare to know he wasn’t happy. Too bad for him. She was done with hiding up in the hills.
“Baraj, are you joining us?” Zaxe called.
“Baraj. That is Reman’s man, is it not?”
“You’re very well informed for a man who lives in the middle of the desert.” Just who was Qasim?
“And you, my dear, are an unexpected surprise.” The slight bow he gave took her totally off guard. It was a courtesy that had never been offered to her before. She returned it, pressing her hand to her heart, as was custom.
Baraj walked cautiously down the path. “Call your men off, old man.”
If Qasim was insulted by Baraj’s lack of manners, he didn’t show it. He waved his hand and his men fell back behind him. “Join us. Tell me all the news of Reman.”
Baraj kept his weapon ready, his eyes always moving, watching for any sudden movements. She swallowed, or tried to, but her throat was dry and tight. It would only take one spark for this to turn into a bloodbath, and Baraj was primed for a fight.
“The only thing I need to do is get Helldrick’s whereabouts from you. If you can’t tell me that, you’re of no use.” The weapon jerked to the left as he fired right at Qasim.
Zaxe jumped in front of the older man. Because he was taller, he took the hit directly on the chest. Heart in her throat, Jamaeh aimed and fired. The blast hit the wall, shattering rock, because Baraj was no longer there. He was already on the ground, his body motionless. Zaxe holstered the blaster she hadn’t even seen him pull.
Oh, gods, they were dead. Baraj had tried to kill their leader. It was two against eighteen. And if they survived this encounter, Reman would kill them. Her future options weren’t promising.
The rest of the men were yelling and waving their weapons, but Qasim seemed as unperturbed as ever. He raised one hand and they went silent. “If you are who I think you are, then you are indeed your father’s son.”
****
Zaxe didn’t dare look at Jamaeh. If Baraj wasn’t already dead, he’d kill him for putting her in such danger. That was after he shook her for leaving safety in the first place. What had she been thinking?
Yes, he’d saved Qasim’s life. Yes, Qasim seemed to recognize him, but that was no guarantee. “I am myself.” While he had some memories of his parents—being on Zaxus had dug them from the dusty corners of his mind—he had no idea if he was anything like his father.
Qasim stroked the short beard covering his chin, expression shrewd, and nodded. “Then come with me, and I will get to know you better. You and your friend.”
Jamaeh was still holding her blaster, her skin slightly pale as she glanced from Qasim to Baraj and back again. What was she thinking? He was hungry, hot, and dirty, but they were minor inconveniences. “You will tell us about Helldrick?” The mission was everything to him.
“You are a determined one, aren’t you?” He nodded. “Very well. Come with us. Spend the evening in our camp, and I will tell you what I know.”
“Jamaeh?” It wasn’t Zaxe’s decision alone to make. “You can go back to Badwa. I can handle things from here.” She’d already seen enough death to last a lifetime.
She thrust the blaster into the belt at her waist and put her hands on her hips. “I’m going with you.”
Zaxe released a breath he hadn’t even been aware of holding. He wanted her with him. All the better to watch over her, keep her safe. And what happens when I leave? He ignored the dark thought and motioned to the sand sled. “That sled works. And there’s one on the other side. Jamaeh can drive one and I’ll