We passed the rest of the day and night in our same spot. Though there wasn’t much we could do if someone decided to attack, we kept turns keeping watch. I managed to as well, though I jumped at every noise. At least nothing happened.
We ate a little more of what we came with, and waited. Food wouldn’t last long if they kept us here. If they let us go eventually, we’d need to refill our stocks, and there was nowhere to do so out here.
I didn’t voice my concern. We had too much already to worry about. Besides, Leo and Zoe had packed a little extra. If we rationed, we could make it work, but it would only last so long.
Tewy bounced from my lap.
“What is Tewy doing?” I asked.
“He’s on my shoulder,” Nikon said from close by. “He didn’t touch the ground, though. I think he’s afraid of being stepped on again.”
“Who can blame him?”
Nikon’s response was low. “No one, in a place like this. We all need to be more cautious.”
His words struck me right in the chest, leaving a painful memory. “I’m sorry I talked yesterday when you would have preferred I stay silent.”
“What’s done is done. Besides, once you told him everything, I was convinced you made the correct choice. He listened and appeared more concerned than I expected. Hopefully, he relays our story with that same attitude.”
“So you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive.”
My chest warmed. We might not always agree, but I didn’t want us to be on harsh terms either. If we could work on things together, perhaps everything would be all right.
“Husani is coming,” Zoe whispered from my left.
His footsteps were hard to make out, with all the noise of the morning’s activities off in the distance where their camp was, but her warning let me figure out where he came from.
He stopped once he reached us. “Na’eehma wants to meet with you.”
“Is she in a good mood this morning?” I asked.
“That, only she can tell you. Come on.”
We gathered our packs, and I took Zoe’s arm and followed his footsteps. The noise of the crowd around us softened as we came closer to the camp. It didn’t die off completely, but we were clearly the focus of the day.
When we finally came to a halt, the chatter around us died all the way off. We didn’t sit or make ourselves comfortable in any way. It felt like we were getting ready for an execution, and it left my palms clammy.
Despite my stomach feeling like a dust storm, I stood straighter. Might as well face the end with some dignity.
Tewy jumped on my shoulder, and I grew calmer. I was here with my friends. If nothing else, I’d be with them. What could take me away from them? We’d hold fast to each other, and somehow, things would work out.
“You have given us quite the challenge,” Na’eehma said. “Thanks to Husani, you will keep your lives.”
I didn’t try to stop my relieved sigh. I let it out with gusto.
“But we can’t let you go without some assurance,” she continued.
My relief was premature.
“We can leave our solemn oath that we won’t reveal your location or your existence,” Nikon said.
“A most generous offer, but we require more.” Her words didn’t make me feel any more comforted.
What could she possibly require from us? I hoped it wasn’t Tewy or one of my other companions. But how else would we guarantee our silence if she didn’t want an oath?
“In order to ensure our safety, we will take an oath from each of you. In addition to that, we are sending one of our own with you,” she said. “Husani will be joining you for the foreseeable future.”
Not what I expected. Or what I wanted, for that matter. There were too many secrets I wanted to keep within our group, and I had an inkling more would come.
“Is this not acceptable?” Na’eehma asked.
“No one said that,” Zoe replied.
“But most of you seem displeased. We could force you to stay here as our prisoners, if that is more to your liking.”
That would be worse. I’d never find my parents, and though we might be safe from the warriors, we’d be trading one prison for another. “Husani is welcome to join us, if he understands that we’ll be traveling a lot, avoiding warriors—and if they catch us, it’ll be torture at the least.”
“I’d rather avoid them myself,” Husani said.
“Then we’re in agreement?” Na’eehma asked.
I didn’t want to be the one to make that decision for our entire group. “Can we have a moment to discuss it among ourselves?”
“Be my guest.”
Zoe led me some distance away, hopefully so we couldn’t be overheard. I was certain we were watched, though.
“Do we let him come with us?” Zoe asked.
“What other choice do we have?” I didn’t see a way out of this. It wasn’t like we could escape, with so many around us, and the alternative meant staying in this place for who knew how long.
“Not much.” Nikon’s words were resigned.
“We could lose him,” Kaius said.
“It won’t be that easy,” Nikon replied.
Tewy hooted an agreement.
I asked, “How do we keep things quiet that need to stay that way?”
“Carefully,” Zoe said. “We won’t be able to keep everything from him, but the important things.”
She and Kaius didn’t even have all the knowledge. “He’s bound to find out I’m looking for my parents. Do you think that matters?”
“As long as that’s all he finds out, we might be fine.” Nikon had moved in closer, his words brushing across the shoulder Tewy wasn’t on. He must have switched places with Zoe.
“It’s going to be dicey,” I said. “But I think we should go for it. It’s better than sticking around here, waiting for something to happen.”
One by one, they agreed.
“It’s settled, then,” Zoe said. “We’ll take Husani with us.”
Tewy gibbered.
I reached up and let him take hold of my pointer finger. “Sorry, buddy. We don’t have another option.”
He grunted, not sounding pleased but no longer furiously shocked, either. How much of what was going on did he understand? He always seemed to be on top of everything. Perhaps spending all that time around the waterfall and sand magic had made him smarter than the average monkey. Whatever the case might be, I was grateful to have him in my life.
“I’ll guide you.” Nikon’s sentence washed over me in a protective wave.
I reached out and took his arm. “Thank you.”
“We’ll get through this together. Whatever comes our way, we’ll have each other.” His words were a faint whisper, meant for my ears alone.
A rush of gratitude spread through me, and hugging seemed like a good priority. I shouldn’t give anyone around us the wrong impression, though. How did marauders feel about amant? If they didn’t like the government, they must not be wholly happy with them.
I wasn’t sure my emotions made sense either. I cared about him more than I’d cared about anyone in a very long time, but there was nothing for it. He was right. We’d face whatever was to come next to each other, tackling things that might have been impossible on our own.
By this time, it seemed we’d reached the area we’d previously been in. I must have guessed correctly, because Na’eehma spoke up from close in front of me. “Have you reached your decision?”
“We will take Husani with us,” Nikon said.
Tewy howled in protest. I tried to comfort him with a pet or by holding his hand, but he swatted my hand away and yanked on my hair while screeching. Apparently, he didn’t forgive as easily as I thought he might. Though I understood where he came from, my scalp was sore.
Once he calmed down so that people could be heard over him, Na’eehma said, “Good. We will provide supplies for him, otherwise, you’re on your own. Before you leave, each of you will need to swear an oath that you will not reveal any of your interactions with us to anyone.”
“Done.” Nikon made it sound simpler than it was. We’d have to be careful of keeping our word, lest the marauders come after us with a vengeance. These oaths weren’t being protected by magic sand, but they were held in the same regard. If one of us broke them, we might as well forfeit our lives.
“We’ll start with you,” Na’eehma said.
Nikon swore an oath as she said, and then whispered in my ear, “You’re next.”
Why did my throat suddenly feel so tight? It wasn’t as if I was promising something I didn’t mean to keep. It was probably more the fact that this would be the first one I ever swore. “I solemnly promise to never, in any way, reveal my interactions with the marauders I have met during this occurrence.” As an afterthought, I added in case it was ever needed, “Unless Husani gives me permission to do otherwise.”
“An addition I didn’t expect, but one I’ll accept,” she said. “Next.”
Zoe and Kaius gave similar oaths to mine, and Nikon amended his to add the permission statement. Once we were all bound to our word, Na’eehma said, “That is all required of you. Thank you, for being willing to protect our people. Very few are willing to do so, and we appreciate your cooperation.”
Probably because they were too busy lopping off limbs and otherwise threatening people.
We took ourselves and our things away from the other voices while we waited for Husani. I kept a hold of Nikon’s arm with the hand not holding my cane, Tewy on my shoulder. I was growing quite familiar with the arrangement. It left me in control but with help within reach. I’d take it.
We had a long journey ahead of us yet, and I was anxious to get to Sirya. If there was any word on my parents, I would find it. I asked Nikon, “Is he almost ready?”
“He’s here,” Husani said.
“Then let’s go.” Nikon moved forward, and I followed after him. The sound of shuffling feet moved through the sand as we got on our way.
For better or worse, we were adding a stranger to our group, who would turn on us should we break our word.