I am hugging Illyas’s jar with his seed in it when I hear the knock later that evening.
“I’ve come to pay my respects,” Rami says. I should be surprised to find him standing here. But I am not. I feel nothing but my grief for Layala.
I step aside and let him into the cottage, shutting the door behind me. He pads over to Layala, head bowed.
“What will you do now?” he asks. “Kamuna won’t raise my family now that she has Layala.”
“I don’t care about your family!” I shout. “My child is dead, and you’re coming to me with worries about your family?”
I wish I could eat back my words as soon as they are out of my mouth. Rami stands there, his hands hanging limply at his sides.
“I’m sorry, truly,” he says. “We’ve both lost much.”
I don’t say anything as I sit down, still clutching Illyas’s jar.
“I also came to speak with you, Hakawati,” Rami says hesitantly. He pulls a chair across from me and sits. “I think you and I can help each other.” He glances at the sheikh’s body but says nothing about it.
“How so, Rami?”
“Listen, Hakawati, for one moment. You agreed to raise Sayil to take on the mantle, no?”
I nod.
“Well, now that Layala is dead, Kamuna has no reason to wait any longer. She will make Layala Death.”
“But then she won’t have me to pass Sayil into Mote.”
“Eh,” Rami says. “You may be the only Hakawati on this side of the sea, but there are others, few; I can count them on one hand, but I am sure she could convince one of them to pass Sayil along. Some favor for a favor.”
I sniff, then say, “What are you proposing, then?”
“I know Sayil, from a long time ago. We were close friends, and I know she would want me to be happy. Now, Kamuna I don’t trust to fulfill her promises. But Sayil, Sayil I do trust. We can retrieve her body and soul seed from where Death keeps her preserved. And you can raise Sayil before Kamuna has a chance to make Layala Death.”
I hesitate, and before I can reply, he says, “Why do you think she hasn’t come back to kill me yet? She gave me one day. Well, that one day is over. She hasn’t returned so I can be Sayil’s sacrifice. Why do you think that is?”
“She means to have Layala take her place,” I answer, my voice sounding flat even to my ears.
“I know what she is, and what Death’s offers mean.” He cocks his head, watching me. “You know she can’t be trusted.”
I nod hesitantly. “Yes.” But I will kill her before she lays a finger on Layala.
“Three days, that’s how long a soul must be dead before they can take on the mantle. That is the time we have.”
I nod again, slowly mulling over his words.
I sit and think, my thoughts as tired as my body. I feel sluggish, like my mind can’t keep up with my grief. But then I decide on something; I don’t know if Rami could have stopped Layala, I don’t know why he didn’t come to me immediately, but I do know that I can use him to bring Layala back.
“I will do it,” I say finally, and though I struggle to meet Rami’s eyes, I force myself to. “I will need the girl’s body and soul, but I will do it.” I set Illyas’s soul seed on the shelf beside Layala’s and turn to face Rami. He’s standing right behind me, so quiet I didn’t even sense his presence.
“Sorry to startle you,” he says with a small smile. He’s eyeing me sharply, like he knows something but isn’t saying, but I push the suspicion away. He is nervous, like I am.
I wave him off. “We need to go into Death now, then. It may take a while, though. I haven’t been able to get in as easily—”
“No worries, Hakawati. I have a little death realm magic of my own.”
He reaches out his hand to me, and I take it. “The nearest cemetery is right behind here, no?”
I nod, and he leads me behind the cottage. We settle down atop a grave, and Rami gives my hand a squeeze.
“Waste no time, Hakawati, when we are in. Not even to see Layala.”
My heart aches at his words, but I nod.
Soon, I will have all the time in the world with my Layala by my side once again.