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“Funny, isn’t it,” Laia said. “How sometimes the first time you meet someone, your heart knows, even if your mind doesn’t.”
Laia might be smiling, but Aiz knew she needed to tread carefully. Quil was the crown prince of the Martials, and Aiz a stranger from a distant land. The Tribes knew Aiz was poor and they wouldn’t look kindly upon anyone taking advantage of Quil for his position. The laws of hospitality only went so far.
“Perhaps one day”—Aiz turned her gaze down demurely—“I will be fortunate enough to experience that for myself.”
Aiz excused herself then and made her way quickly to her tent. Not, as Laia might have suspected, to moon over Quil’s return. But instead to plan exactly what she needed from the prince, and how she was going to get it.
The next morning, Aiz joined a group of other Tribespeople waiting for Zaldar Shan to give them their watch assignments for the day.
“Ilar,” Shan said, “south side, moonrise watch—”
“I’ll join her.” Quil moved like liquid through the crowd, greeting other members of the Tribe with quiet words as they welcomed him back. His wavy hair was half pulled back and messy, his clothes dusty from travel. Still, there was something about him that drew the eye, and it had nothing to do with his noble blood.
He stopped before the Zaldar, but looked at Aiz. Her heart thudded faster.
“If she’s all right with me tagging along, of course.”
Aiz shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. “Fine,” she said.
His responding smile lit up his whole face. Aiz’s pulse hitched, and when she smiled back, it was spontaneous. He made his way to her.
“I hoped you’d be here when I got back,” he said. “Is that all right?”
“I— Yes.” What in the Spires was this sudden shyness that had come upon her? She’d known Quil was returning. She’d planned her questions, her comments—even a seduction if necessary.
But now that he was here, she wanted to know where he’d gone. What it had been like. And if he’d thought of her.
“Yes, it’s all right,” she said to Quil. “I’m happy you’re back.”
As responses went, it wasn’t the most alluring, but Quil smiled again,and though others in the Tribe watched with interest, Aiz found she couldn’t look away from him. For a second, she forgot about Kegar entirely.
Laia’s words last night came back to Aiz, and she shivered.Your heart knows, even if your mind doesn’t.
“Finally!” Sufiyan appeared from the encampment with impeccable timing, punching Quil on the arm. “Lessons have been bleeding boring without you. Where’s Tas?”
“Here, little brother.” Aiz jumped—she hadn’t noticed the blond man in the crowd. “Ilar of Ankana!” He grinned at her with effortless charm. “Lovely to see you again. You madequitethe impression on Quil here—”
“Hells, Tas, shutup—” Quil looked mortified, and Aiz found herself smiling.
“Oh, was Inotsupposed to mention that you—”
Quil dragged Tas off, and Aiz used the opportunity to slip away to her tent. She needed to collect herself. She felt discombobulated by Quil’s return. By the anticipation she’d felt at the sight of him. She could imagine herself falling into this charmed life so easily.
She dropped onto her bedroll, twirling her aaj around her pinkie rapidly.
Cero had told her not to use the aaj except in an emergency, for fear of letting anyone who might be tracking her know where she was. But Tribe Saif was in the middle of the desert, and she’d seen no sign of a Jaduna. She needed to hear Cero’s voice. She needed a piece of home.
“Cero.” She grabbed the aaj and spoke. “It’s—it’s an emergency.”
You better be dying, Aiz, he responded.
Aiz laughed at the acid in her friend’s voice, familiar and beloved.
“Worse,” she said. “I miss you. I miss home.” She thought saying it would make her feel better. But the pain in her chest worsened.
Where are you?
“I’m—”
