Sassa sucked in a sharp breath, her attention flitting from me to Craven. “Raknara?”
Craven smiled thinly. “That is a truth for Iblees to share with his twin flame. I have said enough. I look forward to aiding you in bringing peace to our world, my queen.”
“Come,” C’ael said. “We have much more to see.”
I allowed him to lead me away, the word Raknara echoing in my mind. Craven had answered many of the questions that I’d planned on asking Iblees, but he’d also spawned new ones. Tonight couldn’t come soon enough.
Chapter 27
WHAT MY HEART WAS HOPING FOR
C’ael took me through two chambers with apertures in the ceiling that let in sunlight: one where chickens and cows were housed, and another that was a lush garden filled with vegetables and herbs.
An old lady shuffled down one of the aisles toward us, muttering under her breath.
“Wahida, are you all right?” C’ael asked.
She waved a hand, making a sound of irritation. “I can’t find the unima herbs. I picked them, and I put them somewhere…” She shook her head and let out a frustrated sigh. “I tell you, I’m getting old. I need an assistant. I can’t be making all the tinctures for the settlement by myself, you know.”
“Then we shall get you an assistant,” C’ael said kindly. “And I’m sure we can find those herbs too. How about I come help you look later?”
She reached up to pat his cheek. “You’re a good boy, you know that?”
“Only to people I like.” C’ael winked.
“And you like this lady,hmmm?” She peered up at me. “Pretty. I see why you’re enamored. Now off with you. Go havefun, and don’t forget to come help me later.” She wandered off down a different aisle. “And find me an assistant!”
C’ael watched her go with a smile. “She’s a character, that one, but she is getting a little scatterbrained. She makes all the medicines for the camp. The unima herb is used in the most powerful tinctures, but it has to be handled with care. It can be toxic.”
“And she’s misplaced it?”
“Yeah, I know.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ll find it later. I’m sure it’s somewhere in her shack. If I can’t find it by sight, I’ll follow the scent of aniseed. Come on, let’s get back to the market. It’s almost time for lunch.”
We spentthe rest of the day in the market with the children at the school. I took lunch with them, then played a game of carrom before heading to a small stall where they made chai and fresh jalebi. The fried sweet treat was a favorite of mine.
Farida, the stall owner, offered us seats, then chatted amiably as she served me and C’ael, clearly delighted at having us visit her stall.
“Deeti will be so jealous when I tell her,” Farida said. “Oh, she harps on and on about her barfi being the best in the market, but I told her, my jalebi will beat your barfi anytime. And it is delicious, is it not?” She watched me take a bite.
I smiled and nodded. “So delicious.”
C’ael sat back with a smirk. “But surely, Leela must now try Deeti’s barfi if she is to ascertain the validity of your claim.”
Farida blinked sharply. “Yes, yes, we must test. I shall be right back.” She hurried off.
I slid a glance C’ael’s way. “Seriously?”
He shrugged and sipped his chai. “She brought it up. Besides, I much prefer Deeti’s barfi.”
I polished off my jalebi just as a couple of Asura joined us. I could tell what they were by the slight glow of their skin. They were both older men with silvering hair and tired eyes.
“Blood of Vijayroodra,” one of them said, bowing slightly. “We heard of your arrival and wished to meet you. To assure you that you are safe, and that you are now among the just and righteous. My name is Javed, and this is Colin.”
The other guy raised a hand in greeting. “I think you and I may be from the same world,” he said with a smile. “Although it’s been a while.”
I set my cup down. “What made you leave the Asura army? I mean…How did you know what they were truly doing?”
“We were stationed in Sunahara, a location where an ancient temple once stood,” Javen said. “The attacks on our Asura troops were relentless until the settlement was built, and once the humans arrived, they stopped. The devouring force retreated.” He looked at Colin before continuing. “We’d suspected for some time, but when they refused to hurt innocents, we knew our suspicions were correct.”
