The guards stiffen, their mouths opening at the mandate. Apparently, helping me set up camp wasn’t part of the plan. They divvy up the tasks—clearing the area and setting up a perimeter. Someone thrusts a hammock into my arms, and motions toward two trees a few yards apart. There’s rope on either end and I set about tying each to a trunk, careful not to touch any of the vines.
“Damn it,” I say as each end slides down the trunk. “Wouldn’t bedrolls be easier? I’d rather sleep in one of those.”
One of the guards barks out a laugh and says something to another, who promptly rolls his eyes in my direction. Rumi looks over at me, his hands at work making a fire. When it roars to life, he comes over to help with the hammock.
“If you sleep on the ground, you’ll wake up with several nasty bed companions. Scorpions, snakes, and spiders.” He finishes tying each end, and somehow the rope doesn’t slide. “Still think it’d be easier?”
I shake my head, shuddering.
“This is the jungle, Condesa,” he says softly. “Don’t you forget it. Have you had any water?”
I shake my head again, and now that he’s mentioned it, my throat suddenly feels dry, my tongue hot and swollen.
Rumi half turns and one of the guards tosses him a sac, the liquid sloshing loudly. He hands it over, and I drink my fill, not caring how the water is slightly warm. When I’m done, he passes the bag back to the owner.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I ask. “Because of her?”
I still can’t say her name. I’ve finally reached my breaking point. I went from having nearly everything to having nothing in a matter of days. For a few moments I was invincible. In my hands I had the power to reclaim our throne, and my people believed in me.
It still wasn’t enough.
“Because of her,” he echoes. “I want to be able to look her in the eye when she asks me how I left you.”
His words hit me oddly. I don’t want her empty pity, I didn’t need her to send Rumi—
“She sent me because she cares,” he says softly.
I flinch in surprise and it makes Rumi smile.
“You wear everything on your face.” He picks up the fine netting. “Drape this over your hammock, but not too close. The bugs will bite you right through it.” I stare at the bundle, despairing. His jaw clenches, but then he lets out a slow exhale, as if attempting to control his impatience. “Here, let me show you how to do it.”
Rumi places the netting up and over the hammock, using rocks and twigs to spread the fabric out into a canopy. Then he removes everything and hands over the netting so I can do it on my own. I imitate what he does, collecting various flotsam to hold my netting away from the hammock. Rumi nods in approval. I duck under my netting for a few minutes of respite from the mosquitos, and after a couple of wobbly attempts, manage to encase myself inside the hammock. The material is rough and scratchy.
My gaze returns to the fire, oddly reassuring as it pushes the dark heart of the forest away. Hunger flares deep in my belly, but I leave the rolls alone. What am I going to do after they leave? I peer into the steaming jungle, away from where the guards have convened around the cozy fire. All I see is a flat darkness that sends a chill down my spine.
My fingers curl around the edges of the hammock. How am I going to survive on my own? I’m optimistic, always have been, but making it out of the forest in one piece—alone—sounds foolish at best. If a menacing vine almost did me in earlier, imagine something withclaws.
Unless … I turn to Rumi. Could I persuade him to stay with me? I nearly scoff at the idea until I remember that he really does seem to care forher.He might stay if it meant pleasing my former friend—the traitorous rat. As if he can sense my thoughts, the healer meets my gaze over the flickering fire. He slowly shakes his head, as if I’d asked the question out loud. His kindness has its limits, it seems.
I avert my gaze.What did I expect?
“Catalina,” he calls softly. I climb out of the hammock and make my way toward the group. My steps are heavy on the tangled brush under my boots. The guards are fidgeting, eager to be on their way. They have to survive the trek back out—follow the trail before the jungle swallows the way home.
“So this is it,” I say numbly. “Lovely meeting you all.”
“Don’t stay here for longer than a night,” Rumi says, ignoring my jab. “Keep moving and head downhill; eventually you’ll find water. Don’t touch any vines.” He thrusts his pack at me. “There’s a blanket inside, and a weapon. Do you know how to defend yourself with a dagger?”
“Not against anything with teeth.”
He shoots me a pointed look. “Do you?”
I grudgingly nod. “Shetaught me.”
“Good.” He gestures to my sleeves. “Keep those down to avoid bugs and scratches. If you’re bitten, and the wounds become infected, maggots will appear.” He hesitates. “If maggots appear … Just try to avoid infection, all right? Once that happens, find somewhere to hide and then—”
“Die peacefully,” I cut in. “That’s what you mean?”
“Actually, yes. The maggots are an indicator of a serious problem.”
