“Because it’s coarse and rough and irritating?” Rahma offered.
“And it gets everywhere,” he added with a smirk. Living in a country dominated by desert meant that most people just accepted the sand as a part of life and didn’t bother complaining. It was nice to hear an opinion that agreed with his.
“Have you ever been to the coast?”
Wary but deeming that morsel of information to be relatively safe, As’ad admitted that he had.
“Is that sand different from this stuff?” Rahma scooped up a handful of the tan and gray granules, then made a fist and slowly poured them out.
He had to think about that. “I suppose it’s mostly the same. It feels different because the ocean is right there.”
From the corner of his eye, As’ad saw her turn to study him. He pinned his gaze to the top of the small rise in the road.
“Tell me about the ocean, please. I’ve never been.”
Since he couldn’t reveal anything dangerous about his past with such an impersonal request, As’ad happily fulfilled it. He told her about the various ships and smaller boats that plied the waters, and the vast quantities of fish that were brought in daily. His time on the coast had been short-lived, but he remembered the feeling of the salty wind against his skin and the sense of freedom that called to him from beyond the shore. Halfway through a description of the racing vessels some of the wealthy Sharamilans owned, he looked over at Rahma and realized that he was practically gushing.
“Oh, don’t let me stop you,” she rushed to say when he broke off sheepishly. “I love hearing you speak so passionately.”
The tightening of his chest made it hard to speak, and his next words were gruff. “There’s Balda.”
Rahma turned to see the oasis town within view. As’ad thought he read disappointment on her face but turned away determined to focus on getting to civilization and passing her off to a responsible party.
She unsuccessfully tried to engage him in conversation for the last hour of walking. Seeing Balda so close reminded As’ad that he would soon be free of her presence, and there was no need to give her more opportunities to trick information out of him.
Balda was new to the both of them, but it was set up in a familiar manner. A sturdy wall protected the oasis town from the desert raiders that sprang up from time to time. As’ad had seen bandit crews occasionally on his travels, but they usually ignored him. A lone wanderer wasn’t worth the effort. The one time a scraggly looking crew had ventured near, As’ad had whipped out his pipe and played a horde of rampaging rats into existence before the villains got close enough to realize he had been the one to conjure them.
Wide gates allowed entrance to the town, and As’ad quickly found a general merchant’s shop on the main road. Rahma guarded the handcart while he went in to make several purchases. He came back and dumped the parcels in her arms.
Chapter Five
In Which As’ad Does Not Escape
“What’sallthis?”
As’ad privately enjoyed the bewilderment on her face. It was about time the shoe was on the other foot. “Warm clothes and other necessary supplies. You won’t survive the trip home without them.”
He didn’t acknowledge her gratitude but did help her repack her bag.
“We need to find the administrative center,” he announced when they were done.
“Why?”
“Because I asked if anyone is traveling toward Nahr or beyond. The proprietor said that the Adil family is preparing to do so soon, and they have five daughters.”
Rahma set a hand on her pack in the cart. “I’m properly outfitted now. Why can’t I go with you?”
“You may not care about your reputation, but I need to guard mine.” As’ad got into position between the poles and tugged the handcart back onto the road.
“But—”
“And you can’t follow me safely. Think about the bandits. And the ghouls.”
“Ghouls only frequent cemeteries, remember?” she said with a shiver that undermined her words.
“Things outside of towns die, too, you know.”
At the administrative center, he made her write a letter to her parents. The scribes were willing to write on her behalf, but Rahma assured them that she was capable. She didn’t tell As’ad what she wrote, and he didn’t ask. After paying for its delivery, he got the address they needed to locate the Adil family.
