As’ad ranged on ahead, taking them in the direction of the handcart. Only two of the dwarves had come this way. Since one of them had already experienced a bear encounter less than an hour ago, As’ad played a quick ditty to renew the experience. He left the song unresolved so it would be ready when he needed it.
Retrieving the handcart took only a few minutes, but every second chafed. As he fought to get the vehicle moving on the unfriendly path, he became aware of a significant flaw in their plan: They didn’t have a destination apart fromnot here. Nor did he know how they were going to feed and care for twenty-two orphans.
As’ad worked hard to keep the growing dread off his face. When the route finally leveled out, he offered to let the smallest two ride in the cart. Rahma and Suha had been carrying them for a while by then. The boys in the back offered to hold the young ones who clamored to be picked up as soon as the girls’ arms were free. Situating everybody so they could keep moving only took a few minutes, but it felt far longer. The sun had slipped behind the mountains by now, the light fading fast.
The two in the cart fell asleep as the group reached the edge of the abandoned warehouses the woman in blue had led them through the day before. The rest of the children were too tired to complain or give away their position, for which As’ad was eternally grateful.
Rahma appeared at his side, a child clinging to each hand. In a voice that he could barely hear over the wheels of his cart, she asked, “Do you know where to go from here?”
He did not.
“I can help you with that,” an unfamiliar and silky smooth voice said.
Chapter Fourteen
Which Ends Well
As’adwhippedhisheadaround to find the mysterious stranger who had led them to the orphans in the first place standing in the middle of the road.
Before he could say anything, the woman lifted her hand. “The dwarves who came this way will not trouble you.”
Rahma and Suha looked from the regal person blocking their way to As’ad and back.
He carefully set the cart down and released the pole. Positioning himself between the woman and the rest of his party, he asked, “Who are you and what do you want?”
She assessed him with her eyes, and he wondered what she saw. After a moment, she nodded deeply.
“You may call me Adva.” Her gaze moved to the exhausted children. “I can find safe havens for each of these younglings.”
As’ad shifted his weight. Her words hadn’t seemed overtly threatening, but he had no reason to trust the word of a stranger. A stranger who had initially led them to the children. Had she planned for As’ad and Rahma to steal the orphans for her? Or were her motives pure? Unconsciously, he reached for the pipe he had kept on his person.
Adva’s eyes followed his fingers. She took a single step forward. “Test me with iron,” she offered.
As’ad stiffened. He licked his lips, then walked to the back of the cart. The small cooking pot he wanted was, of course, under one of the sleepers. Rahma hurried over to take the child from him. When he had the pot, he strode toward the woman with caution but not fear.
He held out the pot, and she lightly wrapped her hand around the rim.
“See how it burns. You can trust my words.”
The sizzle horrified As’ad, and he hastily pulled the pot away from her. He looked into her eyes and knew. This was one of the beings he had read about while researching caves for Aladdin. The iron-burned ones could not lie or go back on their word.
Solemnly, he asked, “Do you promise to find the children good, safe homes where they will be loved and cared for, that they can leave when they are grown and choose to do so?”
“I swear to do everything in my power to place each child in a good and safe home where they will be cherished and provided for until such a time as they are grown and ready to leave,” Adva stated.
As’ad nodded. “Very well. What needs to happen now?”
“If you will follow me, please.” The otherworldly woman bowed to the group, then slowly began walking away. Rahma asked in a low voice why he was trusting Adva. He told her the woman couldn’t lie, then promised to explain later.
Adva’s pace was easily kept by the weary walkers, and they soon reached more populated areas that were better lit. She led them through the city gates, then east along the main road for longer than As’ad wanted to walk. She produced a faery light from somewhere and kept walking without turning to check that she was still being followed. Before As’ad reached his limit and acted on the impulse to take a nap where he stood, she directed them off the road and into a thick stand of trees.
Not long after they entered the grove, she stopped and turned to face them.
“Those who come with me cannot leave for a time. Decide now if you want to be safe in a home of my choosing or if you want to make your own way in this world.”
Suha stepped forward. She gestured to the two older boys who still carried a couple of the smaller children. “I can’t speak for Zawar or Wasi, but the rest of the children are orphans and have no one else. They will all go with you.”
Adva nodded.
