“Ugh, fine, stay. Raetawy-sena probably doesn’t want you, anyway!”
“Hey! Wait!” Rae shouted. “You never told me your name!”
The man considered this before answering. “Call me the Jackal!”
Rae watched him go, the not-fisherman with the bundle of definitely stolen treasure and a dog that wasn’t his either.
She hoped he was right. She hoped she would see him again.
***
It was sunset by the time Rae left the blacksmith’s shop. At the last Horizon meeting, he’d mentioned that he could rework farming tools into simple weapons that could be used for the attack on the Medjay, so she’d gone to his workshop in the city to drop off what she could spare. It felt strange saying the secret words to the blacksmith when she’d arrived—but exciting too. Walking down the busy street toward home, she felt as if every eye was upon her, whispers wafting like smoke in her wake. It was probably all in her imagination. Still, she couldn’t help glancing over her shoulder to ensure she wasn’t being followed.
“Oh!”
Rae collided with someone walking in the opposite direction and stumbled back.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking—” She stopped short when she saw who it was. “Tam,” she murmured.
The young weaver wasn’t wearing anything spectacular—a simple, finely woven kalasiris dress—but the way it hugged theripe curves of Tamerit’s body made Rae’s head feel light.
“Rae!” Tam exclaimed, adjusting the basket of undyed flax fibers balanced on her hip. “I didn’t think I’d see you for a while. I heard what happened.” A look of tender concern creased her face. “Are you all right? I was so worried about you.”
Rae’s cheeks reddened with embarrassment and pleasure both. “I’m fine. I’ve been meaning to come see you. I’ve just been… busy.”
Tam brushed a lock of tightly curled black hair from her face, a gesture that made Rae’s chest ache with desire.
“Busy, eh?” Tam said. “On the farm, I’m sure, but what are you doing in the city at this hour?”
Between the question and the sight of Tam’s dark teasing eyes, Rae’s thoughts got tangled up in knots. “I, ah, I was dropping off some things for the blacksmith,” she stammered, finally deciding that the truth—or at least part of it—was probably the safest route.
“The blacksmith,” Tam said, as if the words were a curious food she was tasting. “How interesting.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. I was wondering how long it would be before you fell in with the Horizon.”
Rae snapped out of her reverie with a violent lurch. “W-what? No. I mean, how—?”
Tam leaned in close, enough that Rae could smell the jasmine oil in her hair. “All the weavers know about the blacksmith and what he does in his free time,” she whispered. “Besides, you and Omari are close. If he’s involved with the rebels, it’s not a leap to assume you might try to join them too. After the beating you received, I’d have been surprised if you hadn’t.”
Rae glanced around furtively, terrified someone would overhear their conversation. “We can’t talk about this here. It’s not safe.”
Tam nodded. “Come with me.” She took Rae’s hand and pulled her toward an abandoned house nearby. Other than a ragged old soldier hunched on the street corner, there was no one around.
Rae was so distracted by the sensation of Tamerit’s small strong hand in hers that she didn’t question where they were going. They slipped in through the front entrance, its door battered down long ago, and into the shadowy interior. It was terribly dusty inside, littered with broken furniture and shards of pottery that crunched underfoot.
Rae recoiled as half a dozen mice scattered upon their arrival. “Are you sure there’s no one here?”
“No one comes here,” Tam said.
Rae squinted into the gloom. The house must have been beautiful once, with its high ceilings and colorful tile floors. The sight of it made her sad.Once great, now ruined, just like everything else in Sakesh.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“One of King Rahotep’s viziers lived here,” Tam replied. “His closest adviser, apparently. He was executed by the High Khetarans, his body left to rot in the fields without proper burial. People say that his mutu still haunts this place, so…” She shrugged. “They tend to stay away.”
Rae shivered, though she’d rather a restless spirit listen in on their conversation than a member of the nomarch’s guard. They moved to stand under a crumbling archway, away from any windows where they might be seen. Rae picked up where she’d left off. “First of all, Omari and I are close, but we’re notthatclose. You know that, right?”
