Dima’s words speared him, and Karim welcomed the pain. It was the least that he deserved. Still, he didn’t want them to think he had anything to do with Djet’s death. “I tried to save Djet, I swear it. Babu wouldn’t believe me, and he said he’d kill me if I ever returned.” He sighed. “But you’re right, Dima. I should have come back sooner.”
For a long moment, no one moved or spoke. The only sound was Faiza’s sniffling. Finally, Dima closed the space between them and leaned her forehead against Karim’s chest, nudging the tear-soddened Faiza out of the way. “I built a barrow for you, sen,” she whispered. “Next to Father’s.”
Karim grimaced.I’ve been so selfish and stupid to think they would simply forget about me.“I’m so sorry, sena. For everything. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Maybe. Did you meet any pretty girls while you were roaming the kingdom?”
A grin quirked at Karim’s lips. “Well…”
Faiza perked up, wiping her snotty nose on her sleeve. “Oh? What’s her name? Did you kiss her? What color dress was she wearing?”
“Wait a minute,” Gamil broke in. “Saved Djet fromwhat?”
Suddenly there was a clatter, and they all turned toward the sound. A woman stood beside the tent, a pile of branches and twigs dropped at her feet. She was not much taller than Dima and wore a dark brown robe that had seen better days. The three younger siblings took one look at the woman’s expression and backed away from Karim.
Karim gulped. “Greetings to you, Omma.”
From the way she looked at him, he might as well have burst into flames.
Before he could attempt to explain himself, Karim’s mother stepped over the firewood, strode toward him, and slapped him across the face.
Karim’s cheek stung, and he rubbed it. “Would you believe you’re the second woman to do that recently?”
The next thing he knew, his mother grabbed him and dragged him into a tight embrace. “You stupid, stupid boy,” she said, her voice muffled as she pressed her face into his hair. “Don’t youeverdo that to me again.”
He hugged her back, feeling a little weepy himself. “I won’t, Omma. I promise.”
His mother, known to the Anen as Nour, held him at arm’s length, as he’d done to Gamil. “You’ve changed,” she said, studying his face.
More than you know, Karim thought.
Her gaze dropped to his chest and the large scarab-shaped scar that peeked out from his robes. Her eyes widened in alarm. “What is this? What’s happened to you?”
“He still hasn’t explained Djet,” Gamil said.
“Or where he’s been,” Dima added.
“Did you bring me a present?” Faiza asked, tugging at Karim’s pack.
“Everyone wait a minute!” Karim raised his arms for quiet. He’d forgotten just how overbearing his family could be. “I promise to answer all your questions, but there’s something I must do first. I haven’t come alone, you see. During my travels, I crossed paths with the Hudjefa tribe.”
His mother looked confused. “The Hudjefa? They don’t exist. At least, not anymore.”
“The stories were wrong, Omma. They have been living in a forgotten Khetaran city, far out in the eastern desert. They’ve been expelled from their home and lost many of their brethren in battle, and now…now they need our help.”
“That’s not going to go over well with Babu,” his mother said.
“Babu…”
Perhaps I’ll snap up one of your little sisters, hey? They’re nearly ripe for the picking.
Remembering the Jackal’s threats during their fight, Karim whirled to face his sisters. “Tell me, did Babu ever…touch you since I’ve been gone? Did he hurt you in any way? Because if he has, I swear I’ll kill him!”
Faiza crinkled her nose. “Touched me? Eugh, no!”
Dima said, “He’s mean and rude, and he pinched my bottom once. I kicked him really hard, and he never did it again. He probably knows Omma would bite his head off if he tried.”
Karim exhaled in relief, though Babu would have to pay for the pinched bottom.
