She paused to dash hot tears of shame from her eyes.
“‘It was my fault. It was my fault and I am going to do everything I can to get him back. I write this letter, Mamet, to ask you to please watch over Yati, wherever he is, and keep him safe until I find him.’”
She glanced out the small window, where the first light of dawn pierced the horizon.
“‘I’m sorry I let you down,’” she said, unable to meet the painted eyes of the sculpture. “‘Forgive me.’”
Rae folded the letter and set it in front of the shrine with the other offerings. She stared at it in silence as the sun rose at her back.
***
Rae tore a piece of bread off the loaf, shoved it in her mouth, and chewed mechanically. It was stale, but she hardly noticed.
“One of the fishermen generously offered the use of his largest skiff for our journey to Thonis,” Menk was saying. “It’s large enough to carry five. He also said we can take some of his old fishing equipment. We can wrap your supplies and weapons inside the fishing nets so they won’t be seen. As Rae suggested—the simpler the disguise, the less likely you’ll be stopped and searched.”
Rae took another bite of bread. The Jackal had given her the idea to disguise themselves as fishermen. After all, if he’d had some fishing equipment with him, or had been properly attiredfor the job, she would never have given him a second glance. Remembering the Red Lands tribesman and his satchel of treasure, she thought:Isn’t it strange that I’m going downriver to Thonis, just as he did? I wonder where he is now.
She sat at the remains of an old banquet table in a large chamber of the palace, breaking the fast with Menk, Omari, Baki—and Mamet Mut. After taking control of the Horizon rebels two nights earlier, Rae’s first order of business was to bring the head weaver into their inner circle. The stout woman took to rebellion with her signature gusto, offering a host of ideas, strategies, and information. Menk was impressed, and maybe a little infatuated. Every time she spoke to him, his tremendous ears turned pink.
While Menk explained that everything would be ready for their departure the next day, Rae felt Mamet Mut’s probing gaze upon her. The older woman leaned over the table, her generous bosom nearly upsetting a bowl of lentils.
“You haven’t touched your beer this morning,” the woman whispered. “Nor anything except that piece of bread. You need your strength, Raetawy. It’s hard enough for these men to take orders from a woman without her looking like a boiled chicken. Eat! Drink! Get some color in your cheeks!”
Rae grumbled and reached for her cup of beer, but when the cloying, sweet smell hit her nostrils, she nearly gagged.
Thatsmell.
It immediately sent her back to the brewery. To the night she confronted the brewer with his treachery and thrust a dagger in his gut. The smell of the beer recalled it all: the rage, the sound of the brewer’s cup shattering on the floor, the sight of all that blood pouring out of him—
Rae groaned softly and pushed away the drink.
Menk stopped midsentence, and Omari looked over at her.
“You all right, Ay?” he asked.
Rae cleared her throat and sat up straight. “Fine,” she replied. She reached for the water jug and poured herself a cup. “It all sounds good to me, Menk. We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
“Have you decided who you’re taking with you?” Menk asked.
Rae nodded. “It will be me, Omari, Buto, the potter’s son, and Kay, the fisherman. Buto is a pain in my ass, but he’s young and strong and a good fighter—as is the potter’s son. And Kay is dependable and will help ensure that our disguise is convincing. Not a bad one to have in a brawl either.”
There was flash of movement at the door. Rae glanced up, but saw no one.Somebody is eavesdropping.She had a good idea who it might be.
“Wise choices,” Menk said. “Mamet Mut, Baki, and I will remain here with the others to continue our canvassing and surveillance efforts.”
“Because the plan will be fluid once we arrive and set up in Thonis, we’ll need to relay messages back here to Sakesh,” Rae said. “Menk, do you think your pigeons can make the trip?”
Menk nodded. “They’ve carried messages to Thonis and back before. They can do it again.”
“Good,” said Rae. It was only after her rise to leadership in the Horizon that Rae found out about Menk’s flock of trained birds, which were about to become extremely useful. “Now, if we are successful—”
Mamet Mut quirked an eyebrow at her.
Rae cleared her throat. “Whenwe are successful in recovering our people,” she corrected, “we will need a safe way to transport them home. One skiff will not be enough for the return trip.”
Baki spoke up. “It will be my mission to devise a plan for your safe passage back to Sakesh.” The shepherd had been quiet for most of the meeting but seemed to jump at the undertaking. Raesuspected he was still eager to repay her for taking a beating from the nomarch on his behalf.
There was only one more point to discuss. No one had spoken of it yet, as if its mere mention might bring greater misfortune upon them. But Rae was never one to hold her tongue.
