She was only moderately surprised to see that it was the woman who had come to her in her confinement and given her the job. In the open air, among the colonials, she stood out—taller than many of the others by a head. She had knotted her hair back into a twist of braids, and rimmed her eyes in kohl, an affectation she had not seen outside a fighting ring in many years. She wore a long, billowing blue robe stitched in organic material at the hem and cuffs to absorb filth.

The woman approached the counter, within an arm’s length of her, but did not sit.

“I am surprised to see you still in Mushtallah,” the woman said.

“I had unfinished business.”

“I thought we had an understanding of the job that needed to be done.”

“We do. I have my own methods. You did not say how, or when. I am biding my time.”

“You know your target is no longer in Mushtallah.”

“The ones I need are no longer in Nasheen at all,” she said.

The woman appeared to be perplexed, but not yet fearful. She must be a more powerful magician than she had pretended when they first met. Now that her mind was not so muddled, she could sense the way the air responded to this woman. It was a trick magicians and conjurers had, the ability to sense their own, but sensing a talent in no way told one just how much talent a person had. That you only knew if you pushed them.

“We are not pleased with your actions since your release,” the woman said.

“I expect my family is not, either.”

“This is a delicate time. It will be known, soon, who it was who entombed your family. We cannot keep it secret with you provoking them.”

“You will give me the time I need,” she said. “You would not have woken me unless things were very dire. I think you will do what is necessary to help me achieve my goal.”

“I must issue you an ultimatum. You must be gone from Mushtallah by morning, or we will be forced to reinstate you in your former quarters.”

She snorted and pointed out the window, to the glaring light in the southern sky, just visible now in the dusk. She had spotted it the first night of her release, and had seen enough of them in her time to recognize it immediately. She knew, now, why they had really called her from slumber. “Why not just have me deal with the real reason I’m here? Why run me around in circles after this woman?”