She hiccoughed again, and blew her nose. “Isn’t there any way to warn Shai? Couldn’t the reeves look for him?”

“The demon has to track him down first. I’ll talk to Marshal Joss.” He startled, sitting straight, and pressed a hand against her belly. “What was that?”

She shifted his hand to a lower spot. “Did you feel him move?”

“A boy? How can you be sure?”

“It’s what the Ri Amarah women say. Oh, Anji, now I’ve gotten Miravia into all sorts of trouble. The men came crashing into the courtyard—breaking everything—the new doors aren’t in place yet—and Keshad came running from the office, not to mention the Ri Amarah guards and O’eki. All those men who aren’t her kinsmen saw her unveiled. That won’t be forgiven, you know. They’ll never let her come here again. Because of you, and the oil of naya, they’ve let me visit her once there. She’s so unhappy.”

“We cannot interfere with the customs which the Ri Amarah hold among themselves. There, now, Mai.” He flicked a finger against her chin, smiling softly. “Did you get it all out?”

She took in a shuddering breath and let it out as a shuddering sigh. “I suppose so.”

“I will stay in Olossi for a few days. The marshal and the Hieros mean to call a council meeting to address this business of the demon. I’ve words to speak about the formation and disposition of the militia.”

“Then you’ll leave again?”

“I will.”

“Why must you be gone so much?” She hated the way her voice sounded, and with an effort, finding her market face and her market voice, she pressed two fingers to his lips to silence his reply and went on in the tone she would use toward customers, light and cheerful. “I know you must. It’s just that I miss you. I got accustomed to being with you every day.”

He kissed her fingers, grasped her wrist, and drew her hand away. “I’ll keep you beside me every waking and sleeping hour while I am here. But these matters will need my attention for some time. We have to prepare. You’re going to the Barrens.”

“I don’t want to go to the Barrens!”

“It’s the only way I can know you are safe. We’ve seen it’s impossible to guard you here. I don’t know who killed Tam, or who sent the demon to kill Chaji, Umar, and Eitai.”

“Demons walk on their own feet, as it says in the songs. They have volition, and thought, and they can hate and love, just as humans can. Maybe no one sent Cornflower. She walked on the trail of her own grievances. Anji! If I’m sent to the Barrens, there’ll be no market, nothing but grass and sheep like out on Dezara Mountain back home. I won’t be able to see Miravia!”

He released her, stood and, after a moment, extended a hand. She considered pleas and protests, but discarded these useless thoughts at once. She knew better. Taking his hand, she allowed him to pull her to her feet.