Thankfully, Hardesh didn’t throw a fit when I moved toward him. His face looked better, but he sat in a daze.

“Hardesh,” I said, slowly approaching him.

“Careful,” Tania said.

I paused a few feet from the back of the cart. “I just wanted to wish you all luck,” I said. “And once I kill Rodric, I hope you’ll think about returning.”

“Thank you,” Tania supplied for the group. “I’m sure we’d all like to return someday, but many more things would have to change to make that possible.”

I nodded. “I will do my best to make the city what it once was.”

“I believe you will,” Tania said.

Her words surprised me.

“Everything’s loaded and ready,” Cion said, coming up next to me while speaking to the cart’s occupants. “We’ll send Hardesh’s daughters as soon as it’s safe.”

I caught Bala’s eyes moving between Cion and me. I took a step to the side under the pretense of kicking some sand from my sandal.

“My boys will deliver you safely,” Cion continued. He bent down and picked up a handful of sand. He blew it over them. “May the desert recognize you as one of its own and allow you safe passage.”

Bala wiggled off the cart and scooped up her own handful of sand. She emptied it into Cion’s still-outstretched hand. “And may the desert return to you the kindness you’ve shown us.”

Cion clasped the sand in his hand, touched it to his heart, and then released it before helping her back into the cart.

The caravan was about to creak away, but Hardesh suddenly looked up at me. “Wait,” he cried, the word echoing around the chamber. He stared at me, his eyes round.

He motioned me forward.

Warily, I stepped closer.

Hardesh grabbed my shoulders and yanked me toward him. “You have to understand.”

“Understand what?” I tried to pull away, but his fingers dug into my flesh, refusing to let go.

“Your father chose me as a competitor because he thought I’d killed my wife. But I loved her. Larina was the only thing worth living for.” He choked over the name, sucking in large breaths of air to steady himself. His grip on my shoulders tightened. “Your father asked me if I was strong enough to kill you if your rule was plagued by weakness.”

“It’s okay,” Tania said. “Let her go.” She rubbed her hands in small circles on his back. “Why don’t you rest?”

He shook her away. His eyes were wide and wild, with bloodshot veins streaking through them. “I didn’t kill Larina, but I told him I did because I had to fight you. I had to win for my daughters, for the only piece of Larina left in this world. Your father and I both knew I wouldn’t win, but I had to try. I had to.”

“I understand,” I said. “We do what we have to in order to survive.”

“No.” He clenched down harder on my shoulders. “I would’ve killed you to save them. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m no better than him. You have to forgive me.”