The cavern passages were deserted by the time I emerged. I only took one wrong turn on the way to the cavern.

Eventually, I simply followed the smell of smoke.

All the escape routes concealed in the cavern walls had been thrown open to let out the bonfire smoke. I worried Rodric would see it but realized we were too far out from the city for our celebrations to be seen. And if the Desert Boys knew enough not to go out at night, then Rodric had to as well. I also knew Cion wouldn’t risk the bonfire if he thought it was unsafe.

Groups of boys danced in front of a large fire while others lounged on cushions, rugs, and blankets.

“Whoa,” Dimic said when he spotted me.

All the other boys stopped and turned to stare.

Thankfully, the flickering light of the flames hid the embarrassment in my cheeks. I must look like a mess. I crossed my arms over my stomach and turned to go back, but Dimic’s words stopped me.

“She’s the prettiest sand dancer I’ve ever seen,” he said.

“She’s the only one you’ve ever seen,” another boy shot back.

A shadow pulled away from the bonfire and moved toward me. Cion.

“It looks good on you,” he said quietly.

I tugged at the transparent fabric covering my stomach. “I’m not even sure it’s on right.”

“Does that mean you don’t know how to sand dance?” Dimic asked, disappointment staining his voice.

“I used to.” I was so used to regular performances at the palace, I’d forgotten that to them, such entertainment must be a rare treat. So I knew what was coming next.

“Will you dance for us?” one of the boys asked.

My immediate response was to tell them no, but more of the boys crowded around, begging.

“I’ve always wanted to see a real sand dancer,” one called.

My eyes went to Cion.

He stood unmoving, the fire reflecting off his face and dipping into the small grooves of his dimples as he smiled at me. His eyebrows were arched slightly as if to say that the decision was up to me.

Sand dances were originally meant to be performed for your loved ones. I’d never gotten to perform for my family. And this group of boys was the closest I had to family now. They’d taken me in. They’d protected me. They’d fought for me.

The least I could do for sharing their home, their water, and their food was give them this one gift in return.

“All right,” I said before I could change my mind. “I’ll dance.”

A shout of glee went up from the boys. They ran off to every corner of the room, dragging jars and ceramic pitchers with them as they sat in a circle away from the fire. They pushed and shoved each other for better positions.

Now I had to figure out what I remembered and what possible dance I could perform. The first one every girl learned was how to scrawl her name in the sand. But that seemed too simple for the eager eyes before me.