I shrank back into the sand, holding up a hand to ward off an attack, and the brick wall of Dagan stepped next to Ummi between me and Assata. He held both his daggers in his massive hands, his eyes hard.

“Assata, I do not want to fight you, but if you make any more threats against Kammani, I will. Warad and my ummum were dead the moment Uruku took them. We will likely not get my ummum back alive, either. It’s a fact that kills me. But the only thing that is important now is removing Uruku from that throne and putting her back on it.” He pointed to Arwia. “People will be loyal to her. They know Uruku is a monster who lusts for blood and power. It would be different if he’d made the city prosperous, but he has failed the citizens of Alu.”

Dagan held his arms out to all of us. The warriors, too. “You think we haven’t been doing our duty, but all of us have been working hard. Kammani poisoned Uruku. Iltani gains inside information from Gala. I’ve been counting the weak and the strong and ensuring the ensis will let Arwia rule. There are more poor than rich in Alu now by a lot. Maybe eighty percent! All but a handful of the nobility are starving. Many of them are angry, Assata, and they would likely take Manzazu’s side if they came in as saviors. There is no reason to go in slaughtering.”

Assata laughed long and loud. “You stood by while Warad was killed, and now you want Higal to have mercy on his murderers?” she roared. “His head likely joins his abum’s on the wall, and you want her to stop this?”

“Yes.” I held my hand up in defense. “Higal can take a troop of bridal warriors in to capture Uruku and kill him. Then you can parade his body all the way to Manzazu and Enlidu and Kush and anywhere else you see fit.”

At that, Arwia pointed to Assata. Then Higal. “All of us need to work together or we will not succeed. How can we be fighting among ourselves and hope to win? We must be a force united! Please listen!”

Assata studied Arwia, smiling at her mirthlessly. Then she nodded to Higal. The Koru warrior thrust one meaty fist into the air. “Those warriors who are with me and your sarratum, meet me in the courtyard. We. Will. Wage. War.”

She jogged out of the Libbu walls, and nearly half of the women followed her. Assata spat on the ground near my feet and jogged behind them all. Nasu stood next to Arwia, his hands on his hips, a look of indecision on his lean face. Arwia tugged his elbow and he lowered his head, their conversation too quiet for me to hear.

Ummi stood there, watching them go, her features turned to stone.

Dagan reached down and helped me stand. “They won’t be stopped, Kammani.”