“Commander, will you help us? We could leave here with a small band of the Koru. Right now. Go to Laraak for disguises, then enact our scheme before she brings war. If we already have Uruku dead by the time she arrives, she won’t need to march!”

“I promised a delay, A-zu.” She gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing. “Now this is causing me trouble with my own warriors.”

“Trust yourself, Ummi. You know in your heart that this is right. You know it. It will prove your Koru wise and strong when you quietly show your strength as you said before. You and Nasu can command the team. With his knowledge of the Palace and your skill in battle, you can lead these Koru in, overtake him, and stand victorious. I know it!”

Dagan looked over my shoulder. “What does he think he’s doing?”

I looked over to Nasu and Arwia, but Nasu was striding purposefully away. Toward Higal and Assata. Higal’s barks of commands could be heard echoing off the city walls.

Arwia cast worried eyes over at us, her long hair falling over her shoulders. “Nasu stands with Higal. He believes she is right and that I will be challenged for the throne if I do not attack brutally. He is loyal to me, but…he says he’s tried it this way long enough. He believes we must use force.”

Nasu exited out the Libbu archway into the courtyard, and an exultant cry rose from the warriors standing out there. But there were still half of the warriors in here and all of the Koru except Higal. Many souls willing to listen to our way of thinking.

“What do you want, Arwia?”

She blew out a breath. Looked hesitantly at me, then over her shoulder to where Nasu had gone. “If Ummi agrees, then I choose to protect our citizens. I’ll go with you, and we will take down Uruku quietly. I’d rather try once more this way.”

“Ummi, please say you’ll do this. Please help us end this war before it begins.”

She dropped her head and looked at me with fierce determination in her eyes. “If Linaza is directing your vision, I will.”

I wasn’t so sure it was she who had put this spark in my belly and fanned it into a flame, but if saying that it was Linaza meant saving the lives of innocents, I would. I’d say it a hundred times.

“It is so, Ummi. Linaza is the goddess of war, but also of love. And I love my city. Help me protect those who live there.”

She put a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Then we will do it.”

“Good.” Arwia looked from me to Ummi, flint in her eyes. “Now let us go pry that wriggling maggot from my throne.”

THE HALF-DAY RIDE back to Laraak was made faster by the speed of the stallions beneath us, the hands of the Boatman on my shoulders urging me onward with cold dread. He was there. He was ready to take souls to the Netherworld. And I couldn’t let him.