Nasu’s face paled. “I was protecting Ilu and his men as I was paid to do. But I stayed hidden. No one would have recognized me with my hair shorn like this, anyway.” He rubbed his close-cropped head.

Arwia threw up her hands, which were covered in dried blood. “It doesn’t matter how it happened. We need to figure out what to do! If he’s tried to kill me once, he’ll try again once he knows he wasn’t successful. Alive, I’m a threat to the throne he stole from me, even though Selu knows I don’t want it.”

“All of us are in danger.” I swallowed roughly. “All of us.”

Dagan’s face twisted in worry. “You’re right. Nanaea, Simti, Arwia, Nasu, and you—all of you escaped the tomb even though he’d commanded your deaths.”

“Yes!” I held the cloth tightly to Arwia’s ear. “Think of his panic when he found out! If neighboring cities thought he had allowed this disobedience to happen, they would believe him to be weak.”

Nasu nodded, rubbing his lip. “And they could cast their lots with Arwia and take the throne out from underneath him.”

“And he knew where to find us because I healed the Koru—”

“—and because Nasu probably led them back here.” Dagan’s face darkened.

“If I’ve done anything to put Arwia in danger, you can be assured that I will end the problem myself.” Nasu raised his steely voice.

“Enough bickering.” Arwia’s mouth puckered in annoyance. Pain. “Uruku quietly wanted to take out the threat before we became a problem, so we cannot become a problem ourselves. We must stick together. Communicate. Figure out what to do next.”

Dagan’s bright eyes sought mine. “He has to kill all of you, especially now that word will spread of this assassination attempt. And quickly. More assassins could still be out here. He wouldn’t send one man for so many people.” He looked cagily around the courtyard and stepped closer to me. “We must get back to our home. Secure the doors until we’ve formed a plan to keep you safe.”

“Well, I must go to the sickroom first. I’m to stay with Mirrum this evening while Mudi gets some rest, and I need to fix this ear or she’ll lose it.” My head buzzed with urgency. “Arwia, come with me. I have plenty of clean linens and sterilized threads there.”

“We will go, too.” Ummi hitched her belt, which was full of weaponry. “To protect you.”

“My thanks, Ummi. That would be a relief.”

“Do you want me to come?” Dagan ran a hand down my arm. “If not, I’ll get Nanaea and Kasha back home.” His amber eyes picked up the light from torches held by the growing, murmuring crowd.

“No, my sweet. But grab Iltani. Only the gods know where she is.”

He nodded to Nasu. “Help me find her; then we can fortify the house. And warn Ilu. They may come looking for Simti, too.”

“I will.” Nasu turned to the Koru. “Protect Arwia with your life, do you hear me? She may not want the throne, but she has a right to it.”