“I’m going to ask her to advise me on how to keep you all safe, and perhaps she will invite us to stay in the Palace while we sort everything out. My first piece of business is keeping everyone alive. Then…” She blew out a breath. “I’ll ask her to remove the threat and spare the Alu citizens.”

“Even if that means you’ll take the throne?”

She shook her head, her eyes bleak. “What else is there to do?”

Murmuring echoed from inside the cavernous temple, where Ummi and the sarratum stood talking.

The stately woman angled herself toward us, her thin eyebrows raised on her wide forehead. “Do not stand there darkening the doorway,” she called. “Enter and ask what you will.”

We both took off our sandals and walked toward the sarratum, bowing to the shrine of Linaza. We added our offerings—a sampling of embroidery, a few coins, some fresh honeycake made by Simti yesterday morning before she’d left to be a bride—and turned to bow.

“You may rise.” The regal woman’s voice was rich like a bell. “Ummi tells me you have business with me, Sarratum Arwia.” She stared at us, eyes wide and honest. Gold glittered on her lids, while her mouth was tinted a purplish brown like a date. She folded her hands neatly over her crimson tunic.

Arwia dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Well—my lady—yes.” She cleared her throat. “You’ve heard of the assassination attempt on me, and I’m wondering what you would do in my position. I have friends here, who are like family, since, as you know, my family is all gone to the Netherworld, and I don’t know how best to keep these friends safe. Should we flee to Enlidu? I think I can get us all there in a day’s journey with provisions, but I don’t know if that would expose us on the road. It might be better to hunker down here in place, especially because Kammani here has a great healing practice—”

“Arwia, you’re rambling.” Sarratum Tabni studied her, brow knitted. Behind her, Ummi’s eyes lit up with mirth.

Arwia twisted her hands in her skirt as she flushed furiously. “My apologies. I’m trying to keep my friends safe.”

A flicker of a smile landed on Sarratum Tabni’s face. “An honorable desire. What does your god tell you to do?”

Arwia blinked rapidly. “He says to protect those I love.”

“So you should do that.”

“But how would you suggest I proceed? Our home is not that secure.”

Sarratum Tabni lifted a thin shoulder. “Do you want my best recommendation for your ultimate security and that of your people?”

“Well, yes, of course. That’s why I am here.”

“I’m waging war on Alu. I will put down that impostor who rules your city, and will need to replace him with someone honorable and loyal. That, dear child, should be you.”

Although we knew it was true, hearing the confirmation of her decision to besiege our city, our old home, felt like a kick directly in the gut.