Arwia’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Sarratum Tabni looked up at the shrine, admiration in her eyes. “And Linaza supports my methods. It feels right to me in my soul.”

A fierce sense of urgency flooded through my veins.

“But what if, my lady, we could get Arwia on the throne without war? Couldn’t you simply send in a small band of Koru warriors to silently…kill him?”

My guts twisted that I was even saying the words aloud, as if taking a person’s life was a normal daily occurrence. Even wicked men were to be shown mercy, my abum used to say. Even Alani deserved a just trial.

Arwia raised her chin, the flicker of a flame burning inside. “Your Grace, I…I support you in restoring me to the throne.” She glanced at me nervously, her cheeks flushing, but continued when I nodded at her encouragingly. “You’d have a wonderful, loyal ally in me, and if you were provoked, I would always come to your defense. But Kammani asks a good question.”

The sarratum snorted. “You know nothing of the world yet, Arwia. A healer and one of my own Koru were slaughtered right under my nose. I do not want Uruku silently killed.”

“You don’t?”

“No. I want Uruku delivered into my hands very much alive.”

Chills ran up my backbone at the gleam in her eye.

“I must mount his head on my wall to display my strength in the north. The sarratum in Kush does not take me seriously enough as it is. And the lugal in Enlidu is even worse.” She held a fist in front of Linaza, her eyes burning with passion. “If I take his city and put an ally in charge, they will know what I can do.”

“My…my apologies, my lady.”

She inhaled through her nose, stepped back, and clasped her hands in front of her. “You’re forgiven. You’re young. Naïve.”

Arwia nodded. “Perhaps.” But indignation simmered in her eyes.

The sarratum sighed. “Arwia, please come live with me in the Palace for protection.” She held her hands out to us. “All of you. And when we’re through putting down the dog and disposing of his loyalists, you can take your rightful place on the throne and solidify an allyship that will last a lifetime.”

“Is that…an order, Your Grace?” Arwia asked, raising her chin just the slightest bit.

The sarratum assessed her coolly. “It is my strongest recommendation. For now, go. You can take a few days to pack. I’ve preparations to make since we go to war in half a moon.”

She flicked her eyes up to Ummi. “Commander, see them out, and keep them safe on their journey back home.”

“Yes, Sarratum.”

Ummi escorted us to the landing outside the temple and held out her hand. “After you.”

Arwia gnawed her lip as we walked lightly down the long flight of sandstone stairs to the Libbu below.

“Putting me on the throne has been her goal since we got here, Kammani,” Arwia murmured in a voice lower than Ummi could hear.