“I’m not an assassin, but I do know a thing or two about—” I looked over my shoulder “—poison. I also know the city inside and out. I traveled each one of those roads as a healer. Many people there owe me a favor for healing them. For my abum healing them. I’d have allies who could protect me.”

“I don’t like it. You’re not a good sneak.”

“Then I’ll bring Iltani, too. She can talk anyone into anything, and nobody even knows who she is.”

“As if Dagan would agree. Or Nasu.”

“Dagan could come with me if he were disguised. He’s of the noble class. He can…I don’t know…sneak around and convince the ensis to accept you and get the people on our side. Nasu could come along to protect us.”

She stared at me, her black eyebrows coming together in angst. “Then I am coming as well.”

“No! You’re too precious. If something were to happen to you, then who would rule?”

“Kammani, stop it. We’ll have to figure out another way. This is ludicrous.”

“We can do this, Arwia. We can sneak into the city and send him to the Netherworld before that insane sarratum up there bloodies everyone in Alu.”

“This is terrible.” Arwia crossed her arms over her chest as we took the last remaining steps and descended into the chaos of the Libbu. A pair of donkeys pulled a creaking cart stacked high with spears, their sharpened blades a stark reminder of what was at stake.

“We’ll be ghosts in the night, my friend. He’ll never see us coming.” I couldn’t believe I was convincing her I would make a good murderer. I couldn’t believe I had to.

After several moments, Arwia straightened her shoulders, but her eyes were bleak as she assessed the frenetic movement in the Libbu.

“You’re probably right, Kammani, though I hate it. I hate the whole idea.” She stared at the weapons gleaming in front of us. “But if we don’t, we’ll live the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders, waiting for the blade. She touched her stitched ear absently. “I have far too many plans for my life to live like that. Well, I did. I suppose now my plans include a throne.” She stared gloomily at the weaponry cart.

“And I have plans, too.” In Alu, I could rebuild a healing practice with my own citizens. I could build a home with Nanaea and Kasha. Spend a long life with Dagan in whatever form that took.

Uruku had already taken my abum, my good kind mentor who’d taught me everything I knew about healing. He’d stolen Mirrum. Mudi.

He’d stolen this safe haven of Manzazu right from under our feet.

Though it sent shivers of dread up into my hairline and guilt into my heart that I was already thinking of the deadliest poisons to use, I wouldn’t let him steal anything else from me ever again.