NANAEA AND KASHA walked next to me on the road to Alu, their sandals crunching in the silted sand, eyes squinted against the blazing sunshine. Their presence grated on my nerves. They’d refused my demands to stay in Manzazu, safe and secure with Simti and Ilu. Kasha had wailed in fright, beating his chest and threatening to sneak away and follow us if I left him. Nanaea had promised she’d help get us into the city with clever disguises and had argued that her life was on the line, not just mine, and wasn’t she a grown woman now, too, so she should be able to do what she liked.

By the time she’d finished speaking, my head had been pounding, and I’d agreed to let her come if only to shut her up. We’d tearfully hugged Simti goodbye, promising we’d return with news of our triumph.

Obviously, we couldn’t all just march into Alu’s gates, so we decided to stop in Wussuru, an abandoned city-state a few hours’ ride from Alu. Nasu and the traders had slept there before and said it was safe and had a working well. Arwia said that she needed to be near enough to claim the throne quickly should we accomplish our task, so she’d camp there until she got word. Since she couldn’t stay alone, Nasu agreed to stay in Wussuru as her guardsman. We all convinced Kasha he should also camp with them to be an extra set of eyes and ears.

The rest of us would head into the city of our birth.

Nanaea to disguise us.

Dagan to pave the way for the nin’s coronation.

Iltani to be the sneak.

And me to mix the poison.

My throat went dry even thinking about it. I still needed to find something deadly enough to do the job. My tinctures had dwindled since trade had been reduced, and I didn’t have time to test any new plants or berries before we left. With Mudi gone, there was no one to go to for help, either. I was counting on Dagan’s mother to have something suitable at the farm. If anyone would have a tincture to take down Uruku, it would be her.

I am going to kill a man.

My abum had always trained me to do no harm. Ease someone into death only if they’re suffering greatly. Keep my feelings out of my practice if I was angry with the person I was treating.

Churning with dread, I brushed the damp hair out of my eyes and laid a hand on the packed, squeaking cart to steady myself in the blazing sun. We were disguised as traders, loaded down with carpets and casks from Ilu’s father. Dagan and Nasu marched up front, flush with weaponry to discourage theft as we traversed down the busy road that wound near the river.

“You all right?” Beet red, Arwia sat under a thin linen on the cart, rocking gently with every bump and turn. We’d advised her to stay hidden as much as possible, but in this heat, it was difficult to be strict.