“I’m all set.” I sat back and began to pack up my things. “We have to go.”

“Why, though?” Iltani nudged Shep’s foot with her own. “I vote we pick an outbuilding and stay put.”

Shep nudged her back. “Sadly, they search those almost every day looking for more stores to steal. You wouldn’t be safe.”

Nanaea tapped a finger against her lip, thinking. “What if we bargained with the traders to stay right inside the trader encampment? They’re close by, and probably would have poison. When we sneak into the city for Iltani to…um…” She glanced at Rish slumbering in Dagan’s arms. “…deliver our surprise, Kammani can also see Rish to stitch him up.”

“They’re thieves and are known to hide criminals, according to Nasu.” Dagan shook his head. “We can get supplies there, but we cannot stay. It’d be better to camp in the open air as Kammani said. In the grove where we hid before.”

“Why can’t you stay there?” Shep said. “They have a lot of goods and are loyal if they like you. They liked Ummum because she tried to help those who were sick, even when they couldn’t pay her. Tell Yashub, the main trader there, that you’re her son. I bet he’d hide you. He hates Uruku.”

“Thieves and criminals. Sounds like a great place.” Iltani raised her eyebrows. “At least they’d have brew.”

I rolled my eyes at her. But Nanaea was right. They were close, but not too close. And trader goods meant that they likely had more tinctures than I could ever get elsewhere.

“We should stay in Laraak. Our whole point in being here is stopping the war that Manzazu is going to bring by getting Uruku off the throne. We can’t do that without supplies.”

“And safety.” Dagan shifted Rish onto his shoulder, then stood.

“There’s safety in numbers.” I stuffed the rest of my things into my satchel and stood. “And less opportunity for someone to chance upon us out of the blue. We’ll blend in.”

After a minute, he agreed. “You’re right, of course.” His eyes softened, and he reached over and ran a knuckle down my cheek. “My Arammu. So beautiful and so smart.”

“Oh, for the love of Selu.” Iltani hopped to her feet and yanked Shep up as well. “Please, for the sake of all of our stomachs, may we go? I’d like another drink of brew in this lifetime before I meet the Boatman on the river.”

Dagan smiled sheepishly, but Nanaea gazed at him with pride on her face, poking me in the arm. “He’s a good man,” she whispered as Dagan left the common room to lay Rish down in his chamber.

“He really is.”

Maybe even good enough for marriage. But now is not close to the time to think about it.

“Wait a minute,” Shep said. “How are you planning to get out of Alu? How did you all get in? They’re being really picky about who they let in and out unless you have enough coins.” He leaned against the doorjamb as we stepped out into the chilly night air.