My heart wrenched. Nanaea had gone unusually pale and held hands to her cheeks, her black eyes filled with worry. Dagan’s hand hovered on the hilt of his dagger.

“And what of Nasu’s family? Or Huna’s? They were here, too. He didn’t take them?”

“No.” She hugged herself. “They left shortly after you did. In the night before all of this happened. We all should have left. We were stupid to stay.”

“Well, what did he want?” Dagan’s lips tightened. “If he’s using Warad and my ummum, what did he want you to do?”

“What else?” Assata spat, roughly wiping away her tears with the backs of her hands. “I must deliver Arwia to him or he will kill my boy. My only son.” Her voice broke apart again. “And he’s likely torturing your mother to find out where you went.”

Dagan spoke. “But, Assata, their pain is almost over. We cannot bring Irra back, but we are about to save Warad and my ummum.”

She blinked up at him. “What do you mean?”

I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Well, today—” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I may have killed…Uruku.”

Her eyes grew round. “What did you do?”

“I delivered almonds laced with a poison that should, ah…do the job very quickly. If he eats enough—” I bit my lip.

“How long will it take?”

I shrugged. “To be honest, I’m not sure. I haven’t done this before.” Red crept up into my face. “I know it can put down a dog. So says the merchant in the Libbu.”

“You bought it from a merchant? Here in the city?” She looked at me incredulously. “She likely reported you right away. Uruku probably already knows you’re here!”

“No! We were disguised! There is no way she knew—”

She stuck her hands on her hips. “If the merchant didn’t warn the Palace, and if a taster didn’t get the poison first, and if he eats enough to actually die, it will still take many days—maybe even a full week—for the ensis to pull together and announce his death. They’ll want to quell panic and have a plan in place before doing so. This isn’t fast enough. My son will be dead before then. I must do his bidding on the very real chance that your plan did not work.”

“How long ago did he give you the command?” Dagan asked. “How long have they been gone?”

“Two weeks and three days. Two weeks and three days of torture for Warad and your ummum.”

“Well, why haven’t you set out to find her yet?” I asked her. “If you’re so dead set on turning her in?”

She lifted a thin, brown shoulder. “Don’t speak to me like that, girl. I’m not a child. You know why I haven’t.” She hung her head, her chin resting on her chest, and looked back up and met each of us in the eye.

“When Arwia is handed over, he will put her to death. That isn’t something to take lightly. But I’ve sat here and wrestled with my conscience, all while he keeps Warad locked in chains. But now?” She shook her head. “There is nothing else for me to do. I am a mother, and Warad comes first to me. And, Dagan, he was your friend when you were children. And Nasu’s!”