“Yes. Always. It’s always been terrible.” Her face was pale, her straggly hair damp along her temples.

“Although we’ve been cursed with the moon blood, we don’t have to suffer each time it arrives.” Taking a mortar and pestle from my healer’s table, I ground dried fennel, dill, and chamomile into a fine powder. I added ginger for discomfort of the bowels that often came with moon blood, and cinnamon for the nausea.

Quickly, I steeped a tea from the mixture I’d ground and asked her to sit up and drink while I heated the cloth and placed it on her abdomen once more. The tension between her brows calmed even more, and I felt satisfaction rising into my chest. This, I could do. Healing. It was what I was meant to do.

Rinsing out the pot, I looked out worriedly into the encampment and spotted Dagan jogging toward Yashub’s tents with Rish trailing behind, wavering on his legs. I’d told Dagan he had to stay with us last night, and Shep could tell the guardsmen he had died if they asked after him. I’d cleansed his wound with more myrrh and given him garlic and vinegar to ward off infection, but I was worried it wasn’t enough. The poor boy had tossed and turned all night at my side, his fever never breaking.

A shout echoing across the encampment in a few of the traders’ deep voices caused my hair to stand on end.

Maybe Iltani? Or news of Uruku’s death?

Throwing my healing satchel over my shoulder, I told the woman to rest and to venture home only when she felt better. Racing along the path behind Dagan, I scanned past the tattered roofs and tunics flapping on lines, and saw a group arguing near Yashub’s tent.

The copper helmets and the scorpion face tattoo were unmistakable. It was Commander Ummi and Higal! A woman shifted into view from behind them, and my blood froze.

Assata was with them.

Picking up my pace, I caught up with Dagan and Rish and tugged them both behind a tent.

“What are you doing?” Dagan asked. Rish stood next to him, a sort of glazed expression on his face.

“Assata is with the Koru,” I told him as I placed my hands on Rish’s cheeks. He was burning with fever again.

“Ahhhh, no—that’s not good.”

“No, it isn’t. She found us. Easily. We have to get out of here! And Rish needs tending to again.”

He set his mouth grimly. Ruffled Rish’s hair. “Of course she found us. We’re right here near Alu! The problem is, no matter where we go, she’ll track us down.” He bit his lip and ventured a look around the corner of the tent. “But why are Ummi and Higal here with her? They wouldn’t let her hurt us.”

“Who knows if they would? She trained them when they were young. They’re going to be more loyal to her than to us.”

“Not more than they are to you. You have their favor!”