The main sanctuary took up most of the first floor. Painted pillars surrounded it, creating a small walkway around the perimeter with a few rooms along the walls, their doorways blocked by heavy white curtains. In between each pillar was a large vase, all full of either water or various herbs, and I alternated between hiding behind those and the pillars. There were a handful of people standing in prayer in the direction of the altar, where Jember sat on the stairs constructing an amulet.

He wore his official debtera attire: a white turban—made slightly larger by containing the dreadlocks he refused to cut—and white robe striped with red, green, and yellow along the hem. And his official Jember attire: red leather gloves, a tall black boot on his left leg, and a peg leg made of dull metal on the right. His beard was unkempt, but his clothes were neat.

Mixed feelings rose up in me, watching him work. The first was that I’d missed him. But if I hadn’t been witnessing him cutting intricate patterns with expert speed, that feeling might’ve been the last. It was the only admirable thing about him, really. His work.

Which was why not too far behind it was anger, an emotion I’d need to quell if I was going to stomach asking him for help.

I tried not to move, not only to respect the ritual, but to keep Jember from seeing me before I wanted him to. It was only a few minutes before he began a chant, the signal for the praying people to drink the small cup of holy water on the floor in front of each of them. I leaned a bit farther around the pillar to see what sort of Manifestations the amulets were for—a mistake. Jember glanced in my direction, not missing a note of the chant he was singing.

Maybe he didn’t see me.

Right, Andi. Maybe the desert isn’t hot.

That meant there was no surprising him. I had to be ready to approach him as soon as the ritual was over. No greeting, no small talk—Jember didn’t have the patience for that. I would have to be clear and quick.

Finally, the prayer was finished, and each worshipper made the sign of the cross on themselves, touching forehead to chest, shoulder to shoulder. Jember wrapped each amulet in a simple cloth before handing it to each person in need, which they accepted with a bowed head and nothing but the sound of their footsteps as they left.