Page 89 of Heir

“Would your ama let you?” Laia hadn’t so much as mentioned the scrolls to Aiz, nor offered to check them.

“No,” Ruh answered. “But this is important to your people, yes?”

“The most important thing.”

“Then I will look. Ama doesn’t have to know. It’s only stories. Ama tells honest ones, so they won’t hurt anyone. It’s the lies one must worry about.”

Such a simple sentiment from a child, but it stuck with Aiz, and she had to remind herself that her lies had purpose. That they were for a greater good.Get what you need. Forget the rest.

In the encampment, Zaldar Shan blew the horn that signaled the changing of watch, and Aiz and Ruh returned to find Laia and Elias waiting.

Aiz’s stomach clenched, the way it used to when she was a girl, and Sister Noa caught her filching extra helpings of food.I’ve done nothing wrong, Aiz reminded herself.Only asked Ruh to help since his mother seems incapable.

Laia smiled in welcome, and Elias gave his typical nod. Aiz wouldn’t call it hostile. But it wasn’t friendly, either.

“What’s so funny, cricket?” Elias asked Ruh, who made a glowering impression of his father’s face before laughing and darting away. Elias went after him, chuckling at Ruh’s contagious giggles.

“Oi, Ankana!” Zaldar Shan shouted from beside the fire, where hewas braiding his daughter’s hair. The man called people by everything but their actual names. “Come decide an argument for me, will you? You’re the only impartial one around here.”

Aiz grinned. “I’ll find you after dinner.”

“You’re settling in well,” Laia said. “Zaldar Shan says you’re an excellent listener. You’d have to be, to survive a conversation with him.” The Kehanni raised her voice so that the Zaldar heard, and he made a rude gesture at her. Then he looked worriedly around to make sure Elias hadn’t seen.

“The Zaldar has taught me much about inter-Tribal politics,” Aiz said. “Especially how he trusts not a single member of Tribe Rahin. And I’ve enjoyed learning scim-fighting from Karinna.”

Laia sighed. “You are kind, Ilar, to let her teach you. She is not the most patient instructor.”

“But she is efficient,” Aiz said, holding out her arms, bruised from Karinna’s brutalist lessons.

Laia smiled. “You stopped a horse thief, I heard?”

“He wasn’t a very smart thief.” Aiz had noticed that Laia frowned on arrogance and was gratified at the woman’s nod of approval. “I just yelled for help.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit,” Laia said, and then, after a pause, “I wanted you to know I’ve been hunting your story. I have a lead. I’ve asked the Kehanni of Tribe Nasur to meet us in Nur. She’s one of the wisest among our number. She does not travel for many people, but she has agreed to see me.”

Aiz turned to Laia swiftly. “She’s heard the story?”

“She said she recognized the shape of it. We will see what she tells us in person. We’ll be there in two months, a little before Rathana, to offload our fall wares and pick up stock for the winter.”

Relief swept through Aiz, but it was brief, replaced by impatience. Yet another two months she’d be away from home. She was desperateto know if the clerics had been freed yet. If Hani and Jak and Finh still lived. She would give anything to be tucked under a fur with Cero in Dafra cloister, sharing a bowl of lentil stew.

“Ilar, you’re sure the story isn’t written down somewhere?” Laia furrowed her brow. “If I could see it, I sense that everything would become clear to me, but…”

Aiz didn’t understand why Mother Div was so against showing the book to Laia. It was obvious that Laia wasn’t a covetous type. Aiz was sure she wouldn’t steal the book.

Do not question, Mother Div hissed.

Aiz chafed at the order, as she hadn’t before. She knew Mother Div had her reasons, but—

You owe me, child. Without me, you never would have escaped the bowels of the Tohr.

“I’m sorry, Laia.” Aiz traced theDon her hand—a reminder to herself of Div’s wisdom. “I know only what I’ve heard.”

“Of course,” Laia said. “You did say so, but…” She shook her head, as if clearing it. “Quil will be back tomorrow. You met him that first night.”

“I did.” Aiz had wondered when the prince would return, had been preparing for it. “I’ll look forward to seeing him again.”

The Kehanni gave her a knowing smile and glanced to where Elias had caught up to Ruh. They were arm wrestling and Elias was losing quite badly.

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