Page 42 of Sins of His Wrath

She didn’t dare try to use her awareness… not yet. Not while in the desert, where the magic was much more dangerous. It was possible the sand or even the heat affected magic here. When she tried it, she needed to be in control, not trapped behind a magical dome on a moving cart. If she miscalculated, she could make things worse.

She stayed alert, tracking the movement as they traveled, monitoring the distance between them.

Gradually, both sources of magic faded into the background.

Only then did she allow herself to lean back and relax. Had the magic always been there, surrounding them in the desert? Akoro had said his people couldn’t travel across the desert without planning how to deal with it. Which referred back to the earlier question—why didn’t they create the portal closer to the city?

The cart bobbed rhythmically, the movement oddly lulling as the sky deepened into night. Settling back, Naya thought over her brief time at home, and how much everything had changed in the space of a couple of days. Her father’s fury, her mother’s revealing guidance, Drocan’s reasonings, and Mother Freya’s contempt.

The calm she had felt when facing Akoro’s army remained. It was a quiet certainty telling her she was doing the right thing.

This was her moment to prove her worth and show that she could be more than a nervous wreck. To become the leader her people needed her to be. She’d been holding back while they waited for her to be ready—she wouldn’t fail them. She couldn’t.

Above, the stars began to glint through the blackened sky, silver sparks against the endless stretch of night. They traveled for several hours before finally coming to a stop.

Akoro dismounted, his boots hitting the sand with a soft thud before he gathered with the soldiers. The servants dismounted from their carts and moved with practiced efficiency as they began unpacking supplies.

Naya watched, noting how they set up the same wash tent and campfires as before. It wasn’t until the cool air wrapped around her that she realized a servant had removed the dome of magic covering her cart. She could step out.

This time there were no guards assigned to her and no healer waiting with food and medicine. She climbed out slowly and stretched her legs. Darkness surrounded them, vast and unyielding, just as it had before. The wind whipped her hair, ruffled her tunic, carrying the sharp, dry scent of sunbaked sand cooling under the night air.

Nearby, thenniraewere gathered at the front of the camp, their powerful forms shifting in the dim light as a servant moved between them with feed. The carts were positioned at the center of the camp, the bathing tent set up at the back, while the campfires—already flickering with heat—were placed off to one side. Naya didn’t see how the servants erected the large magical domes that covered each of them, but just like before, the dome protected the fire and those who sat around it while eating, chatting, and sleeping.

The domes vibrated softly with structured magic, but it was insignificant compared to what she’d sensed earlier out in the desert.

A servant approached and gestured for her to follow. She was led to a campfire set apart from the others, the dome shimmering faintly as she stepped through it. A thick pile of blankets had been arranged for her, and as she settled onto them, another servant arrived, setting down a variety of dishes before her: creamy porridge, fragrant vegetable stew with soft flatbread, spiced meatballs glazed in a sticky sauce, rice, a plate of the two round furry fruits she had enjoyed last time, and a large tmae.

It was much more elaborate than the last time she was here.

The servant said something in their language, bowed, and left.

Naya stared at the food. She wasn’t hungry, but she didn’t remember eating at all today. Sighing, she pulled the dishes closer, examining them. She should eat something, and yet, she had no appetite. For the next hour or so, she nibbled at the food and stared into the black expanse of desert stretching endlessly around them.

Footsteps approached, and she lifted her head to see Prillu, her expression stiff and formal. “You will remain inside thenreshuntil morning,” she said, stiffly gesturing to the magical dome. “Use the blankets if you need them, but the fire will regulate the air inside until dawn. If you try to touch the flames, it will go out.” She pointed to the other side of the fire. “If you need a waste basin, it’s over there. Cover it with sand after you use it. You can bathe in the morning.”

Naya nodded, trying to keep up with what she was saying.

Prillu’s gaze dropped to the plates in front of her. “We won’t be eating again until this time tomorrow. There will be no breakfast and nolur-ennen. Eat as much as you can.”

“All right, thank you.” On impulse, she reached out and touched the magical dome encasing her. Her slipped through without pain or resistance. She raised a brow. “I notice you’re not strictly keeping me prisoner this time.”

Prillu remained stiff. “You’re here by your own choice. You know what roams these Sands. If you want to face annin-eellithitonight, you’re welcome to try. Our army has stayed behind in the sand drift. They can reenter your empire at thezmola’sword.”

Naya dropped her hand, her mood plummeting. “Is that why they stayed behind?”

Prillu fixed her hands in front of her in a clasp, her shoulders twitching. “Yes.”

Instantly, Naya didn’t believe her. Prillu never moved her body like that before she answered a question. It was subtle, but it was enough. Prillu was a direct speaker who spoke carefully, but honestly. This might be the first time she had ever lied to Naya. But why lie about that? What is the real reason they stayed behind?

“What is a sand drift?” Naya asked.

Prillu’s eyes narrowed. Turning on her heel, she walked away.

Naya looked over the camp as it settled for the night. Soldiers held position at either end of the camp and the servants gathered around their own fires on the other side of the carts, their quiet voices drifting through the night. It was calmer and quieter than last time, but Prillu’s logic was correct and it was the same as the first time she came. If she were to run, where would she go?

Her gaze landed on Akoro. Half hidden behind the bathing tent, he was locked in conversation with Prillu, but… she squinted. He looked agitated. And so did she. Naya frowned. It didn’t look like an easy conversation. She slowly tore a piece of bread and dipped it into the rich stew, her movements slow as she studied them.

The last time she was here, Akoro’s council seemed like a dedicated, powerful group who supported everything he did. Yes, Nrommo occasionally disagreed, but no one else did. Now she was here again, it would benefit her to learn more about their dynamic—if there were any disagreements or sour histories she could capitalize on if it came to it. But, this interaction didn’t look like an argument—more like Prillu was saying some Akoro didn’t like.

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