Orange light flickered from campfires scattered about the desert, giving a little illumination to the darkness. We’d come so far. We’d secured a piece of the radish and were on our way to the northern lands. I was so ready for this quest to be over and Rapunzel to be free of her tower—and for our world to be free from the high sorcerer, but nagging worries plagued me, and I wasn’t sure what would happen once we confronted the high sorcerer. He’d killed so many people. What would stop him from killing us?
Heavy footsteps came from behind me. I turned around. Raj trudged toward me, his shoulders slumped, his face downcast.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
He shook his head as he stood at my side. In his hand, I noticed he clutched something.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I…”
“Raj, what’s the matter?”
He opened his hand to show me a dagger. The blade was curved oddly, in a serpentine shape, and red jewels glinted from the golden handle.
“This was my father’s,” he said, then looked up at me. Sadness shone in his eyes. “He’s dead.”
“Dead?”
He only nodded.
“What happened?”
“Killed by a sand demon a month ago. They already cremated his body and placed it in the hall of our ancestors. I didn’t get a chance to pay my last respects.”
I didn’t know what to say. What could I say to someone who just lost their father?
“They want me to take his place,” Raj said, his voice detached.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing for now, but eventually, I’ll have to return and take my place as the king. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He nodded but didn’t move from where he stood. “I just can’t believe it. He was fine when I saw him last. I never thought it would happen. I always felt as if he would live forever.” He breathed heavily, running his hand through his hair.
I hated to see him so upset. But what could I do to help him? I felt so completely useless.
“I should go. I need to make sure my mother is well. Will you be able to find Anahita’s tent on your own?”
“Yes, that’s no problem.”
“Good.” He took my hand, squeezing it gently. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Of course.”
He gave me a sad smile, then turned and walked away, his footsteps shifting in the sand until the sound disappeared. My heart broke for him. I turned and walked toward the city of tents, my thoughts on Raj—on the sadness I’d seen in his eyes.
I had few memories of my father, and I didn’t remember his death. I had little to compare it to, but I knew the pain must’ve been overwhelming.
Wandering through the tents, I spotted Anahita’s at the end of the row. When I entered, the room was empty except for my cot. Sitting on it, I pondered the evening I’d spent with Raj, and the extent of emotions that went with it. He’d confessed his love to me, and I’d done the same, but the evening had ended on a sad note. Would his father’s death affect our journey to claim the shears? I hoped it didn’t.
I rested my chin in my hands, wishing I could be with Raj now, but feeling helpless as to how to help him. Perhaps spending time with his family would help. Tomorrow, we would have to travel to the northern lands. I hoped he still wanted to go. What if he decided to stay here?
Rubbing my eyes, I knew I needed some rest before tomorrow’s journey began. I removed the headpiece from my hair, and the jewelry around my ankle, then placed them on the pallet in front of me. An oil lamp burned on a bedside table, and the jewels reflected under the light of the flickering flame, sparkling with the deep color of turquoise blue.
I took the jewels in my hand, weighing heavier than they appeared, and ran my thumb over the facets warmed by my skin. I could never imagine owning such things. Holding them reverently, I stood, then carried them away from my pallet. Shelves with healing potions sat on the opposite side of the tent, and I placed them on an empty ledge. I reached out to touch them one last time, but hesitated, instead deciding to step away.
When I returned to my pallet, I sat without glancing at the shelf.
They weren’t mine. They never had been. No matter how much I might’ve wished otherwise, nothing in these lands belonged to me.
15
Our horses pranced as we stood on the outskirts of Al-Maar, looking northward. Mountains loomed just above the horizon, their peaks capped with snow. Raj sat atop his Arabian mare, the wind tugging at the dark strands of his hair. He hadn’t spoken much this morning, only giving me a brief hello.
The wolf paced nearby, his one good eye scanning the desert. Drekken also sat atop his horse, sipping from his flask. His face looked more apprehensive than I’d seen thus far as he stared out toward the mountains. I supposed even his ale wasn’t enough to chase away his fears of the northern lands. I didn’t blame him. Few traveled there and survived.
Some of Raj’s family members stood near us. As we started across the desert, they waved goodbye, though no one spoke. The red jewels of Raj’s father’s knife glinted from the sheath at his hip, a constant reminder of the parent he’d lost, and of the mantle he would take up once this journey ended.
We rode in silence, over the curving slopes of sand, until the city disappeared behind us. When we stopped for a brief lunch, I kept my pack close, glancing inside to make sure I still had the piece I’d cut from the magical radish.
In my bag, the
