Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Ben was bursting with energy as we exited the ancient storehouses buried far beneath the sands. I could hardly keep up as he hurried down the halls and up the stairs.

"I'm guessing you believe the story from Nahiba's mother," I wheezed out as we stepped out into the clear late afternoon air. Nahiba's qasi glared at us from where he stood a few feet off, having been disturbed in his nap by our moving his bed.

"It's worth a try," Ben replied as he turned to me with a twinkle in his eyes. "I must admit I'm looking forward to venturing out at night. It's been far too long."

I snorted. "You should have told me you wanted to stretch your wings. I would have understood."

He raised his eyebrows. "Then you're not coming with me?"

I playfully slapped his arm. "Not likely. You're not leaving me behind, but if this way into the pools means I'll get us caught I'll stay in the river if I have to. Speaking of water-" I turned and glanced at the open hole. "Where did that smell of water come from?"

Ben shook his head. "That's a question for another time. Right now we should focus on eating an ample supper and venturing out into the sands under the cover of darkness. We should be able to approach the stones via the fields to avoid any prying eyes from the dig site."

I grabbed his arm as he headed up the path to our wagon and arrested his movement. "Wait a sec." Ben turned to face me and his eyes revealed his eagerness. "What happens if you get caught in that holy place?"

A crooked smile slipped onto his lips. "The Dragon Thief rarely gets caught."

"Yes, but what if you do? " I persisted.

The worry in my voice and face dampened some of his good humor. He cupped one of my cheeks in his palm and met my gaze. "I'll be as careful as I can manage, and should I be spotted I'll be sure to make a hasty exit."

My eyebrows crashed down. "That doesn't answer my question."

Ben sighed. "If anyone is caught trespassing on the holy grounds of the ghasl, they're sentenced to several years of hard labor, or worse."

"And what's the ‘worse' entail?"

"A public execution."

A lot of the color drained from my face. "Would they do that to you?"

"I doubt I'd be spared merely because of my connections. It wouldn't be wise for the king to make exceptions, especially since he's laid an explicit ban on the ghasl."

My heart sank into my stomach. I bowed my head and bit my lower lip. "Are. . .are we sure this is worth it?"

Ben lifted an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

I shook my head. "Not that the islanders aren't worth helping, just whether or not the info is worth getting. I mean, we don't even know what that rock is offering us."

"Stones such as Pazari and Tijari offer only what's worth offering," Ben assured me as he drove us due east across the sands.

I lifted an eyebrow at him. "Where are we going? To the ghasl?"

He chuckled as he held up the reins to me. "Have you forgotten we must return this wagon and qasi to Faris?"

I shrank beneath his reminder and gave him a sheepish grin. "Maybe?"

Ben grinned as he stared ahead at the setting sun. A small breeze blew past me and it contained a chill that hadn't been there before. I couldn't help but wrap my arms around myself and shiver.

"We'll be in Salah's house with a warm soup in front of us before you know it," Ben assured me.

The shadows had crept over everything by the time we reached the stables. Faris' eldest son hurried up to us as his father followed behind him.

"I see your habit of arriving late has not abated," Faris teased as Ben hopped down and helped me to the ground.

Ben turned to him and grinned. "Actually, we were wondering if we couldn't rent them later tonight."

Faris frowned. "Tonight? Going out into the desert is asking for trouble, my friend."

"If trouble comes knocking we'll be sure not to answer the door," Ben promised.

The qasi renter crossed his arms over his bulky frame and a dark cloud covered his brow. "Have you forgotten I have been on my share of adventures with you? You are seeking trouble."

Ben set a hand on his friend's stiff shoulder and his humor changed to a dour expression. "Trouble is already around us, Faris. Millie and I only seek to lift what we can of the burden from your weary shoulders."

Faris studied him for a long moment before a grin slipped onto his lips. He gave a great, belly-filled laugh as he clapped his hand on top of Ben's outstretched arm. "And if I were to not give you my wagon you would find another, so I say to you there will be a wagon and qasi whenever you need it!"

Ben grinned. "A thousand thanks, and a blessing of gold upon your house."

Faris leaned toward him and gave a wink. "I will keep you to your word on that one, old friend."

"My coin purse trembles, but I'm willing," Ben returned with glittering eyes before he released his friend and turned to me. "But we shouldn't talk about business when there are empty stomachs to be filled, and I'm sure Salah has a good meal waiting for us."

I was glad to Ben's announcement and we trudged toward our temporary abode. The shadows had entrenched themselves everywhere, creating pockets of pure darkness inside the alleys and narrow side streets. Cloaked figures huddled in doorways and passed us on the street. Ben made sure to put himself between the strangers and me, and I noticed he kept a tight grip on his coin purse.

We had barely gone a few blocks when we arrived at a long, empty street that wound its way westward. All was still and quiet. So quiet, in fact, that the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

"There you are!" The tiny voice out of the darkness like a threat, and that made me jump in the air and almost land in Ben's arms.

The bemused smile on his lips, however, softened my fear. "It seems we've been caught."

"And none too soon!" the voice added as a tiny figure sauntered out of the shadows ahead of us. I was relieved to see the familiar furry face of Qisa the cat. He held his chin high and his tail even higher as he trotted over to us. "I thought I wouldn't find you before the sun had set." I looked to the horizon and detected a faint sliver of light.

"I hope we haven't worried Salah and his family too much," Ben apologized as he reluctantly released me.

Qisa turned around in front of us so he faced where the direction from he had come and pointed his ‘cute' end in our direction. "Of course they are! Not a word from you for several hours and the king being in such low regard for the family, there's no telling what may have happened to you! Now follow me and don't dawdle!"

The cat trotted forward and Ben and I followed. The arrival of our friend hadn't lifted the oppressive silence that surrounded us. Indeed, I felt it grow even heavier on my shoulders.

We were halfway down the street when a strange chill struck me so hard that I jerked to a stop. Ben saw my sudden halt and turned to face me. He took one look at my complexion and frowned. "What's wrong?"

I wrapped my arms around myself and shook my head. "I-I don't know. I just suddenly felt cold all of a sudden."

Qisa sauntered back to us and wrinkled his nose. "It's probably just the night-"

I jerked back as Qisa flew at me with his mouth open and his teeth bared. He snatched something from the air just a few inches shy of my face and landed neatly on all fours. I saw that he held a long, thin dart in his jaws and his tail twitched furiously.

Ben grabbed my shoulders and yanked me behind the corner of the nearest building. Qisa darted behind us with his prize still clasped in his teeth. He quickly spit it out at our feet and wrinkled his nose. "Disgusting flavor."

"What is going-" I began, but a look of deadly warning from Ben's cool glowing red eyes made me clamp my mouth shut.

He peeked around the corner and his bright eyes darted around. I could feel the tension in his body as he held his infamous black cloak at a hairbreadth away from coming out. Never had I so wanted to see the Dragon Thief than at that moment.

I heard a faint noise like feet scuffing against the ground. Ben inspected the area for a moment longer before he drew back. "They've gone, but we should start moving. They may change their minds."

Qisa stood and caught our attention with his twisting tail. "Then follow me. I know a-" He paused and shook his head.

A glossy look in his eyes made my heart jump. "Are you alright?" I asked him.

He glared at me. "Of course I'm. . .I'm alright. It's just the scent on the. . .on the dart-" His legs buckled and he collapsed onto the ground.

A gasp escaped me as Ben stooped and set a hand on the cat's sides. I watched in horror as Qisa's stomach rapidly moved up and down. His mouth was agape as quick breaths escaped him.

I knelt and caught Ben's worried gaze. "What's wrong with him?"

Ben carefully plucked the dart from the ground and studied the barbed point. Whatever that stuck in was staying stuck. "This may have been poisoned."