In the morning, Lilith opened her eyes and sat up before memory stabbed her. Why had Cam agreed to meet her if he’d never planned to show up? Or had something happened that prevented him from coming? All she knew was that when the moon was in the center of the sky, she’d been there—and he hadn’t.
The only thing to do was ask him, and the only place Lilith could think to look for Cam was at the well. Eventually, everyone in her tribe went there. She hummed as she followed the narrow, dusty path to the center of the village. The sky was clear, the grass was high against her fingertips, and the hot air pressed down on her shoulders.
Where the northbound path met the westbound path sat the village well. It was made of packed, baked mud, with a wooden basket that dipped down to its belly on a thick, coarse rope. The water came up cool and clean even on the hottest summer day.
Lilith was surprised to find two people she’d never seen before drawing the bucket up from the well: a wiry, ebony-haired girl with a wild gleam in her eye, and a dark-skinned boy playing a strange melody on a small bone flute.
“You must come from far away,” Lilith said, swaying to the flute’s music. “I’ve never heard a song like that.”
“What’s the farthest place you can think of?” the wiry girl asked, helping herself to a ladle of water.
Lilith eyed the girl. “I can think of worlds made only of music, where our heavy bodies would not survive.”
“A musician, eh?” The boy held the flute out to her. “See what you can make of this.”
Lilith took the flute and studied it, fingering the holes. She held it to her lips, closed her eyes, and blew.
An odd song seemed to play itself, as if a spirit were breathing through Lilith’s lungs, moving her fingers. She was startled at first, but soon she relaxed into the melody, following its meandering path. When she had finished, she opened her eyes. The strangers gaped.
“I’ve never—” the girl said.
“I know,” the boy agreed.
“What?” Lilith said. “This is obviously a magic flute. Everyone who plays it must sound like that.”
“That’s just it,” the girl said. “We’ve never met anyone but Roland here who can play that thing at all.”
Roland nodded. “You must have a great deal of soul.”
The girl put her arm around Lilith’s shoulders and leaned against the well. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Arriane. We’ve been traveling for a long time.”
“My name is Lilith.”
“Lilith, have you happened to see a blond kid around here, a boy?” Roland asked. “Pretty new to these parts?”
“Kind of self-righteous and vain?” Arriane added.
“Dani?” Lilith said. She glanced toward the river in the east where she’d last seen him swimming. The carob trees swayed in the breeze, sending their sweet seeds scattering through the grass.
“That’s him!” Arriane squealed. “Where can we find him?”
“Oh, he’s around here someplace,” Lilith said. “Probably followed closely by Liat.”
Roland winced. “I really hope he’s got a plan.”
Arriane punched Roland in the arm. “What he means is that we hope Dani is getting along—you know, prospering. In your midst, as it were. I need some water.” The girl dipped the ladle into the well and took another drink.
Lilith looked at the strangers and frowned. “Are you two…lovers?”
Arriane spat out her water in a great burst.
“Lovers?” Roland said, laughing as he hoisted himself up to sit on the lip of the well. “Why do you ask?”
Lilith sighed. “Because I need advice.”
Roland and Arriane exchanged glances.
“Tell you what,” Roland said. “You teach me how to play that song, and we’ll see what we can do.”
Lilith’s lyre lay on the bank next to the flute, which lay next to most of the clothes the three had been wearing when they met at the well.
They splashed in the Jordan River, floated on their backs, and watched the sunlight dance on the surface of the water. Music and conversation had done their magic, and the strangers were now friends. Lilith found it easy to divulge the painful incident of the night before.
“A guy like that,” Arriane said, before spitting a stream of water in a high arc. “Treat him like he doesn’t exist. A wise woman knows better than to stop a bad man from disappearing.”
Roland let the current carry him closer to Lilith. “There are lots of other fish in the river. And you’re a great catch. Might as well try to forget about him.”
“Wise,” Arriane said. “Very wise.”
Lilith watched the sunlight glint on Roland’s shoulders and Arriane’s face. She’d never met anyone like these two, except, maybe, for Cam.
Just then, something rustled on the bank. “Isn’t it romantic?” asked a voice from the bushes.
Cam strode to the water’s edge and frowned at Lilith. “Do you bring all your conquests here?”
“Wait,” Arriane said. “This is the boy you’ve been talking about?”
Lilith was simultaneously thrilled and crestfallen. “You know him?”
“This has nothing to do with you, Arriane,” Cam said.