When I uncorked the flask that night, I thought to press on, despite my exhaustion, but then I paused and wondered if I’d need the juice to save Ana. As much as I hated to take the time to sleep, I needed to. That night I dreamed she was calling out to me. She was trapped in an enclosure too small for her to stretch her limbs, and she was in terrible pain. I woke with a start. It was still dark but little lights peppered the stone ceiling of my narrow alcove.
Blinking, I stretched up a hand to touch one and found my skin was glowing with the lights. I looked down and saw my bag was open, the phoenix egg exposed. It sparkled from deep within, and I saw a tiny flash inside and then another, giving the appearance of a heart beating within. Shifting, I picked up the orb and stared into its depths.
How was it possible? The phoenix had said it would never hatch. As I cupped it between my palms, I murmured, “Are you alive?”
Warmth flooded my hands and the little heart pulsed, the thrum vibrating robustly against my skin.
“Can you help me find Anamika?” I asked it. This time the egg turned cold in my hands. The lights dimmed as my hope waned. “You can’t,” I answered for it. “What good are you then?”
A tiny pulse jittered across my fingertip. I smiled sadly. “I don’t blame you,” I said, apologizing though I didn’t know why. “I’m the one who lost her.”
I lay back down, one hand touching the egg. There was something comforting in knowing I wasn’t completely alone anymore. The remaining hours of the night passed quickly as I slept.
The next day I exited the ravine and scowled, seeing that the camels I’d been following had been joined by several more. By afternoon, dozens of new riders had joined the company. Some split off and others stayed. I couldn’t be sure which group had Anamika.
That night I finally came upon a caravan camp and sought out the leader. The men were hard, but there were a few women and children who seemed warily kind, which assuaged my worry somewhat. I asked if they’d been in the area long and if they had anything to trade. They showed me many things but there was no mention of a slave. I hinted that the man I worked for might be interested in acquiring a new wife as his current wife had grown ugly and cantankerous.
Though the men laughed at this, they said they couldn’t help me. “Too bad,” I said. “He’s a rich one and would pay handsomely if the right girl could be found.” I hefted my bag and took a seat at the fire, graciously accepting the food and drink the women offered me. As I spread out the blanket they gave me for the night, a man approached. He was filthy and scratched at his ratty beard.
“I might know a man who could get you what you’re looking for,” he said in a low voice.
“Oh?” I asked, bending over my bag as if to check my belongings.
“Yes. You’d be sure to mention my name, of course,” he hurried to add.
“Of course. I’d be sure my benefactor knew who to thank for the information.”
As he told me of a caravan they’d passed earlier and described where they were headed, I kept my hand on the phoenix egg. The stone warmed quickly, and the thump against my skin told me the man was telling the truth.
“Appreciate your help,” I said, tossing the man a small coin from the purse Kadam had included in the bag. “If I find them, there’ll be more for you later.”
The greedy man licked his lips as he purposely avoided looking at my pack. Then he stole away, eyes flashing.
Though I bedded down, I didn’t sleep. I knew the man would try to take my belongings. When he crept up on me, I snaked out an arm and slammed him to the ground. My hands were around his neck crushing his windpipe before he could scream.
“Hello again, friend,” I said as he twisted beneath my knee. “You’re not thinking to rob me when your caravan offered their hospitality, are you?”
His eyes bulged as he shook his head. Instead of him robbing me, I reached into his pocket and took what little money he had as well as a sharp knife that he’d dropped to the ground instead. I pressed the knife against his throat. “Let’s just keep this between us, shall we?” I asked. “Otherwise, I’ll have to spill your blood, and it’s much too nice a night for that. Don’t you agree?”
He nodded vigorously and I released him. After he scampered off in the darkness, I scooped up my bag and took the blanket for good measure. Soon, I left the caravan behind. It took another day for me to reach the convoy my attacker had described. It was much larger than the other one. In fact, there were several large wagons being pulled by horses in addition to the loaded camels. I heard the screech of a bird of prey overhead and glanced up to see it flying down to the outstretched arm of a rider on horseback.
The caravan moved slowly enough that I easily caught up with them, but when I neared, I was immediately surrounded by mercenaries. I raised my hands in the air and told them I’d met with another convoy who had sent me in their direction and that I was looking to trade for something valuable and hinted that I’d make it worth their while to negotiate with me.
One of the men gave a sharp whistle and another rider approached. This one I recognized as a leader. The leather gauntlet told me he’d been the one with the bird. He had a wicked scar down the center of one eye and the iris was milky white, but as he took me in, I could tell his infirmity didn’t make him any less formidable or dangerous.
His frame was big. Larger than many warriors I had seen. His arms and chest were thick with muscle. A long tattoo of interlocking swords began at the top of his cheekbone and disappeared beneath his shirt. Even his horse was remarkable. It had been a long time since I’d ridden, but I could see the definition of the animal’s chest and the alertness of his eyes. Clearly, it was battle trained.
Inclining my head in what I hoped was a respectful way, I introduced myself, using my own name. Anamika lived in a time long before I was born. Not even my great-great-grandfather existed yet, so using my own name was safe enough, I thought.
“Why have you followed us?” the man asked with a smoky voice.
“My master has sent me on an errand,” I answered smoothly. “I am tasked with finding him a new wife.”
The leader pulled out a knife from his leather jerkin and ran his thumb along the hilt. “And what makes you think we trade in women?” he asked. “It’s such a nasty practice. Isn’t it, men?” he asked.
The mercenaries surrounding me laughed savagely. I knew then that these men had Anamika. The fact that they used wagons had been the first clue. If they had women or children, they wouldn’t want anyone to notice. The bird was probably used to pass messages to various contacts so they could negotiate slave sales secretly. I frowned. The wagons couldn’t have passed through the ravine, though, as I considered it, I realized it would have been easy enough to meet up with them later.
Then my mind caught on another thought. Why camels? Clearly these men were much more than simple traders. Yes, they had camels, but they were being used as beasts of burden, not transportation. Why had camels been used to kidnap Anamika?
One of them lifted his sword, pointing it at me. “Shall I teach him not to insult you?” he asked the scarred man as he nudged his horse closer, his demeanor obsequious with an underlying layer of cruelty.
Cocking his head, the man considered me, then looked up at the sun. He sighed. “I wanted to be farther along by now. If we’re going to meet up with our buyers, we’re going to have to speed this up. Bring him,” he said and jerked the reins of his horse, turning the animal back to the caravan that had kept moving along as we spoke.
As the men came closer, I protested. “I’m unarmed. I came in good faith to trade.”