“Indeed?” Khalim replied. “What is this woman’s importance, that you would put her ahead of all others? For let me tell you, Zahrias al-Harith, our offer is a generous one. Your people would be safe. Only leave, and go south, and leave the woman to Aldair.”
Zahrias’ next question surprised me. “Why this place? For I would think there is far more in some of the other settlements left behind — Santa Fe, Albuquerque — that might be of use to you.”
“No.” The flat delivery of that one syllable left no room for doubt. “We want this place. There is power here — power in the river gorge to the north and west, power in the mountain lakes. We have already had a taste of it, and we want more.”
That didn’t sound good. I had no idea what sort of power Khalim was talking about, but giving someone lik
