Isika’s group headed straight north from the village, while Jabari’s turned east, toward the Dhahara. Isika was thankful for Abbas, as she immediately felt Jabari’s absence. She had a lot of gift in her, but Jabari still had more experience as a seeker.
“Are you nervous?” Ben asked, as they scrambled up boulders of gritty stone.
“Are you listening to me again?” Isika said, her teeth gritted against the dust that blew constantly as they walked.
“Only your music. And it is very nervous. What are you worried about? Don’t you remember our trek across the desert to reach Batta? We’ve done more difficult things than going to visit a tribe, accompanied by their very own prince.”
Isika squinted into the distance, noting that Abbas, comfortable in the travels, had traveled a long way ahead of t
