Chapter 25
Isika sat on her horse and waited. She had called the Desert King and the words she shouted, summoning him, would possibly end her life. She knew that he was stronger than she was. She knew that he had cut his connection to the Shaper, and possibly given parts of himself over to Mugunta in exchange for power. She thought of the people she had faced in the past, possessed by goddesses, powerful and stricken. She shuddered. She knew she was probably no match for the Desert King.
But she couldn’t help feeling optimistic, mounted on Wind’s back with Ben and Night on one side, Jabari and Brigid on foot on her other side. Jabari had his bow at the ready, one arrow loosely notched. Brigid stood with her face to the sky, listening. She opened her eyes and nodded at Isika. He was there
