The caravan leader didn’t really believe they were lost in the middle of the desert. It was much more likely that they had run away from someone. But he approached them with a gentlemanly air, and he did not seem to have any nefarious intentions.

“I am waiting for my husband,” said Leah, allowing the veil around her face to slide down. She extended her left hand as evidence, and though the caravan leader noted her wedding ring, he didn’t seem reassured.

“Until your husband comes, you can travel with us,” he said. “There are robbers nearby.”

This was no concern to Leah; perhaps that was where Ishakan had gone. Which meant the robbers were nearby, and the caravan leader had not yet noticed them.

“My name is Bachman,” the man said, introducing himself. “I am a merchant traveling to Kurkan for trade. You can trust me. And this is my first son, Hutan,” he added, pointing to the bear-like man beside him.

At that moment, the hot desert wind gusted, and Leah automatically closed her eyes, throwing her cloak around Lesha to protect him. By the time it died, her hood was gone, and her eyes flew to Bachmann as she hurried to fix her hair. He looked confused.

Leah was embarrassed. She had kept her face hidden throughout the journey to conceal the unique markers of an Estian royal, as it might cause trouble otherwise. She had learned that lesson in one of the first towns they had visited on their journey; she had left her face uncovered and the chief had fallen in love with her on sight, which caused problems Ishakan had resolved with his fists.

The memory still make her skin crawl.

And there were plenty of people who persisted even after they saw she was married. It was a poor time for the wind to rip her concealment away.

“…oh,” said Hutan, blinking with slow realization. “I-it’s an honor t-to meet you.”

He offered a hand to shake, and then quickly wiped his sweaty palms on his clothes.

“I’m sorry. I’m too nervous…”

He looked like a bear, but he was so bumbling and innocent as he laughed at himself that Leah couldn’t help smiling at him as she took his hands. Hutan looked as if he had been hit over the head.

“Mom,” Lesha snorted, clinging to his mother as he eyed the men with disgust, as if he suspected they would lunge for her any moment.

“It’s all right,” Leah said. Lesha ignored her, glaring.

“A-anyway, we’re headed for Kurkan,” Bachmann said, clearing his throat. “I would hate for any robbers to come across you, so I hope you will accept my offer.”

“Have your caravans been trading with Kurkans?” Leah asked, turning her head away to conceal her face.

“Nothing formal yet.” Bachmann offered an awkward smile. Leah knew that Kurkan was reluctant to permit foreign trade. Currently, most of it was directed through Estia. There were occasional bargains where more direct trade was permitted, but there was no caravan trade at all. The Kurkans did not like caravanners.

Their previous King had sold too many of them into slavery to the caravans.