Bachmann repeated the same story he had told Leah, along with his warning about the robbers.

“Thank you for the warning,” Ishakan said, indifferent, and it was only then that Bachmann noticed he had not been using any honorifics. His expression shifted strangely as he looked again at Ishakan’s eyes, almost suspicion of the ordinary brown.

But Ishakan’s golden eyes were completely concealed by the potion. Bachman coughed, clearing his throat. It was rough with dust.

“I can’t do anything. You’ll regret it later.”

It seemed he had his suspicions about Ishakan, potion or not. Quickly, Bachmann filled his waterskin with water and turned back from the oasis to his caravan.

“He’s a resourceful merchant,” Ishakan observed, watching the caravan leave.

“Don’t frighten him, he wasn’t a bad person,” Leah replied. Though he had been a little arrogant, he had found them alone in the oasis and wanted to help them.

“His son was very young…” she said, remembering Bachmann’s son.

“Which one was he?” Ishakan frowned.

“The tall one.”

“Lesha, were you listening?” Ishakan asked, turning to their son, and Leah covered his mouth with her fingers. Ishakan promptly licked her and made her snatch her fingers back. “What did they talk about before I got here?”

“I think they want to trade with Kurkan,” Leah explained, and Ishakan smiled as he listed to the story of the purple silk, and their confidence that they had something of value to offer.

“Will we meet them at the palace?” Leah asked.

“If they can make it across the desert unharmed.”

The words startled her.

“Are there thieves nearby?”

“They’re pretty close. I thought I’d deal with them today.”

“…Today?”

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll move when they attack the caravan.”

It went as he expected. The robbers attacked that night, and Ishakan and his family passed by the place as the attack was occurring. Two camels were walking slowly under the bright streak of the Milky Way, and if it hadn’t been for the screams, everything would have seemed quite peaceful.

“……”

Leah looked at the torches blazing in the distance. Swords clashed together in the distance, and screams split the night air. The caravan was not hers; it had no connection to her. But it worried her.

“Do you want me to save them?” Ishakan asked.

Slowly, she shook her head. She didn’t want her husband involved in something so dangerous, much less at her request.

“Then why are you looking at me?”

“Well…” Leah chose her words carefully. It was easy to trigger Ishakan’s jealousy. “They said they were bringing items that Kurkan might want.”

It was a diplomatic offer.

“So you want me to save the caravan?”

“Yes…but it is too dangerous.”