Nine years ago, Cassian witnessed the assassination of his father, which left him to lead the desert clan. Growing up, he had relied on help from those around him; now an adult, Cassian wants to prove his own worth. His first task -- securing the love of his bodyguard, Yashiv. Though the two have been inseparable since Cassian’s childhood, he fears Yashiv won’t let down his walls of propriety. Then Cassian finds a child, the only survivor of the king’s caravan procession. Wen claims to be the bride for Prince Manoel, the ruler of the nearby city, but underlying currents of her story raise Cassian’s suspicions. Cassian and Yashiv must find where Wen belongs, before rival clans, the city’s guards, or Cassian’s own people decide the child’s fate. Can Cassian and Yashiv find out where Wen belongs before her fate is decided by rival clans or Cassian’s own people? And can Cassian show Yashiv he’s now a man, as well as Master of his clan?

Shifting Sand

At the next water break, Cassian approached one of the younger workers. He figured the young ones would admire him rather than feel threatened. Sure enough, when he spoke to her, she responded with friendly advice. They talked for several minutes—Cassian trying to remember all the benign topics Nenet had covered with the women outside. When he felt like it was safe enough, he asked about the palace gossip.


“I saw a woman come in to drop off the water bucket. She whispered to Madam Aziza. Do you know what they talked of?”


The young woman’s face lit up, eager to share. “Yes. They said they caught a leader of one of the desert clans. He snuck inside the city walls this morning and the guards found him trying to break into the palace. Can you believe it? How dumb they must be to think they can get in here like that. As if the guards wouldn’t recognize the desert scum.”


Chapter 50