“The night hags took him from your memory,” Yara says. “I'm so sorry, Shay.”
Shay doubles over again. She can't think about the night hag. About the meaty thing that dangled from her talon, the thing that used to be a part of Shay. Doing so causes her unbearable pain.
Yara crouches next to her, telling her to breathe. Shay stands again. She shoves the heels of her hands into her eyes until her lids are painted withsparks, until she no longer feels like she is dying. Until she can focus on what Yara is trying to tell her.
“It's fine, Shay. Najla is well. I promise.”
“How can you say that?” Shay screeches in frustration. “How can a newborn be well if no one is with her?”
“We have a brother,” Marjan says carefully, watching Shay for any adverse reaction. “Our brother is with your sister.”
“Walid is here with us!” Shay feels like she's losing her mind.
“Not Walid.” Yara looks at Marjan, who nods. “A brother you haven't met yet. Let's go. You'll meet him when we get to Ard Al-Ghul.”
“Another brother?” Shay doesn't understand why they never mentioned him before. “And does this other brother of yours know how to take care of a baby?”
“He's taking the best care of her,” Yara says soothingly “I'm absolutely sure of it.”
They continue on, moving at a quick clip, but no longer running.
“I don't understand,” Khawla mutters softly, to no one in particular. “Why did you have to go to the night hags? The Morchidat should have told you where to meet us.”
As they approach the bone-eaters’ yard, Tarik is outside, fussing over his shrubs, brandishing a shiny pair of oversized gardening sheers. He stares at the girls with unabashed awe. Wordlessly, he raises one hand in greeting, a gesture Shay returns.
Khawla does a double take, frowning. “Are you two friends now?”
“It's complicated,” Shay hedges.
It is decided that Yara will go inside with Shay while Marjan takes Khawla home to her parents. Shay hugs Khawla once more, then watches her receding figure, seeing now what she didn't see inside the cave. What she didn't want to see.
The changes in Khawla are not just physical. The fearlessness she once wore like sparkling jewels has dimmed, and whatever mantle of leadership the Morchidat manipulated the four of them into inheriting is not enough to bring it back.
Shay finds this brother of Yara and Marjan's upstairs, sleeping onher pallet.
Najla is on her tummy, dozing on his chest, her little body rising and falling like a tiny ship with each breath he takes. The sight gives Shay a strange twinge in her chest she can't place. Part of her was worried she'd find the baby crying her lungs out in desperate hunger, and her relief that this is not the case acts as a balm.
She sets a lantern on the windowsill and clears her throat.
The boy opens his eyes. He sees her standing there, and a wide smile spreads slowly across his handsome face. Very carefully, and with the ease of someone who has practice handling an infant, he shifts the baby onto the pallet and rises.
He's walking toward Shay.
His arms are extended wide to his sides. His expression is joyful.
She's preparing to take about three steps backward to avoid what appears to be an incoming hug from a complete stranger, when he stops. Confusion flashes over his face.
“What happened to your hair?” he whispers. His eyes dip to the ring on her finger. “What happened to you, Shay? You don't look the same.”
She flinches when she hears her name. Without thinking, her fingers glide through her hair, the soft strands glinting in the moonlight through the thatched roof. Feet pound up the stairs.
“Shhhh,” she and the boy both say together when Yara appears at the top of them.
“Oh, sorry,” she whispers. “I need to borrow my brother for a minute.”
“But Shay just got back,” he says. “And you have something weird in your hair, too, khti.”
“I know. It won't take long.” Yara gives Shay a lingering look before turning to her brother again. “I need your help with something important.”
