“Just like I said.” Khawla shepherds Shay toward the bone-eaters’ cottage at a speedy walk, calling back, “Obsessed. It would be disturbing if it weren't so pathetic.”
The bloodsucker doesn't pursue them, but he laughs. “If you're not careful, you may find that sharp tongue of yours pickled in a jar. Lawn care isn't my only hobby, you know.”
The second Khawla lays hand to the cottage doorknob, the door swings inward. Deebi fills its frame. His face, at first terribly grim, brightens upon seeing them.
“Khwati, you've returned,” he says, his voice swelling with relief. “We thought something terrible had happened to you. I only barely stopped Kabeer from throttling Tarik; he was convinced the bloodsucker had snatched you for a midnight snack.”
“I'm fine, khoya,” Shay says, even if it's only true in the physical sense. Witnessing the horror of the blood-wagon on the heels of learning about Ghita's death has left her harrowed. “I didn't mean to cause you alarm.”
“Come, let my brothers see that you are well.” Deebi smiles, his mouth tight at the corners in what could either be a sign of anxiousness or his normal ghoulish face. He steps aside for them to enter.
With the eyes of all the bone-eaters on her, Shay lowers her head and stares at the muddy toes of her torn slippers. She hears Deebi close the door, the soft pulse of Khawla's breath beside her.
“What in the seven graves are you wearing?” Aidi asks, punctuating the question with emphatic taps of his skull cane against the floor. His voice is so very calm. “Lalla?”
She lifts her eyes. Not every bone-eater looks as happy to see her as Deebi did. “It's a costume for Jou Boulka.” She fidgets with the goat hooves.
“Jou Boulka takes place in the human medina.” Aidi sighs, a sound that for all its softness carries a heavy dose of condemnation. “We have told you, repeatedly if I'm not mistaken, not to leave the cottage.”
“I—” Shay starts, but Khawla jumps in.
“Sidi, she was safe with me. We disguised ourselves in costumes, and it was a one-time occasion. Just to cheer her up. Which, if I recall correctly, is my primary purpose in being here.”
“And did it?” The bone-eater studies Shay carefully. “Did it cheer her up?”
“Well … I'm afraid she ended up receiving some rather shocking news regarding the death of her prior benefactor,” Khawla explains. “It has turned out to be a jarring night.”
“Khawla, you were hired so that Shay would be happierhere.” Aidi leans forward, rubbing the skull ornament methodically. “Not to drag her outtherewhere she risks exposure to all manner of danger and heartache.”
“It's the companion's influence,” Beni whines. “Shay would never have done such a thing on her own.”
“As I see it,” Bono contends, sucking his teeth, “if she thinks it's safe to go traipsing around the human medina, maybe she no longer needs our refuge.”
Bristling, Shay remembers the posters and cocks an eyebrow. “Or maybe I never needed it in the first place.”
“Beni is right.” Khawla jumps in quickly. “I convinced the Lalla. I can be very persuasive, and although she was reluctant, my insistence wore her down. I think perhaps we should all get some rest and talk about this when we are clear-minded. As I said, the lalla has been dealt quite a blow.”
Aidi's eyes widen. Given their tendency to bulge from their sockets at rest, the effect is disconcerting. “Do you take responsibility for this?”
Shay tries to object, but Khawla cuts her off with a curt head shake. “As I said, it was my suggestion, but respectfully, I think there is some discussion to be had about such things as independence and healthy boundaries.”
“I'll take that as a yes.” The bone-eater tugs his scraggly beard, only for it to fluff out like an angry cat the moment he releases it. “In light of your actions, I hereby order you to leave our home and to stay away from our charge. Effective immediately.”
“I …” Khawla's jaw drops. “Again, I mean no disrespect, Sidi, but what makes you think you understand the needs of a human girl better than I do? Better than she understands herself? Do you think she would have preferred to continue being left in the dark about the loss of someone for whom she cared deeply?”
“Can you get your things, or do you require Deebi's assistance?” Aidi asks with forced politeness.
“No, Sidi.” Khawla gives Shay a regretful glance. “I can manage on my own, thank you,” she says, and turns toward the stairs.
Shay may feel tired to her bones. She may appreciate that the bone-eaters defended her when she was under threat and gave her some small purpose whenshe had no other reason to go on. And, though she's still not sure whether they had ulterior motives, she does have them to thank for her meeting Khawla.
But what matters at this moment is that Khawla called Shay her friend. And friends don't let friends take the fall alone.
Shay clears her throat. Something on her face makes Deebi frown in worry and Bono lean forward in interest. She looks straight at Aidi and juts her chin. “If Khawla leaves, I'm leaving, too.”
Aidi blinks. Shay sees something in his eyes she might mistake for loneliness were he not one of seven siblings. He blinks again, and whatever it was is gone. He waves the cane dismissively, breaking eye contact. “Then I suppose this is goodbye.”
The other bone-eaters stare in stunned silence as Shay and Khawla join hands and, together, make their way upstairs. Once Shay sees her bed, all she wants is to crawl beneath her covers and forget everything that happened tonight. But she knows from experience that no amount of sleep will reverse the hands of time, and reality will not tire of waiting for her to arise. Khawla hauls an empty rucksack from the closet and has just unbuckled it when a timid knock sounds at the door.
