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"Maybe it didn't protect you because it was your fate to come to Aaru," Khan said softly.
Fen groaned. "Don't worry. I blame the Norns enough as it is."
"The Norns? Are they gods too?"
"Goddesses. They are the weavers of yourwyrd, your fate. Urdr weaves your past, Verdani your present, and Skuld your future." Fen stared into her goblet. "They have never liked me much."
"Can I ask why?"
"Because I've been fighting my fate since I was born."
Khan's smile lit up his face. "That I can believe. Still, I think your gods, or mine, brought you here. I didn't have visions of the rune on your hand for weeks for no reason. You were brought here for a purpose."
"In a few weeks, you're probably going to be cursing that they did," Fen laughed softly.
"Why would you think that?"
"I'm vexing. I'll run out of stories to tell you and then start nagging you to tell me yours in return. You'll probably get so frustrated by then that you'll want to send me back to the arena."
Khan shook his head. "I really doubt it. I'll happily tell you stories in return and answer your questions. People have often said I'm frustrating for the same reason. Too curious. Ask Kash and Kemes. My curiosity has gotten me into trouble a lot over the years. Buying you is just the most recent."
"Buying me is going to get you into trouble?" Fen thought about what Kemes had said to her about Khan ruining five years of planning because of her. "I promise I won't do anything—"
"It's not your fault, Fen. Don't ever think that." Khan ran a hand through his hair. "It's only because I've been loud about my objection to slavery. Now that I've bought you, I'll look like a hypocrite to the court that has always supported the Feast of Sacrifices and having slaves from Geb."
Fen chewed her lip. "Maybe you need to tell them a different story."
"What do you mean?"
"You're obviously not like them, but one day you are meant to rule them. Maybe you can tell them that you wanted to meet them halfway to save face? Take a slave to see what the appeal is, to try and understand their argument. When you free me in a year, you can return to saying it's not for you."
Khan stared at her. "That's actually brilliant. Are you a courtier back in Geb…ah, Midgard?"
"Gods no. I have visited many over the years, and seiðr are often asked to be advisors. I know the games the ambitious like to play. They might even praise you for bending your will enough to see things from their point of view."
Khan lifted his goblet and tapped it against hers. "An excellent plan. You are now my advisor too."
"You are so strange," Fen said with a shake of her head.
Khan smiled wider at her and became genuinely handsome. "I am, but you like that about me."
"Maybe a little," she forced herself to admit. And just like that, Khan had done what so many men had failed to do and won her over. Fen swallowed hard. She had never expected to find any kind of friend or ally in that strange new world. Fen tried to hide her uneasiness. "What about your people? Where do they think that mankind came from?"
"The Atrahasi and Ankharian myths are different, but like yours, they start with chaos and darkness," Khan began. Before he could continue, there was a knock at the door, and a servant appeared.
"Apologies, my prince. The Pharaoh has requested your presence immediately."
Khan let out a sound of frustration. "Where is he?"
"He said to meet him at the House of Anubis. He said you know where it is."
Fen watched all the warmth drain from Khan's face, dark eyes turning cold. Even the magic in his aura seemed to suck in on itself.
"Thank you. I'll leave at once," he said to the bowing servant. He turned to Fen. "I'm sorry. Storytelling will have to wait."
"Are you…" Fen started, but Khan was already rising to his feet and following the servant out of the door.
Fen was still staring at the door when Kashmet and Kemes came in, their smiles turning to confusion.
