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"If you weren't so white, you'd make a fine Atrahasi," Kemes teased, pulling on one of Fen's golden braids. She still had her arm in a sling, but that didn't stop her from being a brat.
Fen batted her hand away. "Don't make me fight you and make us both bust our stitches."
"There would be no victory in kicking your ass, Midgardian," Kemes said, smacking a kiss on Fen's cheek. "I'm happy you are still with us. It was a brave thing you did, jumping in front of those arrows."
"I'm hurt; he would've been dead. It was an easy decision to make to protect a friend."
Kemes rolled her eyes. "Ah huh. Friend, sure. You two lookedreallyfriendly when I came in the other night."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Fen replied, feigning innocence. She was trying not to think about what would have happened if Kemes hadn't interrupted them. Things felt different and unsettled, and she wasn't going to stress out Khan by acting like a needy woman.
Kemes shook her head. "Sure you don't. Come on, let's hit the road. I need my mother to fuss over and feed me until I explode."
Outside, the morning was cool from the mist coming off the river. Fen hadn't been out of the temple and was shocked by the green around her. Thick rainforest flanked all sides of the temple and down to the wide river where people worked and children played.
The scenery wasn't the only shock waiting for Fen. Kashmet had said he'd returned with horses. He had failed to mention that they were mechanical.
"What in the gods are they? How is such a thing possible?" Fen asked, hobbling as fast as her injuries would allow her. They were made of polished black metal, a horse's muscles mimicked by small, interlocked panels that had them moving like real beasts.
"The Ebony Horses are one of the reasons the pharaohs of Ankhara have been eager to avoid a war with Atrahasis," Khan said with a smile. "Horses that can never tire in battle and can move armies without stopping are a force to be reckoned with. Let me help you up."
Khan's hands went to Fen's hips and lifted her into the softly cushioned leather saddle. He rested a hand on her leg. "You will tell me if you need to stop and rest at any time today. Understand?" His tone was all princely, and Fen nodded in agreement.
"I'll be fine, Khan. Shala made me choke down some of her potions, and she promised it would be enough to get me to the city," Fen told him. She was bold enough to rest her palm against his cheek. "Now, show me how this magnificent machine works."
"It will respond like a real horse does," Khan said, turning a small bronze key on the base of the horse's neck. It shivered to life, and Fen's grip on her reins tightened.
"This world is full of marvels," she said, running a hand over the smooth metal.
Khan shot her a mischievous grin. "You wait until we get to Atrahasis."
Twenty-Eight
Fen had ridden a few horses in her life, but the Ebony Horse was the smoothest and most comfortable she could remember. They traveled all day, following a winding road through the dense rainforest until they reached a wider thoroughfare that would lead them all the way to the city.
Nobody they passed seemed remotely impressed or concerned that four riders on ominous magical steeds were among them. Fen didn't want to act like the dumb barbarian that the guards in Ankhara had called her, but it was hard when riding a mechanical horse.
Aaru has so many wonders that Midgard could never imagine, she thought to herself. It made her sad that they had only ever traded in human suffering.
"What has got you thinking so hard?" Khan asked, and Fen told him. He leveled his horse beside hers. "It's true that there has only been a slave trade in recent years. Originally, the gates to your world were made in desperation. There had been ten years of drought, and the Iteru had been reduced to a puddle. The Thothi and Osiri of Ankhara worked with the magi of Atrahasis, and together, they made the gates so they could explore other worlds and bring back resources. They found Geb, your Midgard, and traded for water and grain. When the drought finally broke, there was debate about destroying the gates. In the end, they kept only the one."
Fen considered the story. "So what you're saying is if I want to go home, I'll have no choice but to risk going back to Ankhara to use the world gate as opposed to using something smaller like the one your mother created at the temple of Inanna?"
"Yes. Atrahasis didn't ever create a gate that big to travel between worlds. They have the technology to do it, but the need for it has never arisen. I have no idea what will happen with the Ankharian gate under Hasina's rule. The House of Sekhmet has always pushed for more slaves from Geb," Khan replied, brow furrowing. "Gods only know what will happen to all of the city with her on the throne."
"Are you sure you don't want to fight her for it?" Fen asked. She didn't think she knew of a single jarl that would take the loss of his kingdom without fighting to get it back. Khan wasn't like any other man she'd met before; he had never expressed any desire to rule.
Khan let out a sigh as if he could read her thoughts. "Let's see what information Sargon has first. Maybe if she's a good ruler, I won't have to worry about it."
Fen doubted that Khan believed it for a second. She knew that while his heart belonged to Atrahasis, he felt his duty to Ankhara keenly. The trip to the orphanage told her that he cared about the people enough that he didn't want them to suffer, and Fen had no doubt that they would under Hasina's rule.
They stopped by the river midday to give Fen and Kemes a break from riding. Fen drank another potion that Shala had insisted she take with her. She wasn't sure what was in it and didn't care. Her back had barely twinged all day, and Fen was sure that if it had, she wouldn't be able to hide it from Khan.
He had been watching her like a hawk, and when he suggested that she could always ride with him, Fen had rolled her eyes at him to hide her awkward smile. The thought of sitting in his lap for a whole day was enough to make her body sweat.
He had been gentle with her since she had woken, and yet there was something troubled in his eyes. She had caught him staring at her strangely like he was puzzling something out.
He will ask you in his own time, Fen reminded herself. Once they were behind the walls of Atrahasis, she was sure they would go back to talking about magic and sharing stories.
