A grin flashed across Gandash’s face briefly. “So, you’re fine with everything?”

“Of course. We grew up together, right? Best friends, no matter what. By the way, I get it. The stuff you said was exaggerated. And not well-worded. But, you weren’t the only one who was drinking. After I calmed down and got the alcohol out of me, I understood what you meant.”

He paused for breath, and Gandash just looked at him, so he continued, “We haven’t had much time together since we got separated on Sin-Amuhhu. You’re a fancy officer. I’m… just a normal mage. I made some new friends, and it might seem like I decided I liked them more. But it’s not true. And about Kat, I swear to you, Gandy, I never once was trying to ‘flaunt’ her.”

“I know,” Gandash said, and he looked down again. “That was the most rotten thing I said. I wish… you could just forget that.”

Xerxes wanted to keep talking. To tell Gandash that he understood about Bel, who his friend had loved for years before losing, only days after he’d professed his feelings to her. But he knew it would be a mistake, whether Gandash was drunk or not.

“I already forgot it,” Xerxes said, wishing he could smile, but failing to find it in him.

Gandash looked up. He nodded. Hesitated a moment. “Xerk, a blind person could tell that something’s going on between you and Katayoun over the past few days. You were inseparable for a while. Now she’s not even looking at you.”

Xerxes opened his mouth. To say what? Enusat defied your orders, killed someone, got hurt, and I got Kat to heal him, so she’s pissed? Instead, he lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “Women,” he said.

Gandash laughed softly. “Say no more. I hope you can work things out. Just… please don’t let it interfere with this mission, alright?”

“Of course not.”

“I have a bad feeling about this whole thing. I have no idea why we have these secret orders, and… I can only imagine what’s in store once we get to Puabi.”

“I get it.”

“Don’t tell anybody that, obviously.”

“I know.” Xerxes licked his lips. “Gandy, can I ask you something? And you don’t have to answer if you don’t want.”

“Sure.”

“Did you get the orders from Archon Shabadras?”

Gandash’s brow furrowed, and he sat with pursed lips for many long seconds. “I probably shouldn’t say. Why does it matter?”

“Because I did a job for him. I’m not supposed to talk about it. But I have the feeling that if he’s the one who gave you the secret mission, then… the Eternal Father cult is probably involved. And if the cult is involved….”

“Then so are the Abhorrent.”

The two friends looked at each other.

“If you promise to keep it confidential,” Gandash said, “then I’ll say that, yes, it was Shabadras. I supose it’s not a huge surprise, considering the big picture.”

“I guess not,” Xerxes agreed. “But worrisome nonetheless.”

“Agreed.”

They chatted for a few more minutes, just like old times, talking about gossip and rumor, speculating about the future, and reminiscing about the past. Gandash even brought up Bel. Somehow, they talked about her without shedding tears.

Finally, Xerxes excused himself.

He headed back to his own tent wrestling with emotions from different sides of the spectrum. On the one hand, he was glad that he and Gandash had gotten past their fight. On the other hand, he wasn’t happy about keeping secrets from him. Jad and Enusat’s midnight escapade, and Katayoun’s involvement, hung over his head even more dramatically than before. Whatever happens, I can’t let Gandash find out the truth, he thought. It would only do harm.

Katayoun was up to the same behavior as usual for the past few days. Her shoulder was glued to Kishar’s, which meant that if he wanted to talk to her, he’d have to make a scene. For now, he would refrain. But if she didn’t give him a chance to talk to her soon, he wasn’t going to just sit around and do nothing.

The next day, Units Three and Four were rotated into vanguard position in the line. Short-haired Kuri, and Teucer of the Swordmasters, were now up front, while Kashtiliash and Xerxes brought up the rear.

“Is this a punishment?” Kashtiliash said.

“I don’t think so,” Xerxes answered. “I think it means we get to relax a bit.”

The morning passed without incident. By evening, they were out of the mountains and into the foothills. It was now possible to see the lands below stretching out into the distance. They were brown and mottled, similar to the mountains they’d just traveled through.

Two days, Xerxes thought. That was how long he was going to give Katayoun before he forced her to talk to him.

That night around dinner, Enusat came up with an idea. “There are two main ways to Puabi. North by the Brocade Road, and south through the Nergal Badlands. If Randy Gandy is smart, ‘e’ll take us by the northern route.”

“Why?” Kashtiliash said.

“Because the Brocade Road goes through Eresh,” Jad answered. “Which is known for its brothels.”

“Fuck off, Jad!” Enusat said. “It’s because the Brocade Road would be faster.”

“There’s no way it’s faster,” Jad said. “It’s leagues longer.”

“Come on, Jad. Think! Going through the Nergal Badlands might be shorter. But it’s not faster.”

“Hold on, guys,” Xerxes said. “You have a whole area around here named after the Nergal? And it’s called badlands? Sounds ominous.”

“It sounds worse than it is,” Enusat said. “But the terrain is rough, and the weather is bad. I’m telling you, the northern path will be faster.”

Jad stroked his chin. “You might be right. What do you think, Xerk-man? Is it worth bringing up to Randy Gandy?”

Xerxes had just patched up his relationship with Gandash, and the last thing he wanted to do was create another possible source of tension. “Sure, I’ll bring it up to him when I can.”

Except, he didn’t. Because everything changed the next day.