Utaiba raised his brow thoughtfully, and Sa'ar pursed his lips and rubbed his chin. Even the warriors appeared to be considering the matter, and a flutter developed in the widow's stomach as she realized the Harper actually had a chance to win over the Bedine. Ruha found herself wondering how it would feel to be a fully accepted member of a tribe.

Her contemplation was short-lived. A few moments later, Sa'ar found a weakness in the Harper's argument. "Your people did not make a desert of their home, berrani, so the gods have no reason to punish them. You and the Zhentarim may use magic, but that does mean it is permitted for a Bedine. It may even be that the Zhentarim have been sent into Anauroch to test our resolve."

Lander's face reddened, and a vein began throbbing in his temple. "In the name of Mielikki, why are you so determined to be Zhentarim slaves?" he yelled. "Are you fools? Isn't living in this desolate waste punishment enough for you?"

"Quiet!" Sa'ar roared, glowering at Lander. "We have decided. You and the witch must leave!"

"As you wish," the Harper spat. "Other tribes may have wiser sheikhs. I will take Ruha to Elah'zad and see."

"Then you will die," Sa'ar threatened.

Lander sneered. "Someday, but not by your blade."

The sturdy sheikh reached for his jambiya and Ruha realized that the matter was about to come to blood. The widow knew that this was not a battle she and the Harper could hope to win, so she rose and positioned herself between the two angry men.

"Hold your tongues and your blades," she said. "We will let the gods themselves resolve this argument."

"That was what I intended," Sa'ar snarled. His hand remained on his dagger hilt, but he made no move to finish standing.

"Let us consider the widow's suggestion," Utaiba said, laying a restraining hand on Sa'ar's arm. "What do you have in mind, Ruha?"

The widow inclined her head to the sheikh. "I was raised at the Sister of Rains oasis with the witch Qoha'dar," she said. "When my mistress died, I buried her book of magic spells in the ruins of the ancient fort that stands there."

"What does this have to do with gods?" demanded Sa'ar.

Ruha smiled and turned her attention to the stout sheikh. "With that book, my magic would be much improved," she said. "Lander and I will go to the Sister of Rains to recover it, then meet you at Elah'zad in ten days."

"But, from here, that means crossing the Shoal of Thirst-twice!" Kadumi objected. "It can't be done!"

"That's right," the widow said, fixing her gaze on Sa'ar. "If we reach Elah'zad with the spellbook, it will surely be a sign that the gods favor my magic. If we don't, then… well, everyone knows what that will mean."

Lander rose and smiled at Sa'ar. "Is that acceptable?"

"You have no idea what you're riding into."

"Nevertheless, do you agree?"

Sa'ar looked to his counterpart, who nodded. "It is their bones At'ar will bleach," Utaiba said. "And if they should survive, it will truly be a sign from the gods."

"Then it is decided," Sa'ar said, standing.

Utaiba also rose, indicating the meeting had come to an end. As the circle of warriors followed the lead of their sheikhs and began to break up, Kabina yelled in astonishment, then fell headfirst to the ground. The other warriors laughed at his clumsiness.

"Quiet, you fools!" snarled the Mahwai, scowling. "There's something here."

Kabina reached out and clutched at the empty air. A familiar voice uttered a shriek, then the sand near Kabina erupted as something hit the ground. A noise followed, as of something tearing, and the burly warrior was left holding the tattered hood of a white burnoose in his hand. "A djinn!" he cried.

"That's no djinn, it's Bhadla!" Lander corrected. He reached for his sword and stepped toward Kabina. "I recognize the man's yelp. He must be spying on us for the Zhentarim!"

Utaiba intercepted the Harper. "The spy was intruding on our council," the sheikh said. "You must leave this to us." He turned to the warriors. "You men, find the intruder!"

The warriors drew their scimitars and began waving them through the air in tentative, uncertain slashes. Their brows were arched in skeptical, worried expressions.

"If this is a D'tarig and not a djinn, why can't we see him?" Sa'ar asked, echoing the concerns in the hearts of all his men.

Lander looked into the sheikh's eyes and said one word, "Magic."

Within a few moments, it became apparent that the warriors were not going to locate the invisible spy by slashing randomly through the air. Lander turned to Ruha. "Bhadla's probably gone by now, but do you have any spells that will reveal his location?"

Utaiba did not allow the widow to reply. "No magic," he ordered. "You have not crossed the Shoal of Thirst yet."

The search continued for a few minutes more before Kabina located the spy's tracks and led the warriors off to stalk him. Ruha did not think they had much chance for success, for the D'tarig had a good headstart and it would be difficult to trail him when he reached a patch of rocky ground.

"Do you think he heard our plans?" she asked Lander.

The Harper nodded. "We have to assume he did."

"I would not worry," Sa'ar said. "The Zhentarim will find it no easier to cross the Shoal of Thirst than you. If they try to follow, they will meet a slow and terrible death." He paused and gave Ruha a mocking grin. "Unless, of course, it is the gods' will that they catch you."

"And what of your council?" Lander asked. "If Bhadla heard where it is to be held, the Zhentarim will be sure to go there."

"I doubt anyone who is not Bedine knows of Elah'zad," Utaiba answered. "The oasis is well hidden, and that is why we picked it. Even if the spy knows Elah'zad, there is little we can do. The messengers have already been sent. Trying to change the site would only result in hopeless confusion."

Sa'ar nodded his agreement. "The best thing that we can do is leave this place quickly. Once the spy reports to his masters, they will realize how few we are and may try to attack." The stout sheikh turned to Kadumi and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You may ride with my tribe. We always have use for a sharp sword."

The youth shook his head, saying, "I will go with my sister-in-law and the berrani."

Ruha turned to the boy. "You have been wounded, and I am not what your brother thought I was when he married me," she said. "Under the circumstances, I do not think that family honor dictates you protect me any longer."

"This has nothing to do with family honor," Kadumi answered. "You and Lander saved my life last night, and you will need me and my camels in the shoal."

"I'm sure we'll manage," the widow said. "An extra person will only-"

"Let the boy come if he likes. It's his choice," Lander said, grinning at the young warrior. "Besides, he's right. Somebody's going to have to take care of me."

Kadumi smiled at the Harper's joke, then turned to Ruha and asked, "Do you really think we can cross the Shoal of Thirst?"

"I've already crossed it," Ruha said. "After leaving the Sister of Rains two years ago, this is the first oasis I came to."

The widow did not add that her camels had been freshly watered and grazed before she had ventured into the Shoal of Thirst the first time, or that they had all died, leaving her to walk the last ten miles on foot.