Lion Head Mesa ho[m]e

She was easily distracted, hungry for every bit of affection he saw fit to grant her; clinging to him even as he drew back to breathe, to speak, Nazli found herself wishing she had not asked —but he named Tavina, suddenly, and the mood shifted.

Nazli had been so busy with Aiesha and then the other children, so intent on keeping them as sheltered as she could, her own ignorance spiked now. Tavina—no, why?

She had known of Eset's disappearance insofar as rumor had churned through Muat-Riya; but even those rumors were hard to process. What had started as idle gossip became swept away with talk of the cartel, then it became so muddy, and herself too busy to keep up.

But, Tavina?

He can't think Tavina was involved. Reality threatened the sweetness of their reunion now, and Nazli found herself growing chilled in the water. She has never, would never, act against the benefit of Akashingo. She was biased; they both knew how and why, but it did not stop Nazli from speaking sharply in support of her mother and mentor.