CHAPTER 13
After dinner, Najud and Penrys joined Hadishti in her kazr. They brought lanterns that they hung near the central fire, to shed light on Umzakhilin, lying quietly on his bedroll on the carpets. Dimghuy and the two boys hugged the outer wall to stay out of the way, but Hadishti had sent Sharma to Yuknaj for a little while.
Penrys could see the gleam of Umzakhilin’s eyes. He was awake, but when she probed him lightly, he didn’t seem aware of his surroundings. At least he didn’t seem to be in any pain.
“You or me?” she asked Najud.
“I’ll try first,” he said. “You watch him.”
She held her mind on the injured man while Najud tried to bespeak him. *Umzakhilin, I’m Najud. I’m here to help you. You’re safe, you have friends here.*
Penrys could tell that the words were understood b
