“Tragic as one death is,” Navid said, “we must act to prevent more.”
“The gang don’t know his identity, but they’re determined to discover it,” I said. “They’re worried he told others in his household the location of their stolen wealth.”
Yara gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Are you saying we’re all in danger?”
I nodded. “I fear so. Which means we need to decide on a story right now. If rumors spread through the city that Kasim died by violence this night, then we might as well tell the gang his identity ourselves.”
Nyla stared at me blankly, contributing nothing. Layla stepped forward, however, talking in her abrupt way.
“So we need a different cause of death, and a different day of death. Illness seems the logical choice. Zaria, you’re a familiar face at the market, and the stallholders think of you as trustworthy, so you should go. As soon as it’s light, visit Samir and ask for medicine for…”
She glanced at Yara who pulled herself together enough to contribute.
“Powder for a fever. No need to get into specifics.”
Layla nodded her approval. “We’ll carry him up to his room now and bar the rest of the household entry to his bedchamber. Nyla will visit him, of course, but otherwise I will take on the supposed nursing. Yara will bring his meals herself.”
“That sounds sensible,” Navid said. “Let the rumor spread today that he is ill, and tomorrow you can announce his death. For now, I need to return home and warn my parents. I’ll tell them the truth, of course, and they can assist us. If my uncle was really deathly ill, his brother would no doubt visit. Father can come tomorrow afternoon, after the story has had time to spread.”
“Yes, your parents!” Nyla straightened. “We must consider them. I will accompany you.”
“You?” Navid stared at her. “You want to come with me now? In the middle of the night?”
“Certainly. Didn’t I just say so? We must leave immediately.”
Navid glanced at me, but I shrugged.
“I’ll need to help carry…” Navid glanced at Rowan who came forward to assist.
It took very little time to get Kasim’s body into his own bed. We left him there, with Layla sitting vigil by the door. Navid tried to steal an extra word with me, but Nyla pounced on him and ushered him out of the house.
“What’s that about?” Yara asked uneasily when it was just Rowan, her, and me in the kitchen.
“No idea,” Rowan said gruffly. “But it sounds like we have a rough few days to come, so I’m going to try for some sleep.”
He slipped back out to the stables, where he had a small apartment in the loft, but I hesitated, looking inquiringly at Yara. She smiled and shook her head.
“It’s about time to be starting on the dough anyway. There’s no point in my going back to bed.”
“Or me.” I sighed. “It’ll be time for me to run to the market soon. I would like to get changed, though. And I should wait in my room as if I have been asleep.”
Once I was in fresh clothes, I waited for Layla’s inevitable knock. When it finally came, I was more than ready for some action.
“The master has taken terribly ill overnight,” she told me from the doorway in a piercing voice.
I peeped into the hall and saw two scullery maids and a groom. They had broken off their conversation to stare at Layla.
“The main apothecary won’t be open yet,” I said, remembering my line. “But Samir always opens his stall early. Shall I run to the market for some medicine?”
She nodded. “He burns with fever—hotter than I’ve ever felt—so move quickly.”
I scooped up my jacket, making a show of hurrying it on and racing down the hall. But all the way to the market, my mind moved almost as quickly as my feet. I couldn’t shake my concern about what had sent Nyla racing off into the night to see Ali and Mariam. She wouldn’t turn to them for support in her grief.
Given our already precarious situation, the whole thing made me nervous. But as I approached Samir’s stall, I pushed the doubts aside and focused on my performance. Panting for breath and with a furrowed brow, I scanned the various bottles, jars, and pouches.
“You’re here early, Zaria.” Samir hurried forward, his comfortable face falling into sympathetic lines. “Illness in the household?”
“Kasim himself.” I let my frown deepen. “Layla says she’s never felt a fever so hot, so I’ll need your best powder.”