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I lift my brows. “Is it that obvious?”

Katiari gives me a soft smile. “Only up close.”

She lightly touches the metal fibula at my shoulder, and as she does so, I notice her knuckles are tattooed. I hadn’t realized Sarmatian women also inked themselves.

Her eyes linger on the fastening at my shoulder, and for a moment I think perhaps she’s pondering about my ways and customs before her eyes lift to our surroundings.

“I’m sure it’s a lot to take in,” she says. “Hence, the kumiss.”

I glance at the jug, then cautiously bring it to my lips again. The flavor is still a shock to my taste buds, but this time I’m braced for it. And once I feel the warmth of the drink coat my throat and spread through my stomach, I’m reconsidering my initial thoughts on kumiss.

I hand the drinking vessel back to Katiari. “So you and Memnon are siblings?” I decide to open with.

She nods. “Yep. I’m his younger, prettier sibling.” She doesn’t say how much younger exactly, but as I take in her profile, I would guess she’s no more than a couple years younger than me.

I try to fathom the thought of growing up with a sibling, but all I feel is a deep yearning for the bond Memnon and Katiari must have, a bond that I might’ve had, had my world not shattered all those years ago.

“Will I meet your father?” I ask without thinking.

“My father’s dead—fell in battle nearly ten years ago.”

I feel myself pale with horror. “Gods, that was thoughtless of me,” I say. “I’m so sorry.”

She waves my apology off. “He died valiantly while protecting our people, and speaking of his sacrifice only honors him, so it’s all right.” Her boots and my sandals crunch against the earthen pathway. “Memnon’s dad, however, is still alive. Eventually you’ll meet him, though on his own terms I suppose—he’s not from around here.”

I hadn’t realized Memnon and Katiari didn’t share fathers.

Hiding my surprise, I say, “Memnon’s father isn’t Sarmatian?”

“Nope,” Katiari says distractedly. She points to our left, to an area beyond the final line of tents. “There are the corrals where we keep our oxen. Our horses are on the other side of camp.

“The most important parts of camp are at its center,” she continues. “The great tent and the main clearing, where we met, are the two main assembly areas, though there are others as well. Tanneries, forges, butcher shops, and the like are located on the edges of camp with most dwellings somewhere in between. Smaller shops and stalls are interspersed between houses.”

I nod as I take it all in. In truth, Katiari’s explanation of this settlement is hard to gasp when I cannot yet distinguish one pathway from another.

She tilts her head toward me. “As for Memnon’s father, he visits as often as he sees fit—but he comes from a long way off, so I assume the trip is challenging.”

“How did your mom and Memnon’s dad initially meet?” I ask, my curiosity growing.

“Memnon didn’t tell you?” she asks, steering us down yet another pathway. People lingering outside their homes watch us with interest.

I shake my head.

Katiari eyes me, then stops altogether. I pause, watching as she blows out a breath. “Of course he’d put me in this position,” she mutters to herself.

Katiari glances to the heavens, then back at me. “Okay,” she finally says, coming to some sort of decision. “Memnon should be the one to tell you, but I can try to explain.”

My brow furrows. “Idowant to know.” It would help me feel a touch less lost when it comes to my husband’s family.

“So, you know Memnon has…” Katiari lifts a hand and wiggles her fingers.

I press my lips together to keep them from twitching. “Power?” I say.

“Yes.” She sounds relieved that I know this. “Well”—she begins walking again, and I trail after her—“his father, Ilyapa, is the one he inherited it from.”

“Okay…” I say, not sure I understand where she’s going with this.

“Ilyapa is the King of the Moche Empire, some great and distant nation,” she says, “one too far away for ordinary people to visit. However, like I mentioned, Ilyapa isnotordinary. Long ago, he used his magic to come here, and once here, he searchedout my mother. From what I understand, he’d heard of a place where female warriors fought alongside men and got curious.