Intermix Nation

Solomon sees her, rises in greeting. “Lookat you!” he exclaims. “You are exquisite, the jewel ofRenatus!”

Nazirah blushes. “Thanks for lending me thedress and bracelet, Solomon,” she says. “They’re absolutelygorgeous.”

“You are mistaken,” he replies kindly. “Thegold will fade and the lace will unravel. You are the true beauty.And they are yours to keep. Mementos of your time here.”

Nazirah is floored. “Are you sure?” sheasks.

“Of course I am!” he says, guiding herthrough the crowd. “How do you like the festivities?”

“They’re amazing!” Nazirah shouts,struggling to be heard over the music. “I’ve never seen anythinglike this before.”

“A truly Deathlandic event!” he cries,leading her to a large table with the rest of her campaign members.“As promised!”

Nazirah spots Adamek speaking to adark-ski

Nazirah included.

Aldrik kisses along the girl’s neck,glancing at Nazirah casually. He blinks his one eye several timesbefore recognizing her. “Good God, Nation!” he cries drunkenly.“You mean there’s actually a girl under that harpy exterior?”

Adamek looks up, their eyes lock. Nazirahwatches him follow the curves of her dress all the way down andback up again. The girl with the purple lips continues chatteringaway, touching his arm intently. But his focus isn’t on heranymore. Nazirah sits down with her back to all of them.

This is a very dangerous game she’s playing.And if there’s anything Nazirah hates more than losing, it’s beingin over her head.

She watches the crowd for hours, mesmerized,craving to join the swaying mass. The partygoers danceindividually, steps uncoordinated, all of them to their ownrhythms. But together, they somehow move as one, part of somethingmore than themselves. Together they are whole, carefree,careless.

She wants that feeling.

“Nation.”

Adamek sits down beside her, his jacket nowremoved. He hands Nazirah a drink, which she sips without a secondthought. “Tequilux?” she asks curiously.

Adamek smirks. “That’s your drink,right?”

“Thanks.”

“Sure,” he says, shrugging.

“So,” Nazirah asks, “how does this compareto a Medi party?” She already knows, of course. But she’s curiouswhat he will say.

Adamek stares ahead. “Medis are all aboutshowing off,” he says. “It’s about having that something, thathook, which no one else has.”

Like tigers, perhaps.

“And this?”

“This is about the vibe,” he says, “theexperience … the feeling.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” Helooks at her oddly, but she is lost in thought. “I always wanted tocome here,” she says. “When I was little, Kasimir brought home aDeathlandic peddler for di

Adamek gives a short, mirthless laugh.“Sounds nice,” he says, “having a father who cares.”

“Cared,” she corrects automatically.

“Cared.”

Nazirah glances at him, but he remainsfixated on the crowd, eyes glazed over. Turning her attention tothe table, she finds that Aldrik is gone … probably to bed withthat infant. “Disgusting,” she mutters.

Adamek also focuses on the empty space overher shoulder. “Yes, he is.”

“Do you think anyone here really believeswe’re together?”

“Probably more than we think.”

“But we hate each other.”

“Cheers to that,” he replies, clinking hisglass with hers and taking a sip. “Half the time I’m around you,all I want to do is strangle you with my bare hands.”

“And the other half?”

He looks at her fully now. Nazirah isacutely aware that she is entering forbidden territory.

“Miss Nation.”

They glance up at the new, deep voice.Standing before them is a handsome, tall man. He is dark, with kindeyes, and a dazzling white smile. He looks strangely familiar,although Nazirah knows she’s never met him before.

“Nazirah, please.” She extends a hand tohim, which he kisses softly. He’s completely disarming and Nazirahis grateful for the distraction.

“Nazirah,” the man corrects. “Your face islegendary throughout our humble territory. But you are somehow evenmore beautiful in person.”

Nazirah flushes. “What is your name?” sheasks.

“I am Ramses,” he says, “son of the lateKhan.” Adamek stiffens beside her, but Ramses pays him no notice.“Would you do me the great, undeserved honor of a dance?”

“Of course,” she says, standing up andsetting her drink down. Nazirah is more than eager to get away fromAdamek and their escalating conversation. Ramses escorts Nazirahinto the throng of bodies. He gently grabs her hands and they begindancing to a lively tune. Nazirah tries to follow the people aroundher, laughing as she stumbles, unfamiliar with the steps that comenaturally to them. Ramses grins, teaching her the movespatiently.

“You’re a quick learner,” he says, dippingher effortlessly.

“I have a good instructor.”

A slower melody begins playing as a femalesoloist chants ethereally. Ramses wraps two firm hands aroundNazirah’s tiny waist. “We have to get a bit closer,” he says,pulling her towards him. Nazirah hesitantly places her head ontohis chest, relaxing after a moment. It feels nice, platonic, andsafe.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Ramses,” she sayssoftly, knowing his grief all too well. She has felt it too, causedby the same person.

“It is quite all right, Nazirah,” hereplies. “The Khan and I were not especially close. I was but oneof dozens of his progeny.”

“But he was still your father.”

Nazirah recalls how she felt right after herparents died. She locked herself in her new room at the compound,not speaking to anyone, not eating, barely living. She didn’t comeout for days, except to attend their funeral. She thinks Ramsesmight still be in denial.

“We deal with loss differently than in otherterritories,” he says. “Deathlanders do not dwell on the tragedy ofdeath, but rather celebrate the joy of life.”

A worrying thought pops into Nazirah’s head.“You’re not going to challenge Morgen to a battle, are you?”

Ramses laughs. “I am not,” he says. “Thatwas Khanto’s burden, what Bantu asked to be done in his honor.Although I am not sure my grandfather imagined it turning out quitethat way.” He is serious now. “No, I must pay tribute to my fatherdifferently.”

“How?”

“Honoring his last wish,” Ramsesreplies.

Nazirah gets the feeling he doesn’t want totalk anymore about it, so she drops the subject. The party is dyingdown. Nazirah spots Adamek sitting exactly where she left him,watching them closely. She turns her attention back to Ramses. “Ishould probably head back,” she says, smiling. “But thanks for thedance.”

His grip on her waist tightens. “Nazirah,”Ramses says, “I know that you are with Adamek Morgen.” His eyesflash briefly. “And that he cares for you. But before you return tohim, would you be gracious enough to accompany me for a walk in thegardens? They are truly stu

Nazirah looks back towards the table, butAdamek isn’t there anymore. The room is almost empty now, save fora few remaining stragglers refusing to let the party die. Nazirahdoesn’t see him anywhere. She wonders if he snuck off with thatpurple-lipped vixen. “I don’t see why not,” she says.

Ramses grins widely and grasps Nazirah’shand, ushering her out of the room. He leads her rapidly through anunfamiliar corridor. “It’s just a little further up this way,” hesays.