It didn’t mean Azzah didn’t have any interest in what happened outside Hirka and the Emperor’s lands. The Lel’ul was the kind of person who could make her interested in something she didn’t quite understand. Always pleasant, he ran Hirka with the promise of how he would run the entire land when the Emperor passed. Everyone knew, and waited, for something better than they had even now.

“Do you think he’ll come here first, or stay in Hirka for administration?”

Reem shrugged again. “It’s hard to tell.” She moved her hand to her spear once more.

It wasn’t quite time, not yet, but Azzah knew why Reem put her hand on her spear. Ambushing wouldn’t work if they always knew what time it began. Azzah shifted her stance, keeping the wall at her side and Reem at her back. The sound came from the the brush leading down to Hirka. Azzah decided to practice the lunge Reem had made her perfect only minutes before. In one smooth motion, she brought her spear forward. It blocked Lulu’s spear before it reached her side. She jumped to the side, giving herself room to swing at Lulu’s legs.

It was always Lulu. Daudi always went for Reem and Lulu always came for her. Azzah wasn’t sure why the other two warriors had decided that, but she didn’t mind. To her, Lulu felt like the more practiced of the two. Azzah enjoyed clashing against her more than she did against Daudi.