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Thirty-Four: The Toad-man and the Prisoner
Ilyria didn’t bother with the ‘how-did-you-do-that?’ questions. Her experiences since she had left her mother’s mansion had shown her that there was so much she did not understand that it was probably better to begin by assuming that anything was possible. The ascetic had arrived in Ilyria's glamour which was simultaneously the street outside the House of Madame Skia in Idixat and Astrapi’s aerie.
“What do you want now, ascetic,” said Astrapi. He sounded wary rather than angry. Ilyria looked at him, confused by his reaction but he would not meet her eyes.
“The child must come with me,” she said, “There is information about the Mogul’s whereabouts.”
“Tell us here,” said Astrapi.
“I cannot do that, Lightning Bird and you know why,” said the ascetic. They held out their arm, “Come, Ilyria.” They repeated.
Ilyria hesitated. “I have to go,” she said to Astrapi but he was already turning away.
“Then go,” he said, striding away and as he did,
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Ilyria turned to look back at the gates of the city. She had to hold tight to the horn of the saddle beneath her as the unfamiliar sway of the camel threatened to unseat her at every moment. Sand stung her eyes and she faced frontward again, wrapping her head scarf around her face. The tears were from the sting of the sand, nothing more, she told herself. At each moment during the days of preparation for her journey, she had hoped—even expected—that Astrapi would come to her, asking her forgiveness and offering her an explanation that would allow her to let go of her betrayal and anger. Yet he had remained infuriatingly away. Skia, Thassa, Nicos and Bonbon were trying to help Ilyria find her way to Utzed. Each time they presented her with a new idea, they would preface it with “If only one of us could be with you …” until she could no longer bear it and told them that even if they had been able to be with her, she wouldn’t want it. This outburst seemed to set their m
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