The Desert.

"Do you want to stay here listening to what this spirit tells you, or do you want us to continue further on this journey?"

Safiya didn't need to raise her head to know whose voice it was; it was her uncle's. But for the first time, she felt anger emanating from that voice.

Her face darkened at what he had just said. Did he think she was just talking to mere spirits? It was her papa she was talking with, but she did not tell him this.

He didn't know, of course, because he had just arrived to see her knelt down. Safiya wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. He shouldn't see her this weak; it would make him think that she wasn't ready for this.

She stood up abruptly, her gaze fixed on him as she murmured, "I'm sorry."