"Money can't give me anything I want," she said. "It's what your carry in your heart and head that's important."
"What about carrying that on your head?" pointed Hakiim.
"What? Oh." Amber touched her forehead. She'd worn the moonstone tiara so long it felt like part of her. Tugging it off, she gazed at it for a moment then said, "I should have given this back to Amenstar."
Stooping, Amber set the tiara gently on the pillow of sand at her feet and smiled.
"Ready?"
Hakiim tisked. "I think all that bewitching addled your brain."
Amber smiled and said, "If you mean, will some part of my spirit always remain in Cursrah? You may be right. I've seen so much of its past… almost lived it…"
She stood so long, staring into the wind that howled and slobbered around the tunnel mouth, that Reiver finally nudged her shoulder.
Shaking her head, Amber tucked her kaffiyeh across her face. Together the three friends marched into the burgeoning sandstorm.