Instantly Amani thinks it's an alarm and panics, but it registers in the back of her mind that it's the signal of a hunt beginning. Naigub leaves, and almost as soon as he's walked out the door bells start ringing. Amani is smart enough to play dumb, and she acts as though she's never encountered the foreigner, despite the fact that he's hidden right below her. She owes him her life from the previous evening, not that he'd know that - she's quite obviously a girl today, and the Blue-Eyed Bandit that the Eastern Snake met was well-hidden as a boy - so she hides him while Commander Naigub bursts in and interrogates her.

The next moment the foreigner is sneaking into her shop and hiding in the shadows.

It's a slow day, until Amani sees the Mirajin army ride past outside: they'd only just passed through the village on their way elsewhere, so their return is a curious sight. The next morning, back at home in Dustwalk, she's in a world of pain - she didn't get home until late, and she got bruised up in the escape fro the burning building - but her aunt Farrah still forces her to go and open the family shop. Within moments of them scuppering the final round fights are breaking out and the place is on fire the Eastern Snake doesn't hesitate to save Amani's life, helping her get out of the fray. Just because he has thoughts of rebellion, greater plans for Miraji, he doesn't deserve to die, so Amani and the Eastern Snake come up with a plan. The owner of the establishment wants them each to take shots at a bottle he's balancing on his head, but the third competitor in the final round is wasted and won't be able to make the shot without killing the boy. Things get out of control at the event when her and another participant - a foreigner referred to as the Eastern Snake - attempt to save the life of a supporter of the Rebel Prince. She's going to make it to the city of Izman, where aunt Safiyah lives, or she'll die trying. Girls aren't allowed to take part, but Amani needs the prize money - her uncle has just decided he's going to take her as his wife, extending his harem, and Amani will not allow this to happen. We meet Amani Al'Hiza at a pistol pit in Deadshot, where she's disguised herself as a man to be allowed to take part in the shooting.

A rebel of the sands series