Chapter 13
MercyThe ceremonial robe was far more complex than she anticipated. Paax helped her navigate the long sleeves that draped over her hands and then fasten the thick belt. Satisfied that every fold laid correctly, he presented her with a beaded necklace. A crystal and amethyst star pendant hung in the center, surrounded by multi-color glass beads. For the last two weeks, warriors had been giving her the beads with the utmost seriousness. She accepted them graciously but put the beads in a bowl, not knowing what to do with them. Somehow Paax strung the beads into a necklace.
Even with the chain long enough to wrap around her neck twice, the pendant still hung down her chest.
“When did you have time to make this?” she asked, marveling at the fine chain.
“How many times do I have
