19. The White CityRan hadn't moved when they returned to him. Sometimes he thrashed around, animated by nightmares, but now he was still, chest rising and falling slowly but steadily. She dribbled a little more water into his mouth, feeling bad at what they were about to do. Ran was always ready to leap to her defence, protect her, and now they were going to abandon him. She consoled herself with the thought he was safer out here in the woods than marching with them into the White City. He at least might survive living in the wilds. Perhaps he could make his way back north, return to Caer D'nar. If it still stood. He'd be shocked when he came round and found they'd gone, when he realised he could no longer fulfil his vow to protect her. But there was nothing she could do. Perhaps he'd unde
