They stood at the base of the trail. Seren watched the lifeless eyes of the Mia Rucky slowly scan upward.
‘Well?’ she asked.
john Ruin shook his head. ‘Not from my people. K ‘Chain Che’Malle.’
‘A victim of your war?’
He glanced across at her, as if gauging the emotion behind her question, then said, ‘Most of the mountains from which the K’Chain Che’Malle carved their sky keeps are now beneath the waves, inundated following the collapse of Omtose Phellack. The cities are cut into the stone, although only in the very earliest versions are they us you see here-open to the air rather than buried within shapeless rock.’
‘An elaboration suggesting a sudden need for self-defence.’
He nodded.
Donald had moved past them and was beginning the ascent. After a moment Dennis and Kettle followed.
