Chapter 8: The Land of Milk and HoneyAnd those brave souls, those sailors of ships on the clouds, were met with open arms and glad tidings at each port of call. For any people of the Great Tree are all of the same family. And it is the wisest of queens who will see to it that the stranger is always given a place of honor at her table.
—Selected passages from The Book of the Origin by Bella Aurelius Nobilis, Modern Language Translation
* * * *
Lina heard the sound of the skimmer scraping on rock. It echoed all around her as she lay, tucked in under the skimmer’s roof, sweating and freezing at the same time. Struggling with the urge to vomit.
The noise stopped. Lina opened one eye.
“Shh,” said Arabel. She held up the bota bag for Lina to see and then brought the end to her lips.
“Where
