Cassian was the first to wake up. He gently touched Fay's shoulder and said,
"Hey, wake up."
"What's going on?"
"We'll leave before the sun is high, so help me wake the others."
Cassian approached Barto, but before he could move him, Barto opened his eyes and asked, "Is it time?"
"Yes, wake Kiara. We must go now if we want to arrive before noon."
Barto woke Kiara, who was sleeping comfortably in his arms. Fay appreciated this, as he didn't want to wake her himself, knowing she had a tongue as sharp as a sword and would surely have been upset if he did.
They arrived at noon in the royal capital of the kingdom of Xurt, which was bustling with life. Although part of the territory was desert, in the kingdom of Xurt there was no shortage of water; there was a spring from which water flow
