{16}
The Master’s ToyReaching the base of Mount Tora brought with it an empty
sense of achievement. Serrin’s Mountains loomed in every direction, its many pathways splayed amongst the peaks and valleys like a drunken beggar’s meanderings. Santha rubbed her tired eyes, baffled by what she saw as Krishtar trudged on in the late afternoon.
There it is, just ahead, Biahnd broke in. The road to Berisolis.
As the King’s Road was still many leagues east of the range, Santha assumed she meant metaphorically, but she allowed the dog to guide them with imperious direction all the same. They did not stop again until nightfall when Biahnd was satisfied they’d put enough distance between them and Tora. The mountain rose behind them, hazy from the distance. This was it: Santha’s old life was behind
