Chapter Sixteen
After another hour or two of walking—or perhaps it was ten or twenty or more—Sophy was no longer feeling grateful for her guides. She felt like a long-suffering nurse escorting a party of young children. Pinch would insist on teasing Tut-Gut, and he would not leave off, no matter how earnest her entreaties; and then Tara-Tat began needling Graen, and before long the two were squabbling mightily in their high, piping voices. Pinket alone proved a restful companion, but perhaps that was merely because he lacked the means to make any noise. She had no notion what might be passing through the wisp’s thoughts—if anything at all.
But after a long time—two hours or ten?—the combatants appeared to exhaust themselves, and a heavy silence descended on the company. It possessed a de
