Chapter Thirteen
Summoning
Tepwe paced the beach, his hooded, brown eyes sweeping the area to make certain all was in readiness, his horn-tipped staff clutched tight in his hand. His breath emerged as a steady plume in the cold night air. A full moon bathed the churning water and glittering sand with silvery light.
Other Direlings scuttled about, eager to do the high priest’s bidding. One of Tepwe’s priests carried a crude gong with open reverence, her painted face full of awe. Others arranged themselves in a line behind Tepwe with weapons and rope in hand. Although they spoke to one another as they prepared themselves for the ceremony, their voices were muted by the crashing of the waves against the shore. A few glanced over their shoulders from time to time, their longing gazes aimed
