In the waning heat of sundown, Irenya set out with her Sildahni escort on what she desperately wanted to be the final part of her journey. Well before dawn, they arrived at their destination, a pointed cone of rock several storeys high. They slept at the base of its bush-covered slopes, close to a quiet stream.
The harsh light of morning and a husky voice woke Irenya. She sat up, looking for the speaker. The Sildahnis scrambled to their feet. Irenya followed Telo to the stream and saw a small, shabby figure stooping to fill a crudely made pail. Telo took the bowl she was using and continued the task, clicking his tongue at the number of leaks in the pail.
The figure straightened and turned to face Irenya. A look of disbelief and disappointment flitted across the woman’s features, as thou
