Chapter Twenty-Nine
Arria led the Ikchani across the Teyyur Desert at night. She moved them as fast as she could, but daybreak broke the night sky before they reached their destination. When the sun came up, the heat came fast. The night in the desert had been cold, but they’d kept warm by not stopping. However, with daybreak, the heat soon became almost too much to bear. Yet, the Ikchani did not complain about the heat. They continued moving forward. Arria had to give them credit, though she should not have been surprised. Women didn’t complain nearly as often as men did.
They arrived at Augealia at nightfall. Everyone was tired and hoped for a feast. However, no one welcomed them, and no one opposed them. Augealia was abandoned … except for the bodies scattered throughout the village.
