“There should have been a little more,” snapped the priest, “but yes: it is finished!” He grimaced and put a hand to his back.
“Bothered with y’ back, are y’? Me too, got to watch out.” She turned to Azhur and patted his arm. “Thought it were lovely. I’d never heard all that about orbs afore. Y’ve got a nice voice, though.”
Bal-jarrak watched her go with the appalled disbelief of which only a true aesthete is capable.
Iethen attempted to fuss round Bal-jarrak, holding her skirts above the mud. “Shouldn’t y’ perhaps lie down, Anthu? Y’ rose too soon anyhow, I said—”
“I shall be quite well, madam. The ritual required me, you understand. Very sacred, can’t have just anyone—”
“Young lady here’s lost her mam,” bellowed Tyrmar, holding a sobbing child high in the air. “Y’ name’s Aelwen, isn
