They hiked until the pale towers vanished from sight.
The land opened up before them, pitted and rough, of dark stone and low ridges, and with winds that paid no heed to their arrival. For a long while the only sound was the swish of their own boots, and that should have been a comfort, but it was not.
"I keep waiting to hear someone calling our names from behind," Sera finally said.
"They will not," Istra said shortly.
Lucian kept his gaze on the ridges ahead. "How far to the city?"
"If we keep to this pace, and do not waste time on diversions, we should see the outer markers before nightfall," Istra said. "If we get sidetracked, forget it."
Sera adjusted her cloak. "You think that we already have diversions."
"I think that the houses have already taken notice that we were willing to leave them be, and that they would rather have the claim quietly," Istra said.
