Page 32 (1/1)

"He said the e to Inxia to join the rest of the ar there since Inxia surrendered," Evvy whispered in soft Cha to invade Gyongxe They’re already near the border He doesn’t trust his generals anys hurt fro on tiptoe when she was so tense She lowered herself until she was flat-footed Looking up again, she realized Rosethorn had covered her open mouth with her hand She was stricken, and Evvy had done it

"I’ "I knoas bad I told you as soon as I thought it was safe Briar didn’t knoas scared to say anything in the palace, not when I didn’t knohat had spells on it!"

Rosethorn stared off into the distance Evvy wanted very badly to ask what she was thinking, but sohts Finally the woman clambered down the boulders

"So much for quiet meditation," she muttered "I’ll have to consider this for a while You till ues and behave, do you understand me?"

"Yes, Rosethorn," they chorused

She set off down the path back to the caravansary, her pace brisk Briar held Evvy back until Rosethorn was out of earshot He then demanded quietly, "You couldn’t have told me this before?"

"I didn’t dare," Evvy said as they followed Rosethorn, walkinghi back and I was so tired It’s not like there’s anything we can do"

Briar rubbed the top of his head, looking tired "I just hope she feels the sa," Evvy told hi really bad It hasn’t happened yet, but I keep expecting it"

"There are shrines to the gods in the walls all around the inside of the caravansary," Briar said "First thing we do e get back inside the gates, you take an offering to that Heibei luck god of yours A nice offering, et us out of here safely!"

Evvy beamed at her teacher "That’s a splendid idea" She had a piece of white jade that would be perfect, and a piece of lapis lazuli for Kanzan the Merciful Even gods couldn’t be able to resist such fine bits of stone She would feel better once she had enlisted their help Heibei had to like her more than he did the emperor, who handed out bad luck to so many, and how could Kanzan like someone who hurt and killed so many people?

At the back of her ods of Gyongxe, and Parahan’s gods, who also had so at stake now? She stomped on that flicker until it didn’t bother her anyods would fix all of this, just as giving Parahan’s news to Rosethorn hada hateful burden to someone who could handle it She could concentrate on the journey, and only the journey

Later in the afternoon the three of theetables into a soup to share with some fellow travelers when they heard the thunder of horses approaching the gate They drew together, dropping their knives into the bowls of vegetables

Caravansary guards ran to the gate, iron-shod staves in their hands An archer on the wall turned and whistled three sharp notes that sent the men away from the road as a coes, rode in Ten of theh the caravansary in the direction of the rear gate

Evvy felt her heart begin to hammer in her chest "Relax," Rosethorn dao, the hty dao and Rajoni bowed deeply

The noble did not speak at all The younger e who rode next to hi Briar to look away Evvy knew he could see thedone When the bannerman spoke, his voice was loud, ical help She was certain it was being heard everywhere inside the caravansary walls

"Travelers and those who keep this place, attend A valuable slave of southern Realrounds of the Winter Palace!" the bannerman proclaimed "Remain in your places as the imperial warriors search No har this runaway Any who do shelter this Parahan of Kombanpur will receive the utmost of the erandparents, faree of relationship both older and younger, no one will be spared"

"Mila, save us," Rosethorn whispered

"Those who give us useful inforreat rewards and advanceon Sword, Holder of the Orb of Wisdo Dynasty," the bannerman continued "Go about your tasks unless our warriors require your assistance"

The soldiers dis the horses with a few of their nus, and housing Only the captain, his bannere who had adao stayed with theh they did not talk to hihtly painted Trader house carts, presumably to act as middle person between the soldiers and the caravan