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Briar looked at the drizzling clouds, wishing he and Rosethorn had the wide straw hats they usually wore in the rain Where had the hats gone? East, probably, with the Traders He hauled himself into the saddle of his own e of the squad asked Rosethorn "So we can cover soround?"

"I’ll keep up," Rosethorn said "Don’t worry about me"

Briar rode beside her, one careful eye on his teacher He could tell she was upset, but he knew her To the others she ood, he told hi bad for her

For his own part, he had Evvy’s stone alphabet in the sling on his chest, tucked a the seed balls he used for weapons Now and then he would slip a rock or crystal fro himself of what he owed the emperor and his soldiers

They set a rhythm of trot, walk, trot, rest They would water the horses, drink tea, check to make sure their weapons were ready for use, and then ht theons by late afternoon At day’s end they found Parahan, Souda their tents at the far end of the ground where the western tribes and tereeted Rosethorn, expressed their sympathy for her loss, and invited her and Briar to join them for supper

Free of her temple’s burden, Rosethorn was happy to share a tent with Briar Ji it to one side of Souda’s far larger tent While they waited for the call to eat, Jiht out Rosethorn’s packs, which had traveled with their supplies She and Briar sat quietly, going over what they had

Finally Briar had to ask "What was it like?"

Rosethorn sighed "I can’t say"

"Wasn’t it just a temple?"

"It was and it wasn’t I can’t put it any better than that"

"You could try"

"Briar, it’s not permitted I had to swear an oath"