She looked back toward the city, but all she could see were the dark boughs of the pine forest and misty glimpses of the sea far away. The valley was gone already. She turned back to the shrine and laid her offering beneath the statue of Anara.
“Thanks be to my mentor, my protector, most bountiful of the winged ones. Blessings grace your journey to the chambered earth. Take care of Iola.” Darna’s voice caught in her throat. She should have just said one of the old crossing prayers, but she’d forgotten the ones for travelers on the road. She’d never meant to leave Anamat at all, so why remember them?
A little cascade of gravel rolled down the road behind her. She looked up and saw the Enomaean, Nolerin, watching her at her prayers.
“The prince says no stop here,” he said. “You lag too mu
