Chapter Four
The shrine looked all wrong. The lines of it were in the right places, but the dust and neglect seemed to blur them. Darna wanted to sweep it clean, to lay fresh flowers in place of the dead one. Then it would regain its balance. She frowned at it, but from her perch on the horse’s back she could do nothing. When she looked to Nolerin, he shook his head ever so slightly, discouraging her. He led her to the far side of the track, tied the horse to a bush, and helped her down.
“Go walking to the prince,” he said. “Bow.”
Darna thanked him and leaned on the heavy stick while her legs adjusted to the ground. She was standing on a small patch of grass. It was a miniature meadow, perched on the mountainside. The prince had stopped at the far end of the meadowed ledge, with three o
