Iola went to her sleeping nook and took down a lamp, but her hand shook. “I’m not ready,” she said. “If I should take anyone’s offering, it should be the Defenders’, but –”
“I didn’t bring an offering,” Thorat confessed. “I forgot. I only wanted to see you.”
Iola set down the unlit lamp, her gray form moving hesitatingly away from him in the nearly dark chamber. Finally, she turned back to Thorat.
“Did the Enatel forget?”
Thorat hurried to her side and took her hand. “No, I’m sure she didn’t; it’s just that she’s been away from Anamat and isn’t back yet.”
“You could bring the offering later, or send it with Sunna.”
“Are you strong enough?”
Iola made an ambivalent gesture. “I can; it’s only that I’m so tired. I’ve never been tired like this before. It’s been worse since…after whateve
