CHAPTER 60
A few hours later, Penrys stood in the slanted light of the late afternoon, in the same cleared circle at the center of the zudiqazd. Najud grinned at her side, and the other five couples were spaced out evenly, surrounding Umzakhilin and Hadishti who were standing now, their chairs gone.
Behind her, Bimal and Haraq stood in support, while Rubti and Ilzay stood for Najud, and each of the other couples had friends to do similar service.
What am I doing here, in this alien place with its peculiar customs? In borrowed clothing and a borrowed language, pretending I’m part of it?
Her fingers of her right hand strayed from the crutch hooked under her shoulder to the brooch above her left breast, the silver eagle the size of her palm with its outspread wings. Najud had presented it
