Aiden barely had time to process this when they were interrupted.
"Father," Ashala burst into the room, ignoring Aiden, "others come!"
Gunesh was on his feet. "What others, darling?" Aiden noticed his voice returned to the same soothing, calmness he remembered from the day they first met.
"From another cave." Ashala looked close to tears. "They have no water."
Gunesh hugged her. "I will take care of it. Send them in."
Ashala's eyes flickered over Aiden before she turned and ran out again.
"Does this happen a lot?" Aiden wondered if he should sneak away but couldn't come up with a good reason.
"Often enough," Gunesh said. "But less frequently than it used to."
"I take it that's a bad sign."
"Yes," Gunesh said. "They do not come because most cannot travel."
Aiden felt the man's des
