Chapter 13: Village of Silence Chapter 15: Queen of White Dunes
Chapter 14: Hamill Canyon
Today, we were descending through a dry canyon as we ascended previously through a wet one. Saleh led us swiftly and surely down the way, choosing always the smoothest paths for the horses. Below us was a green haze, and beyond that was a blinding golden plain: the desert of Jehanna. Innes, with his archer’s eyes, could pick out the palace, no more than a distant speck.
Soon, we passed higher cliffs and could not see our destination any more. We took two days on that downwards road, seeing no other moving things than birds and gophers and the occasional squirrel.
As we found ourselves in a broad valley with worn brown mountains on either side of us, here called Hamill Canyon, Tana pointed at something small, white, and fast behind us.
“Look!” she said. “There’s Julia again!” A Frelian messenger on a pegasus dropped out of the air skilfully beside us.
“What is your news?” Innes asked, interrupting the rider’s raptures at finding her prince and princess alive and well.
“Frelia has invaded Carcino and engaged the traitor Pablo’s mercenary army. With aid from Elder Klimt, we are crushing the foe where we find them. Pablo’s faction is retreating southward, toward Jehanna,” the girl said in one long breath. Tana giggled. Innes frowned at her as he considered his reply.
“Towards Jehanna? They must be planning to join the Grado forces there.”
“Pardon me,” I broke in, “but I must know… is there any word of my brother?”
“Yes. Prince Ephraim has forced the surrender of Grado’s fortress at Rigwald. He is now marching toward the imperial capital.”
I thanked her and withdrew a few paces. Continue reading