Eventually, they left behind the last outpost of the Emperor's domain,
and it was with a lonely, forbidding feeling that Si'Wren watched the
trader urged his camel forward at the head of the long column. From now
on, he was to act as their only guide, and they were to put their trust
in him, as he lead them into an unfamiliar and hostile world in which
all men were to be automatically regarded as enemies until proven
otherwise.
The trader had traversed the entire distance himself, and had kept a
good record of his travels, which journal was employed now as their
only hope of locating the legendary Patriarch Noah. However, chance
encounters with various refugees fleeing in the opposite direction
later in the day, brought out the news from several independent sources
that a terrible war between two kings, rival brothers, had made their
chosen route impassable.
Borla finally called a halt and a short conference was held. He looked
deeply concerned, and for good reason. Although Si'Wren was called to
attendance, she was not asked to make a record of it because it was
felt that once they had decided which way to go, there would be no need
of further mention of their predicament. Borla was reluctant to see the
men caught up in some local squabble, and Emperor Euphrates readily
agreed that it was better to keep the troops fresh and in high spirits,
for they had a great journey ahead of them.
Pages:
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318