The desert stretches before us. It may as well be infinite. The road is marked with plinths, but they're worn and faded.
Nobody says anything. Why would they?
A few minutes slower getting out of Ehram, and none of us would have made it. Or maybe more of us would've been bitten.
Me? Merin? The priest?
I'd take Hanun's place or give either of the others for him.
But that's not the way it works. Once you lose someone you don't get them back. Maybe in the underworld, once they've lost their flesh.
We pass a cart, but it's not from a survivor. Someone was heading to Ephram, not away. "Should we check it out?"
Menir looks at it mournfully. "Probably has nothing left to take. It's been out here a while."
I could tell that by looking at it once we get close enough to see it well. The wood's splintered, bleached by the sun. It's beyond repair, and the jars that it carries have a layer of dust and sand over them. "I don't remember the roads being this rough."
Ramir spits. "You think the king cares about the roads?"
Menir shrugs. "You'd think he'd send out patrols, at least. I don't expect him to send people to worry about some lousy cart. That's the important stuff. Keep the trail worn in and bandits away. The traders don't care about the way stones. You were rosy-eyed last time you were here. Those markers are older than I am."
Last time I was here, it was with Hanun. We were heading to Ehram.
I force it out of my head. He's back there now, helping people escape the husks.
Not becoming one himself. I don't let my mind stray there. There are no empty eyes, no bared teeth, no murderous rages.
No gnawing on bones.
I'm glad when Ramir speaks and pulls my attention away. "Where is this waystation, anyway?"
Menir looks up at the skies. "A few miles, at least. We'll have to stop for the night."
"Where?"
"Look for some shrubs or grass. Anything but sand. If we can find enough stuff to start a fire, that's ideal. It'll be a good place to rest, assuming the wind doesn't pick up."
We keep walking. There's only sand, dunes that glow like gold in the sun and trickle like water passing over a stone.
The silence becomes too much for me. "Who decided to build a city out here?"
"Olipha founded Ehram."
"Really?"
Ramir shrugs. "That's the story, at least."
"You're a priest of hers," Menir interjects. "We know how you all like to claim credit for your gods. The kings built Ehram because they knew it would show how mighty they were."
His tone is good-natured, but Ramir still flinches. "They could only build it because Olipha put an oasis there."
"And where is that oasis?"
"Does it matter? They built the city over it. It's under the palace for all I know. Where do you think they get the water for the fountains?"
"Underground," I say. "That's how we do it out in the desert."
"You're from Odun, isn't it built around an oasis?"
"It's a farming village. People dig wells when they're too far from the water because it's easier than making the trip back and forth."
The sun's setting, and I find myself more tired than I'd expected. The shrines are broken. It's an odd thing to think about at a time like this.
Since the others are quiet, I speak up again. "Do you suppose their shrines broke out in Odun?"
Menir's voice is gentle. "No."
Ramir tilts his head. "Why not?"
"Because they still remember the gods out in the desert."
Ironic words from someone who just teased a priest.
But I get the feeling that Menir only came to the shrine for my sake, so I'd feel better about being alone in the city with only beggars and Hanun to visit me.
I'm glad to be gone, but I'd live in the city for the rest of my life if I could have Hanun back.
"You feeling alright?"
"I'm fine." Pass out once, and people worry about you. But I drank some of the water, and now I'm feeling fine.
Heavy. Tired. But fine. I can't worry about the weight yet. "Just want to know if you're good to keep going."
"I can go on until we find a good spot."
But we all know that if we don't find a good spot before dark we'll just have to stop where we can. Our footsteps kick up dust and sand as we drag ourselves forward.
I wouldn't blame someone for mistaking us for husks.
But the night doesn't get dark. There are no clouds and the moon is full overhead.
"We could keep going through the night," I say.
Menir groans. "I'm an old man."
But we all know it was just an attempt to get away from the quiet repetition of our footfalls. I need something, anything.
My eyes droop.
Ramir breaks the silence. "Think a husk would follow us all this way?"
I don't know if he's thinking of Hanun or not.
Menir shrugs. "They didn't seem to move very fast in the city. Only got dangerous once they saw something."
All I know is that it's a good reason to keep my eyes open, to fight off sleep.
Akkun awaits me. I feel it.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
