“By virtue of your worldly birth,” the Ox went on, “you are afforded the following rights: the right of guarded passage, the right of neutral escort, the right of salt and sea, and the right of insight. All rights shall be enforced forthwith until judicial processing and termination of exchange. Do you understand and accept these tenets?”

Anji furrowed her brow. “I-I think so?”

“Basically, we have to feed you and see you don’t die until your trial,” said the Ox. “You’re also allowed to ask any questions you like, though we can choose whether or not to answer.”

“Don’t much like answering them, myself,” said the Goat.

“I, on the other hand,” said the Ox, “see it as the least we can do. We are children all under the One’s accordance, after all.”

The Goat scratched at his neck, but remained silent. The tension held like a bowstring in Anji’s shoulders released a little. He was obviously lower ranking than the Ox.

“If you’ve no questions at present,” said the Ox, “we’ve got a camp below, about half a day’s walk. We’ll get some food in you and signal Bear.”

The Ox reached out her hand and grasped Anji’s wounded shoulder. At first Anji thought she was being helped to her feet, but the force of the Ox’s grip only increased. Anji flinched away, but the fingers around her arm held firm. The Ox’s other hand snaked around Anji’s head and yanked her forward, her brow slamming against the wooden mask.

“With ruination comes the dawn,” said the Ox in a voice dripping with glee, her mouth’s rancid stench seeping under her mask and into Anji’s nose. Blind fear and confusion raced through Anji’s mind. The words made no sense. Was she supposed to say something? She would say anything if the woman would only—

The Ox released her and stepped back. Her posture, which had appeared so cordial moments before, now seemed crazed and precipitous to Anji. Without a word to the Goat, the Ox turned on her heel and began marching down the trail.

Trembling, Anji crept her hand another inch, palming the jagged piece of loose rock into her sleeve. She raised her hands again as the Goat nudged her off the boulder and onto her feet, and felt the needle of rock slide down her arm to the notch of her elbow, past her shoulder, then against her side to where her belt met her tucked shirt.

Chapter 18

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