“I met him on the road here. He told me this inlet runs all the way north to Far Boundary Pall. That it flows out of Far Boundary Pall.”

“That’s what he told Lord Genia, may she live long. She had this watchtower built so we can keep our eyes on it, day and night.”

“Not to watch for bandits or enemies? People sneaking around at night to burn hallow-wood?”

“That, too. We’ll beat the shit out of them when we catch them, may they be cursed to the hell of knives.” He rubbed his hands together to warm them, then went to crouch next to his comrade and take a smoke.

Elen stood at the railing, watching the thread of Pall. It lay like a ribbon against the earth, oddly beautiful. But the most disturbing part was that, seen from a distance and just as Torges had said, it reminded her of the color and gleam of her viper.

61 A PINCH OF JEALOUSY

At dawn, the entire household of several hundred people assembled to pay their respects. As they approached the waiting carriages, the haunt managed to walk briefly beside Elen and, in a low voice, said, “Find out how far we have to go, how many stops along the way. And so on.”

She gave no acknowledgment but made sure to climb up beside Xilsi on the driver’s bench, leaving Kem and Ipis in back, again. Which was fine, because the two young ones were digging excitedly into a pouch a menial had given them that contained non-astringent soap, linen menstrual cloths and papyrus plugs, a small hallow-wood bowl for washing out, and dried ginger root to make a tisane for cramps.

“With you and the deputy courier along I thought we would run out of supplies,” said Ipis to Kem. “What a lovely gesture on the part of the Manor. I think that fancy Worvua has a crush on Xilsi.”

Xilsi’s jaw tightened but, before she could snap back, Elen said, “Too much pie,” which made the warden grin.

The morning was cold, and clouds crowded the northern horizon with the threat of rain or sleet, but it was cheering to be on the move.

Elen asked, “How close are we? A day? Two days? Ten days? Will there be stages all along the route? It seems strange there would be.”

“Why?” asked Xilsi.

“Because Far Boundary Vigil is the end of the road. Surely people don’t go there very often.”

“They don’t. A terminus Vigil doesn’t even have a full complement of wardens. There’s no port of entry, so all they do is keep an eye on the Pall. The staff there is six wardens, twelve menials, and one Vigil captain.”

“Isn’t the Vigil captain a cohort friend of yours?” Ipis asked.

“Yes.”