Trying to smile, Dorain accepted the food Lily gave her. They sat quietly for a while as Dorain ate her meal. When she had finished, Dorain sighed and put her head on Lily's shoulder. "Ah, Lily . . . his presence here is an agony to me. He would give me what I desire most, and I would be undone." She sighed again, wearily. "I'm so tired of feeling empty."

Eventually they rose to go to bed. The two young women embraced, and Dorain whispered very quietly, "Thank-you."

When Lily was once again in Anest's arms, she lay awake for a while, wondering that Anest had so changed her life, but that she would sooner die than be parted from him. Perhaps Dorain doesn't know about this, she thought.

The night passed without incident, and they set out early once more. The weather had cleared somewhat and they made good time, passing through the ruins and back out into the open plain. With greater frequency they passed the remains of ancient cities that at one time had dotted the plains. The Old Road ran as straight as a plumb-line towards Angorain, and Anest found himself wondering distantly how they had managed this over such distances with unparalleled exactitude.

Undoubtedly the ancient engineers of Morag had taken their secrets with them to the grave.




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