"Then why were you there?" asked Dorain.
"There is an old dock, and some storage sheds," Rhia explained. "We run supplies there from Hollind, where I live. These, in turn, are taken to the Island of Dragons. As I told you before, if we do not do so, dragons and demons fall upon us." She shuddered. "I cannot imagine how you can possibly resist them."
On a sudden intuition, Lily asked, "Rhia, what do you leave the dragons as offering?"
"Why, a share of our food, and when it is called for, a young virgin . . ."
There was a stricken silence. Lily was frankly shocked, as was Julina. Dorain was outraged beyond words.
"Barbarians!"
"Dorain!" admonished Julina, "I do not believe they have any choice in the matter."
"We do not," said Rhia. "In truth, there are more people in this one city that there are in all Hollind. We number but some four thousands. Nor can we escape. Hollind is surrounded on all sides by high mountains, except for the sea. We had not thought there were any other people in the wide world besides ourselves, so the thought of escape never occurred to us."
"Where is this Hollind, exactly," said Julina.
"It is directly south of the Burning Lands by about two-hundred fifty leagues."