stream of smoke into the rafters, and being a superstitious lot, they watched until it dissipated, wraithlike, in the firelight.
At last, Akaru looked to Gart who shook his head tiredly and rubbed his eyes. Akaru shrugged, and began speaking.
"We descended the ramp from the wall sealing off the Valley of Baruk, to the valley floor, forty-eight days ago, during a moonless night. There was a heavy rain and mist that night, and it was decided that these combined conditions afforded us the best chance for concealing our activities. The raising and lowering of the ramp is ever a hazard for drawing watchful eyes, and we were and remained uneasy from the outset, wondering if our movements had been espied by the enemy.
"The valley floor soon became a grassy marsh in its centre, drowned with rainwater, which was disquieting as it prevented us from ascertaining whether the enemy had frequented the area of late. Our scouts reported some sign of disturbance in the scree at the bottom of the slopes to either side of the valley, but the cause, foe or wildlife, remained unknown to us."
He paused for a moment, remembering. "At the time our impression was that the long and heavy rains seemed to bode well for us. The passage of the valley was soon enough behind us, without incident, and when we finally reached the Burning Lands, saw that they were cooled somewhat, their fowl smokes subdued.