Near high sun, Antello called a halt and they ate a small meal of dried meat and bread. No one spoke during the brief respite and soon they were back on the trail. An hour later, Antello slowed as the narrow trail rejoined the main trail. There were no recent tracks visible, which led Antello to believe that the raiders had not come this far and they proceeded down the main trail.

The afternoon’s travel was uneventful and as the sun approached a hand’s width from the horizon, the city of Gatong appeared through the trees. The area between the students and the city was all cultivated so the trail turned sharply at the edge of the forest and ran directly east towards the road. Antello stopped and Syman drew abreast of him as they scanned the open area together.

“I don’t see anyone who looks like a raider, but I am not fond of proceeding in the open,” Syman summarized. “Perhaps we are better off to spend the evening here and approach the city in darkness.”

“You can’t be serious,” cried Walak. “We spent all day riding in silence for fear of being discovered and right down there is the Imperial Guard. All we have to do is make a run for it. If anyone is watching for us, we will be inside the city before they know what is going on.”

“Let’s compromise,” offered Lyra. “Antello and Walak can ride in now and alert the Imperial Guard. Syman and I will follow as soon as we see you enter the city safely and try to book passage on a boat.”

“Don’t book any boat passage for me,” objected Walak. “I have no desire to go to Alamar. I am reporting the attack and asking for an escort home. You three can go off fighting raiders by yourself. I want no part of it. It was your father’s fault that the Academy was attacked in the first place. You will be lucky if you aren’t jailed for failing to report the attack.”