Sonya and Akaza looked back.
Virella made it another three steps before stopping with both hands on her knees. Ammor halted beside her in much the same position, his shoulders rising and falling heavily.
Sweat dripped from their chins. It had soaked through the dust on their faces and left dark streaks down their necks.
For several breaths, neither spoke.
Then Virella lifted her head.
"How far… were you planning to go?"
Akaza glanced at the road behind them.
"You arrived."
"That isn't the point!"
She tried to straighten, winced, and settled back onto her knees.
"You both left without a word. Not even a glance to see whether we could follow. How cruel can you be?"
"The road kept disappearing," Ammor added hoarsely. "Every time we reached a ridge, part of it had fallen into something else."
He swallowed and wiped his mouth.
"I thought I was going to reopen every wound before we found you."
Sonya tilted her head and her mouth curved into an evil grin.
