Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 29
The next two days’ travel went smoothly and quickly, bringing them to the edge of a grand forest by nighttime. There the three set up camp and Uther built a small fire. They laid out their bedrolls before the darkened forest’s edge, and prepared to sleep one more night before they would enter it. Mabuhi was silent that evening, staring into the forest eagerly. Sleep came upon Sekali first; he was weary, his work was finished; Mabuhi was home. As they camped, all about them many wolves began to howl, their phantomlike songs echoing from far within the confines of the forest. Sekali stirred, yet did not awaken. Uther arose and started toward Sekali as if to wake him, but with a click of her tongue, Mabuhi caught Uther’s attention and shook her head, motioning him back.
“Let him dream, and draw not your weapons,” she whispered quietly.
Sekali remained in a restless sleep, tossing and turning lightly, eyes rolling back and forth beneath closed eyelids. Uther caught a glance of seriousness in Mabuhi’s heir and complied, though he frowned at her severely.
Finyat grabbed a burning stick from the flames and held it up at the edge of camp, peering out at the forest and into the darkness.