Free Birthright by Jean Johnson Page A

read.”
    “Yet it is undeniably a part of the history-scrolls that the First Emperor did travel ‘from the Mother Temple to the place where he made his capital,’” Arasa stated. “And that the walls of the Imperial Hall did rise up around him in proof of the Covenant between him and Djin-Tajeul. Both tales are accurate in that much detail, so why shouldn’t this one be?”
    “Walking,” Hallakan sneered. “Barefoot and weaponless, putting your trust in a child’s tale of a promise given to an ancestor, but not given to you! Our way is much surer—”
    “We will not use that option,” Kalasa stated sharply, cutting him off. “I have made up my mind on that matter. It will not be discussed.”
    “What option?” Elrik asked.
    “It doesn’t matter. This is the better solution. I will put my faith in the Blood of my Family,” Kalasa returned tersely.
    “You would put your faith in a fool’s quest,” Hallakan muttered, his tone slowly sharpening with disdain. “It has been more than six hundred years since the Covenant was first proclaimed, and the Flame Sea first conquered at its heart—and it was conquered. The Empire has been expanded and made strong because of the might of its warriors and the careful planning of its people. Not by putting blind faith in the Gods—do not the teachings of Djindji-Taje say that the Gods will help those that help themselves?”
    “There are things about the Royal Blood that you do not understand,” Kalasa retorted. “Hold your tongue on the matter, or depart, so you will not be tempted to use it!”
    Trouble in their oasis? Arasa wondered, glancing silently at Elrik. He raised his brows briefly, but didn’t say anything, either. Hallakan glowered for a moment, then drew in a deep breath and let it out, composing himself.
    “I apologize. I am concerned for your safety. If you are barefoot and weaponless, anything could happen, whether it’s an attack from a sand-demon or stepping on a sharp stone. And what if one of you is stung?” Hallakan asked Kalasa pointedly.
    “That’s why I’m going with Arasa, shod and with weapons of my own,” Elrik stated. “I will not interfere, unless and until she is stung. If she is, I will catch her and carry her, until we are safe on hard rock, or until she revives. And if it is her sister who is stung, I will also—”
    “— I will carry her,” Hallakan interrupted. “She is my betrothed. My place is at her side. I presume that we’ll be taking the shortcut through the canyons, the one not used by the caravans? That would cut three selijm off the way.”
    “Of course,” Arasa agreed. “The important thing is to make the pilgrimage from the Womb to the Heart, to renew the Covenant by walking the Land; the exact path and its duration are not as important. Besides, even barefoot, it won’t take us more than eight or nine hours to make a normally seven-hour journey, but taking the caravan road would make it more than a reasonable day’s march. And I want this settled.”
    “Then it will be settled,” Kalasa agreed, looking at the other two. “Tomorrow, we’ll gather our provisions for the trip, purify ourselves with prayer and a daylight fast, then eat well as soon as night falls, sleep deeply, and begin our trek from the Mother Temple to the Imperial Hall at first light, two days from now.”
    From the subtle rolling of Hallakan’s eyes at the part about prayer and fasting, Arasa got the feeling he was definitely not a religious man. She rolled up the scroll and returned it to its place in the latticework holding the ancient texts. “I think we should send word to Father about what our solution is, so that he can be ready to welcome us upon our arrival. And we should mark down this solution in the more commonly referenced texts, in case this problem ever comes up again.”
    “ After we know it works,” Kalasa cautioned her, glancing briefly at her betrothed. “I sincerely hope it