Shadewood quam beningna

eshamun wandered, but her mind was not upon her destination. rather, the woman thought of the lives she carried, and what molech meant for them. she allowed herself no deviation from this process of thought; she must not weaken, as she had that day before ar-khalba and asherah. she was the ekar-aji of the malkari -- its ruler, its leader. she could afford no vulnerability now.

but sorrow rose to choke her all the same, no matter how eshamun sought to usher it away with her resolve, and tears would have broken in a deluge upon her cheeks had not she caught sight of twin prinpicks of glowing fire. they were eyes, and the canaanited halted immediately.

"who comes?" she inquired aloud, her voice strangely deafening in the silent, crushing darkness. fear did not come to her; not yet, but she was wary all the same.