Gilded Bay Og havet, hun snakket til meg

much like he had done, she gave him a greeting in a different language, then segued into the common tongue. ahe, he presumed her name was, if not just another word he didn't know--regardless, it was what he would call her, until corrected. "ahe," he repeated, looking for the answer in her face. "i am govinda. pleasure to meet you."

his eyes strayed further inland, toward the plateau, as if waiting for izel to pop out of the woodwork. the hawk-eyed woman didn't let much past her, not in the least a stranger on their beach. still, he was happy to see a new face; it broke up the monotony of his recent days.

"are you traveling through?" govinda asked, canting his head slightly to the right.