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Tyrrae kept walking until she found a natural resting place. She sat down, grateful to take her feet out of the water and wring out her hem. She took off her shoes and stockings and tucked her feet under, while spreading out the damp edge of the robe so it would have a chance to dry.

Her stomach rumbled again, and this time she opened the back to see what Lily had given her. She pulled out the silk blanket and wrapped herself in its warmth. She ate a handful of dried meat and taki fungus, and took a long draught from the water skin. She strapped the dagger to her belt. She wondered what the dark glasses were for. She couldn’t see anything when she put them on, so she put them back in the pack with the rest of her supplies. There was spare clothing, but she didn’t quite need it yet.

She cast wards about herself, making sure that a symbol that looked like the bite mark on her arm glowed above her head. Using the pack for a pillow, she curled up and fell asleep.


When she woke up, she found herself in a white cocoon. Someone had managed to give her a second blanket without disturbing her wards. She was grateful for that, as the chill of the outside air could cause hypothermia with prolonged exposure. However, it meant that whomever had done so was immune to her wards, and she shuddered at the thought. More sources of Power than she understood indeed. Mother had been right.

She looked around her and examined the new silk walls that surrounded her. These were just outside the wards’ boundary, and had an interwoven repetitive theme similar to the bite mark pattern. This she could understand. The sentinel spiders must have repeated her mark by leaving their own, and thus allowing her to sleep in safety from them. The cocoon also allowed her own breath to warm the air, and the temperature was considerably warmer.

She dressed quickly and ate. After stowing the two blankets, she carefully cut down the silk guard wall and wrapped it around her like a cloak. Silk was never to be taken for granted – it was one of the greatest gifts of the Spider God. She caught her bearings, and headed off again.  ¶ 6:21 AM