Chapter 3: Salt, Parchment, Bone
"A stranger to one, is a friend to another, is an enemy to someone else. Remember this. All of us are strangers, friends, and foes." -From the scriptures of Martyred Radiance
The pilgrims all wake up, with their belongings all accounted for, and the next steps of their journey in front of them. It's the morning of the fifth day, four days behind them, but three to go until they reach their destination. As they gather their belongings Father Urim Dantrus is there to see them out of the temple. "Thank you. I... the couatl and I had a long conversation. She's back in the Heavens now, but... I'll keep on the work you've started." He does seem a changed man thanks to them. It'll be some time until the dark rings under his eyes go away, for him to really clean himself up after years as a wallowing drunk.
It's a start.
So too are the villagers they pass, Mags one of them offering a gap-toothed smile. Perhaps she won't live another season. Perhaps she's still twenty years in front of her. She's healthier now, and clearly happier than the surly person she was when they arrived.
Gilly is nowhere to be seen, no doubt the girl protecting her heart, her hopes and she will be there when they return, if they return. It is instead Greln who's sitting on a rock on their way out. The look on his face is one of jealous admiration. He too has been humbled, and at least Argus knows with but a look that he wasn't behind the one clumsy, would-be thief from Calar's shift. No, he's been properly humbled by those who are stronger, more righteous, who have a better path. He's a man who's been shown how little he really is after growing used to being top rooster. Who knows what this revelation will provide him, but now he knows he has other options. Now he has a chance.
They've the better part of the morning before they reach Salt, a community of fishermen and salt makers, resting alongside the river. On the other side of the water are the badlands, the wastes that are to be the home of their end destination. Salt, then their small outpost where one Merridy Riverwalk is tending to, and then the place where She made her final stand.
As they walked the rocky ground and sparse trees begin to slowly change. More grassy fields, flowers even, a scattering of bigger trees as leave Barrow behind.