They were up and riding at dawn. Temon and Rejah were, again, soon in the lead.

  Rejah spotted something in the distance. "Over there! It's someone on foot. Their clothes are colonial!"

  "Another colonist out here?"

  "It looks like it!"

  The distant figure crested a ridge and disappeared from view.

  "What do you think, Temon? A short detour to see who's there, or we stick to Eyeman's trail?"

  "The bounty comes first. You know that."

  "A single colonist," Rejah countered, "could know more than all the Colonial officials. We're riding blind out here."

  Rejah argued her case for finding out who this person was. Temon didn't want to lose any more time, but she made a point about the value of assisting colonists and, reluctantly, he conceded.

  They rode after the stranger. The ground steepened as they approached the top of the ridge. On the other side the figure was descending the slope and they approached from behind.

  The figure turned towards them and to his surprise, revealed itself as a female cleric. Her attire marked her as a seasoned traveler, complete with a staff and practical traveling clothes.

  "Well met, travelers," she said in a soft voice. "I'm Alina de Sante, of the Church of the Eternal Sun."

  Alina inquired about their purpose in these parts. Temon explained their pursuit of Eyeman and showed her the bounty notice.

  "Have you seen him?" he asked.

  "No. Nobody with that description. You are all well beyond the Eastern Territory."

  "I know this is Ashok land! I'll track Eyeman to the end of the world if I must. A bounty's a bounty, after all."

  The cleric noticed Urdo as he caught up with them. "He seems to have been through quite the ordeal."

  Temon explained Urdo's situation and his memory loss.

  "I'm sorry for what he's endured," she said. She spoke to Urdo. "How are you feeling?"

  "Tired, but I'm doing my best not to slow down Temon and Rejah."

  Rejah nodded at Urdo. "Rescuing people is not usually part of our work, but we've been keeping him safe.Where are you headed?"

  "I'm going to a church outpost. It's a place for prayer and meditation and a somewhere local tribes people can come."

  "Things are more dangerous now."

  The cleric shook her head. "The Ashok land has been peaceful. You bring troubling news."

  "Well, we fought those tribesmen, so some of the locals have hostile intentions!"

  Temon saw the concern in her eyes. What they had experienced was shocking to her. "Eyeman is a threat to every colonist. I can't let him continue his murderous rampage. Too many have suffered!"

  Alina shook her head."It can't be easy, this life you've chosen."

  "Someone's got to bring justice to him."

  She nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. Though I wonder, what drives you? Is it truly justice, or something more?"

  "Well, the bounty will keep me fed, but bringing outlaws to justice, that's what lets me sleep at night."

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  Alina nodded again. "We both seek to make the world a better place."

  Temon laughed. "Our methods will be very different though!"

  The cleric stood silent for a moment. "I wonder why Eyeman killed the colonists?"

  Rejah spoke up. "That's what we're hoping to find out. Urdo here may hold the key. If we can help him recover his memories, we might be able to understand Eyeman's motive."

  "Well, you three can have a rest at the outpost. It's not far. I can help your injured companion."

  Temon considered the cleric's offer, weighing the options. The promise of aid for Urdo was good, but every moment he delayed gave Eyeman more of a lead.

  "I appreciate the offer, Alina, but we can't afford to lose any more time. Eyeman's trail grows cold as we speak."

  Rejah spoke up. "Temon. We've been pushing hard and Urdo needs rest."

  "How far is this outpost of yours?"

  "Half a day's walk." She pointed towards a low pink mesa in the east. "It's just over there."

  "Alright, we'll go. Rejah, can you take Alina on the back of your horse?"

  "Yes. Ride with me, Alina."

  Rejah helped the cleric up onto her horse where the pair sat one in front of the other.

  Temon had the idea of trying to leave Urdo at the Outpost if Alina would be willing to look after him, but for the moment kept it quiet himself.

  Alina concluded, "I believe this will benefit all of us."

  They rode up the side of the pink mesa and at the summit was a square white stone building with a flat roof and chimney. It was surrounded by cacti, a kind of spiky garden.

  "Welcome to the Undying Sun Outpost! There's water for your horses ."

  They dismounted beside a well. Temon drew water from it using a bucket on a very long rope. After filling a trough, the horses drank their fill.

  It was a relief to see their muzzles buried deep in the trough. He ran a hand down Paleboy's neck and felt the tension slowly ease beneath his touch.

  They were able to shelter the horses from the sun under an awning at the back of the outpost.

  "Are you here on your own?"

  "Yes."

  The work of a missionary out here was obviously very hard and a surely amounted to a test of faith.

  She led them into the white building, which contained a shrine and lodgings. There was a stone floor and plain furnishings of dark wood that had been polished. Shelves were lined with religious scrolls and tomes and the air was thick with the scent of incense that drifted from the corner where a shrine stood.

  "Please come in and rest. I'll make some food for us."

  The cleric indicated that they should sit at a table in the living area and soon brought bowls of hot beans. She sat down facing Temon and they began to eat.

  "I've good relations with the native people and they tolerate this building on their land.

  "There are many places to hide in these lands," she said. "Do you have an idea where this Eyeman might be?"

  "He's going south."

  "South of here there is a valley of rock towers—which is an Ashok holy site."

  "Do you know this area well?"

  "Yes, I've traveled widely through these parts. I've had no trouble from the Ashok. The events you have experienced are worrying to me."

  She described what they could expect to come across as they headed south—a dry valley lined by tall towers of rocks that were worshiped by Ashok. At the end of the valley was a tall rock tower pointing at the sky like a finger. There was a platform at the top where you could get a view of the surroundings. Many of the towers had passages and caves beneath them where native people had lived in the past.

  "We passed a ruin along our way here," Temon said. "There were tall buildings, as high as any colonial one, crafted by expert stonemasons. I wonder what happened to the people who built that place?"

  Alina said, "The ancestors of the Ashok may have built them."

  "Do you think so? Ashok build simple structures and travel in tented communities."

  Alina nodded. "The people here are different now."

  "It's strange that their ancestors could have an advanced civilization," Rejah said. "There could be treasure in those ruins. What about the money we could make exploring them? We might uncover some valuable artifacts."

  Alina shook her head. "That's grave robbing, Rejah. It's disrespectful to the Ashok. You must respect their heritage and sacred sites."

  "But they are empty and deserted."

  "Any interference with their culture could cause problems. As colonists, we should avoid such actions. It could provoke a response from the Ashok. We must tread respectfully in these lands."

  Temon recognized the wisdom in her words. "Alina de Sante can instruct us on how we should behave when are here!"

  Urdo came in. "Yes, it's funny to think of colonists coming here and helping themselves to Ashok treasures!"

  Temon laughed and curious. "Can you speak Ashokan?"

  Alina nodded. "Yes, I can talk Ashokan. It's important to build bridges,."

  "That's impressive. Learning their language—it says a lot about your dedication."

  Alina nodded and smiled. "I meet with local people and draw portraits for them in exchange for food and stories they tell.Cultural exchanges like these are important."

  "Have any of the Ashok converted to your faith?"

  Alina shook her head. "No, but there are some who are interested in our culture and language. It's a step in the right direction. It'll take time, but I hope they can come to understand our ways."

  "What we're doing could stir up a reaction from the people here," Temon said.

  "These people are normally peaceful and generous, but I expect they'll respond differently if you act of violently towards them."

  "If we encounter resistance, there's a chance someone will get hurt."

  Rejah nodded. "Outlaws often resist!"

  Alina urged caution and suggested they handle any encounter with Eyeman as diplomatically as possible.

  "I'll deal with him diplomatically - if the circumstances present themselves."