Summary

Tess and Pathka look for things to eat, but struggle as it is not yet harvesting season. For the next three days, Tess finds nothing and considers using Seraphina’s ring, but decides against it. They find a farmstead where Pathka leaves to steal some bread, as he believes they have the right to eat because they are hungry. Tess hesitates, as these are very poor farmers, but she steals her own loaf and flees. This makes her feel alive for the first time in years, but Pathka says she needs more practice to avoid getting caught.

The next day, Pathka says they need to choose a cave to go underground so he can contact Anathuthia and learn where they need to go. Tess - who was having nightmares of her mother - follows. She is scared of a cave-in, but Pathka...