ignored him. She gazed out over the crowd. The lady’s singing continued to float over their heads.

“What’s this all about, anyway?” Nathaniel asked.

“What do you mean?”

“They should be packing their bags. Instead, they’re celebrating. There must be a reason.”

“It’s their culture,” she replied.

“And down there in the circle? What’s all that about?”

She looked down at the arena, then back up at him, and for a moment it looked like she might not answer.

“It’s a re-enactment,” she said at last.

“A re-enactment?” he asked. “Of what?”

Annyka pointed up towards the face of the giant carving that dominated the sanctuary. He looked up at it. The high-pitc...

Please subscribe to keep reading.