Chapter 8 Summary

The four courtiers sent along by the Empress arrive at dawn on schedule. Rain begins and Tris forms a barrier around them, keeping them dry without losing her place in the book she is reading. They stop at an inn well past midday for a meal, and once on the road again for an hour or so, Briar asks when they will reach Sandry's land. Ambros tells him they've been riding on her estate since the highway. They finally begin to see isolated houses and orchards, and then herds of mules the family is famous for breeding and selling. That amuses Daja, Tris and Briar. They reach a stone bridge Sandry remembers crossing the river over before, but it was damaged by heavy flooding, and the rate of taxes made it impossible to repair. After a time, they approach a good sized village...