Alana spent the night behind the wall, back inside the Empire. The soldiers did not bother her much, but she slept with her sword under her pillow. She awoke with the first rays of the sun coming from beyond the wall and timidly opened her eyes. She moved to the opposite side, resting her body with her eyes closed, but her mind remained active. She wanted to sleep more and regain the energy spent riding and worrying. She covered her face with her hair and arms, as if it helped.

"Hey, madam!" she heard a voice behind her call. She sighed in frustration. She would not be able to sleep again. She turned around and saw a soldier in segmented armor, but with no helmet, approaching with a small clay vase in hand.

She turned her head curiously. The man knelt on one knee in front of her.

"A bit of pottage from the army kitchen," he said with a dry smile.

"Oh, thank you," Alana muttered, receiving it with one hand. In the other hand, he offered her a small wooden spoon. She tried the broth; she was thankful for the food, but she did not really enjoy peas. At least, it was warm and had enough salt to mask the beany flavor.

"We are heating water for you, if you'd like to bathe," he said.

"Thank you, but it will not be necessary. Are all of your comrades so kind, or is it just you?"

"Well, they don't really care, but it seems like you've been traveling for a long time. What were you doing outside the walls? If I may ask."

"It's a long story. Are you new here, by the way?"

"Fresh out of training," he said shyly. "Well, a few months. I guess I'm lucky to be here; the barbarians don't come near. Anyway, I asked you first."

"I'm from Tharcia, and I'm looking for a legion up north. It's supposed to be guarding the wall. Well, they were a few months ago, as far as I know. They're from our province."

The soldier raised an eyebrow.

"Are they Gadalian by any chance?"

Alana nodded.

The soldier looked back.

"Please don't say that to anyone else," he muttered. "Now . . . You said your husband is a citizen, right?"

Alana swallowed again. Could it be that she was wanted so far north in the Empire? Could it be that there was still a big reward over their heads? Realizing she was still in enemy territory made her lose her appetite.

"What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, pretending there was nothing wrong.

"You look as if you've seen a ghost," he said. "I'm not going to report you, but please don't talk about that."

"Oh, thank you, for a moment I thought I was dead," she said. "Yes, but . . . I'm surprised. Why? Why would they do that?"

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"They told us . . . Not to let anyone through to the north."

"Why would that be?"

"Because . . . I don't know, but . . ." He lowered his voice. "They gave us an order—to execute anyone who tries to contact them, any messenger, anything."

"Oh," Alana swallowed. "Sorry."

"Because . . . Please just don't say that. You look like a good girl," he said."Yes, but... that is strange. Why would that be?"

"And I'd say you better go back. There's something up north, something bad. I think that's why they don't want anyone to go. It's really bad. Maybe that's why."

"Why, is there like a war that's raging or something like a big mess-up somebody made?"

He cleared his throat.

"I said enough."

Alana blinked. Aside from the fact that the legionaries in question were Gadalian, and they had to be kept away from the knowledge of what happened in their village, the boy knew something else. She was almost sure what it was; she heard it from Avlix.

"Couldn't it be, by any chance, giants?"

The soldier gasped.

"What did you say?"

"I mean, we had... Uh, better not talk about that."

"What is it? You mentioned giants."

"Yes, we saw them move northward. I've been following their tracks, wanted to warn our people," she said.

"Warn them?" He looked down, as if it was already too late.

"Why are you making that face?"

"Please, don't tell them I told you, but... If you still plan to go up north, you'll find out."

Alana nodded. "Thank you for your help..."

"Marius," the soldier said with a wide smile.

"Marius? Like General Marius?"

"Yes, exactly like him," he said. "Is he a relative of yours? I heard he lived in Adachia and married a—"

Alana cleared her throat. "No, not really, he's just, you know, very famous and he lives down there so..." She giggled.

"Yes, we had him posted close to here a few months ago."

"A few months ago? Is he not here anymore?"

"Here? No! They sent him East."

"East?"

"Far east, southeast, rather, close to the Land of the Three Rivers."

"Parzia..." Alana said.

"A little more to the south."

"Well," Alana said with a smile. "Thank you, Marius, but I've got to get going."

She gave the half-empty vase back to Marius and winked an eye at him. He shook his head.

"What do you mean you have to go? Are you going to take a bath or not?"

"No, thank you, Marius. I will just go back," she said. "If you're so kind to show me where they put my horse to rest."

"Ah, that's... At the barn, it's right in front of you."

"Thank you, Marius. You're a kind man, and I wish your service is fruitful."

As she walked into the barn, she heard comments from other soldiers behind her back, talking to Marius.

"You always scare the girls away, Marius. What do you tell them?"

Alana rode north, along the border wall and the river that crossed nearby. She saw huge Suevian towns and passed through them, the inhabitants gazing bewildered at the lone girl who rode in full armor. The men were tall and proud, unlike the bandits she encountered the day before. Their hair was colored like bronze and gold, they wore togas, wool capes, and colorful belts, thick and embroidered with spiral patterns. Around the towns, there were wide fields where they grew crops and large herds of cattle.The noblemen wore buns on the sides of their heads, and their beards were braided. The women also wore braids, with their hair arranged neatly and tightly, and silver brooches hanging from their necks. They wore dresses made of linen and wool. Both the men and women were sturdier than the Gadalians, although they had a similar appearance. Alana thought this might be due to their diet of meat and bread.

The town was surrounded by a small grove, which was visited by men and women wearing pointed hats and white clothes. Alana realized it must be a shrine of some sort, as it was surrounded by arches and pillars. Alana dismounted and approached a man standing next to the pillars.

"Excuse me, sir, do you speak the Imperial tongue?" she asked.

"I do," the tall man responded with a thick accent. "I am from Tharcia. Have you heard of a Gadalian legion?"

"I do not speak to soldiers."

"Then I suppose you have heard of the giants?"

The man's face turned pale.

"Giants?"

"Yes, I am looking for the legion that dealt with them."

The man shook his head.

"By the Thunderer... Be careful, young woman, we do not want to rekindle their ire."

"Please, tell me where they were."

"Just ride north. You cannot miss it."