The road from Akelei to Oste was not normally so deserted. It was only that today, everyone else who needed to had already gone to the capital days or at least hours ahead. If they lived too far away with no easy means to reduce their travel time, most people would stay in their village, town, or domain and from there, remotely share in their Queendom's grief.
But not alone. Even now, in the town that the only late-coming parties had just passed through, proprietors were preparing to close shops, citizens were getting ready to leave their homes, and activities that were not strictly a matter of life and death were being suspended.
With gray spirits, the Arnicans in Akelei would be gathering in their market square in a few hours' time. There, their elected Head would preside over the citi
