Chapter 53
December, 3,390 BC
Earth: Village of Assur
PAREESA
Pareesa clutched the ceramic urn to her chest as she walked, as slowly as she could, flanked on either side by Siamek and Chief Kiyan. It was not an especially heavy urn … a year of war had reduced their numbers such that there were far fewer adults to cast a vote, but it might have well have been a boulder. The sky roiled with piss-yellow clouds, a sure sign there was a sandstorm brewing. She glanced to either side, wishing fervently some enemy would run at her that she could smite, but not even a sword could defeat the enemy she had to welcome now.
She hesitated at Immanu's door.
"Go inside, child," Immanu said. His eyes were serious and, for once, not tinged with that copper edge he'd possessed for the past few weeks. I
