CHAPTER 12It was the middle of the night when Palia slipped out from under her blanket and crept across the room full of children. In the darkness she stumbled and groaned to herself for she had awoken Ekko.
"Do you have to kick me in the ribs on your way out to have a pee?" he muttered.
"Oh don't be nasty," Palia whispered. "And hush up; somebody is visiting Hualpa. I'm interested in seeing who it is."
"Just another travelling priest. Let it be," Ekko replied but instead of rolling over as Palia hoped, he sat up and stared at the door outlined by the burning torch in the corridor.
"This late at night?" Palia retorted. "The few priests that know about Ehuraythak always come in the middle of the day and leave the next morning."
Ekko listened to the voices in the distance. "Sounds as if
