Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Healer, Part 5

"I avoid sermons because of smarmy priests like you," Sule replied, and increased his own pace so that he fell somewhere between Mahzan far ahead, and Cemal and Binhadi behind.

Binhadi shook his head. "We have a long way to go."

Cemal nodded. "Let us be honest: it's by the Dragon's mercy we're doing this well, given all the grief and anger pressing down upon us. We'll smooth out as time goes on."

Something like wistfulness, a bit of sadness, passed like a shadow over Binhadi's face. "I doubt that will be the case, but one can always hope, I suppose." He attempted a smile, but gave it up before it had fully formed and only asked, "May I see your memory stone?"