Rok was loyal. "I'll stay."
"Double it," Old Ledo added.
Elees glanced to Roya.
Toka spared them. "Thanks. But Kolano and I shall make out all right."
Toka watched Roya and his friends paddle away into that up-stream cavern. Rok, Old Ledo and Elees glanced back and waved. Roya only faced straight ahead. The canoe turned the bend and was gone.
Shrugging hopelessly, Toka turned away.
Thirteen ornate palanquins awaited. Toka joined Kolano in the double one. The Old Ones sat into the others.
As the procession moved through Kosanna, Toka drilled his gaze into Kolano's silvery eyes. "My vow is not binding unless your promise is fulfilled."
"Toka has no cause for suspicion—as he shall see."
The great square was near now. Toka narrowly eyed Kolano. "Why didn't Kosanna migrate to the Outer World to escape tribute to Ophid?"