### 64

During the afternoon of the first day out of Rakholi, a heat wave sweeps across the trade road from the north. For three hours the caravan is slowed to a walking pace as everyone, man and beast, is brought near to exhaustion by the heat (lose 3 ENDURANCE points).

By dusk the stifling heat has eased and a night camp is pitched on the open plain. While you are rigging a simple shelter for yourself, with rope and a canvas sheet, you hear something that causes you concern. It is the distraught sound of a woman crying. You detect that it is coming from Princess Mitzu’s carriage and you hurry there to investigate what is wrong.

Turn to 78.