Chapter 141

SIAN AND LESEACH PAIRED UP to work, as Loi and Citaan already worked together. The small pile of crystals in Leseach's sack each needed to be at the bottom of a four-foot hole. Sian eyed the crystals. 'I can see why this takes so long,' she said to Leseach. 'I'm impressed that you get the larger villages done so fast.'

The Northerner smiled, a brief lift of those full lips, and nodded deliberately at something behind Sian. Twisting to look, she saw a group of men with shovels and picks in hand.

'Once they over-come their initial wariness of me, I usually have lots of helpers.'

Leseach stood from where she'd knelt and addressed the hesitant bunch. 'Greetings, have you come to help?'

Sian watched in amusement while the men just stared at Leseach for a moment, and then one stepped forward.

'Yes, if we can?'

'Indeed. I will mark where I want the holes dug, only to four feet though.'

The men nodded earnestly, and Leseach glanced at Sian. 'You'll be okay till I get back?'

'Of course.