Chapter Seven- You Can't Turn Back Now

 A/N- Thanks to everyone for commenting on/adding the story. Does anyone remember how the war is in WotE? I think at that point it's still going on, correct me if I'm wrong.
Dyslexic Nerd- I think the farmer will be fine. Do you think he should come back in?

Briar, Evvy, and Rosethorn joined the end of the line of travelers waiting to get through the gate. Briar stood on tiptoe and examined the people at the gate.

"There's a pair of hedaxi, questioning people or something. And a whole troupe of soldiers." Briar watched intently. "The hedaxi are sending a soldier down the road every once in a while. They aren't- oh, wait, one of them is coming back!" He watched a soldier trot his horse to the gate from the Gygonxe side and say something to the hedaxi. "I guess they're patrolling the road."

Rosethorn frowned worriedly. "The emperor set them out to find us, I bet. He wants us more than I thought."

"What does he want us for?" Evvy asked impatiently. "I know he wanted an audience with you, but so did everyone else we ever met."

Rosethorn pulled a crinkled paper out of her pocket and passed it to Evvy. The girl smoothed it and wrinkled her nose at the words. "He wanted us to assi. . .as. . . he wanted us to help him do magic, right? He sounds just like Jooba Hooba. Big words and stuff no one can read." She snorted and shoved the paper back at Rosethorn.

"I suspect he wanted to use us against Living Circle, whether as hostages or magical protection, I don't know."

Briar gasped, a look of mock horror spreading across his face. "You don't know?"

"Boy, the next well we pass has your name inscribed on it." Rosethorn smiled crookedly, then turned serious. "What's our whole story about getting into Gygonxe anyways? We can't just be going on a joy-trip."

"We did tell that farmer you were sick. . ."

Rosethorn nodded curtly, then swung her pack to the ground and rummaged through it. She came up with a bag of hot, green peppers that Evvy had stolen from a tree the day before.

"This isn't really an appropriate time for a meal."

The dedicate snorted, grabbed a single pepper and replaced the rest. She snapped the pepper in half and dribbled the juice across her fingers. She raised her hand to her face, but Briar grabbed her wrist.

"What are you doing?" he hissed softly.

"We ought to at least seem convincing. I figure the pepper will make my eyes tear up, and that would enforce our story. We need all the help we can get," she said firmly.

Briar sighed heavily and released her hand.

Rosethorn traced her eyes with her wet finger and exhaled sharply. "That stings." Before Briar could say anything else, she smeared the remainder of the juice across her nose. And sneezed explosively.

Evvy peered at Rosethorn curiously. The dedicate's eyes were already dripping with tears and her face was splotchy. Evvy giggled. "You look awful!"

Rosethorn blinked hard and glared at Evvy. "Thank you ever so much. Now," she glanced at Briar. "Let's get through that gate."

They swung their packs back over their shoulders and began walking the last hundred yards to Gygonxe.