THEY ENTERED THE small side door of the orphanage and walked into the long rock hall. All along the stones were oil lamps casting a dim light on the smooth floor.

“What is this place?” Daris asked. The question was fair because they didn’t go into the front entrance. Render always came in through the rear because this was the shortest route to the room where they kept the children with mersa.

“This is an orphanage and workhouse,” Toren muttered. The monk walked at ...