There they stopped, a few tenpaces away from the blazing wall. Connecting the new ruins of the State’s southern bordertowns, it stood higher than the clouds and stretched farther than the east and west horizon, making it all but impassable for all who had no access to its Papers.

But still, there they stood in silence, waiting to gain passage. After a while of nothing happening, Herik felt someone push him to the front, towards the one who spoke earlier.
He looked at the man’s small eyes, and saw impatience mixed in with the curiosity and fear.
“What now?” he asked.
“Go,” the aborigine urged, pointing at a section of solid fire. Murmurs of assent followed. From their eyes Herik could see they were eager to cross the border and reach the Midlands. They were waiting for him to take them.

What did he say for them to think that? The apprentice-Scribe closed his eyes, fingered lightly the amulet, and took a deep breath.