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Elbryan and Pony helped Captain Kilronney secure his prisoners in a barn in Caer Tinella Though it didn&039;t seem as if any of the powries would try to escape, the captain set a score of guards in the place and separated the dangerous dwarves into groups of three
Satisfied that there would be no trouble, the ranger took Greystone and Symphony ahile his exhausted co Elbryan expected to find Pony asleep when he returned half an hour later, but she was standing at a , staring into the forest, still wearing her drenched clothing
"You&039;ll rot the wood under your feet," Elbryan said with a sh to show him her own smile, then turned back to the forest
"We should speak about last night," Elbryan ree or help
"Bradwarden and I eli more," Pony replied
"A probleer said, "with less risk"
Now Pony turned to face him, her expression severe "To whoht if all the Palle man or woman was scratched, and the threat is ended"
Elbryan held up his hands defensively halfway through her retort "I only fear - " he started to respond
"That I ht have been injured?" Pony interrupted "Or killed? Do not presume to protect me"
"Never that," Elbryan said, "no more than you presume to protect me But I fear the wisdo Pony to strike back, but she stared at him, even cocked her head to the side, her look pensive
"Obviously it was no rando strike that took down the front of the cave," Elbryan said
"You think that only because you know of y was considerable," Elbryan went on "I fear that therefor us and for Bradwarden They ht have detected the stone use"
Pony&039;s adht be sound came in the forer asked "What strange tales of your powersare dead," Pony replied grimly
"But I understand," Elbryan was quick to add "It has been difficult for you, and for Bradwarden Both of you are full of justifiable anger, and yet you two, above all others, have been relegated to a passive role"
At thathis child She wanted to explain that this one outburst against the powries was the only revenge she would allow herself during her pregnancy, that she er for the sake of the unborn babe She hesitated, staring long and hard as Elbryan went on, talking about the trip to the Tio north, and Bradwarden would have more opportunities to join in the battles when the soldiers had departed
Pony hardly heard a word of it Her concentration was on Elbryan, this er to her pursed lips, and then, when she got close enough, put it up to his lips, silencing him
Sheon tiptoe to kiss hi their frantic encounter in the woods, she realized She held the kiss for a long while, keeping it soft and tender, then stepped back, her hand still gently brushing his cheek
The quiet moment was stolen as a drop of water rolled from Elbryan&039;s hair to land with a plop in the puddle at his feet Both looked down and giggled, as much from nervousness as from amusement Then they looked into each other&039;s eyes, re why they had fallen in love Pony kissed hiain, once, twice, each one tender but more passionate
Then she stepped back and unclasped her cloak, letting it drop to the floor Without a word, she unlaced her tunic and pulled it over her head, and stood, bare to the waist again staring at her lover
He wasn&039;t sure, she realized She had shaken hiry, approach in the forest, and now her deain, s hi softly over her wet body
They made love, but it was not like the frantic encounter in the forest It arentle, full of tender words and tender caresses
Afterward, they lay cuddled in each other&039;s arms Pony had made no fur-ther mention of her intentions, but they both knew that, with thesouth, the other north
Again Pony considered telling Elbryan the truth of her condition, and again she realized, for his peace of mind, that this was not the time His road lay north, to Dundalis, which would one day be their home If he was to ion, his concentration would have to be coht alone together in the s each other&039;s presence
The ether, sharing one last sword dance All too soon after that, Pony had Greystone saddled and packed with supplies
"We willequinox," Elbryan said to her
"Just over three h tier than that," the ranger explained "He is eager for the Timberlands, and, if the weather stays mild, he&039;ll likely want to set out before then"
"Then go," Pony replied, thinking that her lover had"Leave as early as the weather allows, and return as early as you can I will be here waiting for you"
The ranger sighed
"Mid-spring&039;s day, then," Pony said "That should give you near to eight weeks to go and secure the Tier, flashing his boyish sht
"Caer Tinella on reed "And I will corief put to rest, ready to look to the road ahead"
"A quiet road," Elbryan said
Pony chuckled She knew, and so did Elbryan, that no road would be quiet for an elven-trained ranger They would live on the edge of the Wilderlands, protecting three towns froiants and wild animals They would ith Bradwarden to protect the animals and the forest from careless and callous humans
No, the road ahead would not be quiet, she knew If nothing else, it would be filled with the sounds of a baby&039;s cry and the laughter and joy of proud parents Again she al, tender kiss, whispered another pro&039;s day, then cli back and kicked the horse into a quick trot down the road to the south
She didn&039;t look back
"She is gone," Elbryan said quietly when the ie of his uncle Mather appeared in the h the ainst the cool wall of the s chuckle He did indeed ht that she would not be with hi there, in the dark and quiet, Elbryan could hardly believe how much he had come to depend on her Besides the obvious benefit of Pony&039;s skill in battle, she was Elbryan&039;s emotional support, his best friend, the only one of his closest coh the eyes of a human and the only one hos
Elbryan gave a great sigh, then another chuckle, thinking how empty the road north to his ho beside hio, Uncle Mather," he went on "And though I still do not agree with her choice, I admit that it was hers to make And I ao Pony has found a better and more secure attitude - I saw that clearly when Shamus Kil-ronney decided to capture, and not kill, the trapped powries A week ago, Pony would never have agreed to that, or more likely, would have killed all the powries before we arrived Perhaps she has put enough of her grief behind her now Or if not, then perhaps this trip back to Palmaris, to see Fellowship Way - which I aht back to its previous reputation - will grant her peace ofto see her again," he admitted "But this may be for the better Pony should be removed from battle for now, should be in a quiet place where she can properly rerieve for them I do not believe that the road north will be such a place We&039;ll find iants, before Dundalis and the other tns are rebuilt, I do not doubt"
Elbryan closed his eyes and ran a hand through his thick mop of brown hair "The soldiers have left, as well," he told the silent ghost, "soon after Pony, though they did not know that she had gone out before theood lad that he and the other soldiers are notthe trip north The folk kept the secret of Bradwarden and Juraviel, and those who knew said nothing of Pony&039;s profi-ciency with the geerwart kept a close eye on his fellows and understood the urgency of the situation Pony and I can re eyes, I ae would mark him clearly to any who knew the recent histories of St Precious or St-Mere-Abelle Better that Shamus turned south; Bradwarden, Juraviel, and I will clear the way to the north"
The ranger nodded as he finished, believing the logic of his words He was glad Pony had gone to Palmaris, if that hat she needed, and he did believe that Dundalis would be easily reclaiain of his last inti, and con-trasted that with their alry encounter in the forest This last encounter was sincere, he knew; the truth of his love for Pony, and hers for him, and the sier so coave him hope
And so it ith complete trust in his wife that Elbryan ca, the clouds finally giving way He found an extra blessing awaiting hiht a sreen eyes, and a strange feeling that the rainboas for him and Pony, that they would be joined, despite the ht settled and Elbryan put it, and all of his other feelings for Pony, into a warm place in his heart He could not afford any distractions now This was the life the elves had given to hihtbird
The task of reclai shoulders, and woe to any powrie, goblin, or giant that stood before hi astride Greystone in a copse of trees off the side of the road just south of Landsdown, Pony, too, saw the rainbow She hardly stopped to appreciate the beauty, though, nor did she hold any ro her to Elbryan
Her focus was prag cloud of dust co from the north, the telltale approach of Captain Kilronney and his soldiers
Pony eased Greystone a bit farther back into the wooded cover when the group ca his roup He went past Pony&039;s position, head turning as he scanned for potential enemies, but she ell concealed
Sha-willed cousin led the uing, Pony noted She realized that she would ered on him as he moved past her She respected this ht that if they had ht be great friends Her feelings toward Colleen were uous; she certainly wasn&039;t ena attitude But Pony would not allow herself to be too judgmental Above all else, Colleen Kilronney possessed an aura of cohthe war, Pony realized, and if she wasn&039;t trusting, it was understandable
Four ranks of five soldiers each, including most of Colleen Kilronney&039;s warriors, caer It struck Pony that none of the light They didn&039;t reseade, who ar&039;s army; rather, they were capable, battle- hardened warriors, a bit weary but ready for any foe
Behind thee pack of supplies or a tied stack of firewood, came the score and seven powrie prisoners Despite the load, the powries, prodded by soldiers, rolled along at a treendary for their endurance - the dangerous powrie barrelboats had no sail and were propelled by pedaling dwarves, yet these ships traveled the rough waters of the open Mirianic and had been known to overtake sailing ships in a stiff wind! And now the powries lived up to that reputation, stepping to keep pace with the trotting horses without a gruroup ht, save the telltale cloud rising up above the trees Familiar with Captain Kil-ronney&039;s tactics, Pony kneait a bit longer, and sure enough, the trailing pair of scouts caled Greystone&039;s reins and the horse started out of the copse