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Elbryan breathed a deep sigh, not pleased at all by what he was hear-ing yet unable to dispute the elf&039;s reasoning He had suspected that Juraviel meant to depart soon after Dundalis was reclaimed, but for the elf to leave nohen they were but halfway fro for est tih Inninness in all the centuries of o," Elbryan reminded him, "when you escorted the folk we found in the Wilderlands It was at the doorstep of Andur&039;Blough Inninness that Pony and I found you"

"A short stay," replied Juraviel, "and a short reprieve frohtbird You above all other humans should understand this We live for the valley, for the nights of dancing under the clearest of skies and for the coer adht able-bodied warriors, one and all, and as Bradwarden is soon to be scouting his familiar haunts in the forest around the three Tim-berlands toe&039;ll not be taken by surprise Allow me my selfishness, my friend, for I will miss you terribly As I miss Pony"

"We hardly share the same place in your heart," Juraviel said dryly

"A different place," Elbryan agreed, "but no less of one You are as a brother to me, Belli&039;mar Juraviel You know that And when Tuntun went into the molten stone, I lost a sister"

"As did I"

"And surely ht without Belli&039;one forever - not even forever in the accounting of a human," Juraviel promised "Allow me my time with my kin, and then I will return to the Timberlands for a visit to my adopted brother"

"I will hold you to that promise," Elbryan said "And if I do not see you before the next spring is in full blooh Inninness! And with Pony besidethan I toward the elf who forgot us!"

It was said in jest, of course, and Juraviel sh Elbryan, and especially Pony, would not be erous journey to the elven ho, not with a baby to look after Juraviel alht the i?" Elbryan asked

"Tomas plans to break caone before that"

"Have you told Bradwarden?"

The elf nodded "Not so difficult a task," he explained "The centaur has lived for a long time, my friend, and will outlive you and your children&039;s children unless an ene dealt with the Touel&039;alfar and knows our ways He ad - and was even reat abbey"

"Bradwarden would not expect his friend to coo not to expect too much from the Touel&039;alfar," Juraviel said seriously "We have our oays and our own reasons You should take a lesson fro from the elves," Elbryan replied, "except for Belli&039;h not entirely agreeing, ser

"Farewell," the elf said "Reht you, and under-stand the responsibility of your position You carry Teift froood or ill, reflect upon us, Nightbird; you will be held accountable for those actions by Lady Dasslerond and all the elves and,that Juraviel was not speaking in jest, squared his shoulders and set his face deter to accept the burden Elbryan knehat it er, had learned those lessons all too clearly over the last year, and was confident that he would not disappoint those who trained hiifts, the nahtbird ain Heshadows of dusk

"There," Elbryan said, pointing down the slope and through the brush

Toerwart stooped low and peered intently He could hear fighting down below, and the thick brogue of a hearty warrior obviously enjoying the battle, but he couldn&039;tflashed across his liht have been a rider

"Co Toeline, to a more open area He didn&039;t want to ht it would be better if Toht the circles around a battered and obviously dazed giant

Toh not at the sight of the giant, Elbryan knew, for Toe powerful centaur, that had stunned hireat fat cow!" Bradwarden roared He reared up on his hind legs as he taunted the giant, his forelegs kicking wildly at the huge creature&039;s belly and chest And when the foe, Bradwarden sel

The brute staggered backward and Bradwarden rushed in pursuit, then stopped short and swung around to kick out with both hind hooves, s the creature over Around ca

Toiant&039;s face, wrenching its head violently to the side, teeth falling with a gush of blood from its mouth

"Bradwarden," Elbryan explained, "a powerful ally"

"And not so weak a foe," Toain as Bradwarden siant&039;s face, then hit the brute with another overhead chop, this one dropping the giant to its knees

"Cut &039;em down and finish the job, I&039;m always sayin&039;!" the centaur howled, and he spun and kicked again, each hoof taking the giant in an eye Head snapping, the fomorian reeled backward so far that its shoulders alled back to a kneel-ing position

Bradwarden kicked it in the face again

This ti casually back and forth,down at the dazed giant&039;s torn face