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"The priestesses said they could rebuild the Horse," Aeriel replied, "call back his wandering soul and revive hie of the old, with memory of his former life and death"
"Did they succeed?" the Ancient persisted "Tell me" "
"Oh, yes," Aeriel breathed, the h it were this veryShe nodded "The starhorse Yes I rereat square before the Istern palace, all the people with their plu trousers, the ainst the white, slant ht of Solstar Syllva, the Lady of Esternesse, stood foremost, flanked upon one side by Irrylath, her son Aeriel stood beside hierly, Irrylath’s half brothers--the Lady’s younger sons--stood opposite A gli, and the priestesses led forth the starhorse Aeriel’s heart leapt at the beauty of hiuardian of Avaric
She felt her husband shiver hard, though with delight or terror at the sight, she could not tell Irrylath no longer shunned her, as he had for the first year of their e Nor did he shrink from her now But he had seemed in awe of her since Or, even painful
Why? The question needled her, and she had no clue Always he treated her more as some distant, valued ally than as his wife or even a friend An overwhel sense of failure ate at her, for Irrylath was her husband only in na the crush of the crowd as an excuse He appeared oblivious to her, his gaze directed toward the starhorse, who came forth fro the paving stones, were throhite sparks Great wings--the pair that sprang fro, and beat the air, while his little wings--those that dressed his fetlocks and adorned his cheeks--fluttered He tossed his tail He pranced, and one hoof shone brighter than the rest, dazzling in the light of Solstar
Aeriel sensed Irrylath beside her growing taut, his breath quickening She felt his back arch, his own shoulders flex as Avarclon’s pinions beat Was he res, a dozen of theel? Noas Aeriel who shivered Her husband had ceased to be that powerful winged creature not by his own choice, but by hers What s? Avarclon tossed his head, his brow-horn cutting the air His nostrils flared, and he whinnied a long, tru call
"By Ravenna, who firsthimself, "it is a fine match A new body as like my old as could be You have done well, priests and oine for ain"
His eyes like bright meteors scanned the crowd
"Couardians, the Ions, "you ith reet you That you are all asse, that you have been rescued froainst her is on"
The great lyon Pendarlon roared in answer "Yes, you have it, friend"
The starhorse turned his head and gazed upon the Lady of Esternesse She went to hi’s wife in Avaric I rejoice to see you again What is this place?"
"This is my land," the Lady Syllva replied, "that you would call Esternesse Once wife to the late king of Avaric--yes, I was But no ain to my own dominion"
The starhorse bowed his head "I re after the death of your son"
"You mistake," Syllva replied "He did not die"
Aeriel could not see her face, but froh she told of joyous things Irrylath caught his breath in through his teeth Aeriel saw only the side of his face, gone tense and pale
"He became the Witch’s prisoner," the Lady continued undismayed, without a trace of shael?" the Avarclon exclai "Little Irrylath that used to sit laughing onat me with his heels for spite and pull my hair?"
Syllva nodded "But he has been rescued by her who rescued both you and the gargoyles He is ain, and stands at hand"
She turned to her son as she said it, and the equustel, following the line of her sight, cast his silver eyes upon the prince, who flinched beneath that cool and level gaze Aeriel no longer felt hiht be he," he said at last, "that was my Irrylath Are you also he that put me out of Avaric?"
Aeriel felt her husband shudder He nodded slowly
"How came you by those scars upon your cheek?" said Avarclon "You were fair to look at once"