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"I have seen your army overthrown and Oriencor triu the Blade Adahter’s heart I have seen him killed----"

"No!" Aeriel cried involuntarily, as the scene looes of possible futures had a shifting, half-finished look They were not fixed and vivid as the actual past Still she recoiled Ravenna nodded

"Your husband, yes," she said, "that served h Aeriel at the thought of Irrylath Desperately, she tried to clear her e that the pearl noove there: Irrylath falling froh ereat turbulence below The vision refused to fade She shuddered A tear, hot and salty, spilled down her cheek

"Say it will not happen," she whispered "Say that Irrylath will not be killed"

The Ancient, her great, dusky hand so er than Aeriel’s, brushed the tear froirl’s lips

"I cannot promise you that," she said sadly "Would that I could But I have also seen him alive at the end of the war You killed You all killed The possibilities are numberless, and no one is any irl’s cheek lightly, and Aeriel smelled myrrh The pearl’s horrific speculations vanished now She sighed in relief

"That is why I uide you and the Ions--all of history--toward that one best future I have gli the rest"

The Ancientlady eyed her very sadly now

"Have you ever treasured soht you could never give it up--then learned you must?"

Cold terror returned to Aeriel No Never-- not Irrylath! She shook her head

Ravenna sighed "Soon I ood of the world Come, child Gird on your sword The time has coift into the pearl"

8

Rime and Shadow

Aeriel’s heart leapt at the Ancient lady’s words Now at last she was to learn the riddle’s end Aliven her Its strange, sorcerous feel alar blade’s girdle about her waist She trusted the dark lady completely Ravenna nodded

"Now sayto touch the pearl upon her brow, Aeriel closed her eyes and began:

" On Avaric’s white plain…" She recited until she ca overthrown"

There she halted That was all she knew Without opening her eyes, she sensed the Ancientlady’s smile

"You know most of it, then Good Here is the rest:

"Whereafter shall commence

such a cruel, sorcerous war,

To wrest recoht burning,

a shadow-- "

Abruptly, she broke off Aeriel blinked in surprise An ie composed of beads of fire had julass She recognized the dark features of Ravenna’s liege an

"Melkior," exclaimed the Ancientlady softly Aeriel sensed her dise The duaroughs insist…" He halted short, his gaze glancing beyond her to Aeriel "She’s awakened," he murmured in surprise "You said you would send for le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>