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"I love you," she said, very softly "Freely And alill"

Aeriel reached to touch her cheek, but Erin turned away, crossing her arirl eyed her a few , "So you alone did not believe I had been taken by icari"

The other shook her head "No I saw the darkangel in Pirs screaht of you"

"Did you tell Irrylath this?"

Erin snorted "Your husband does not listen to rieved for Erin’s suffering on her account Irrylath’s, too She had never aze toward the distant, unseen Witch’s Mere The soft white glow of the pearl filled her eyes

"So you set out on your own in search of me"

"If Ravenna’s heron had not foundstill," Erin answered, calmer now "What will you do with Irrylath when you return?"

Aeriel sighed and shook her head The wind from the desert was cool and full of fine sand that polished at her anklebones The heron, testing her wings, rose into the air, hovering aAeriel looked away

"I airl pivoted to stare at her Abruptly, she shoved away from the Dome and halted a few paces from Aeriel "What do you mean?" she deathered in your nao back"

Carefully, Aeriel unbuckled the sword at her hip "Ravenna has given me another task I mean to meet the Witch, but not in battle I must confront her face-to-face"

"Are youher arm

"Bear word back," Aeriel told her, "of our allies the duaroughs ainst the Witch

Say that I have spoken with the Ancient Ravenna"

"No!" Erin exclaio of the pale girl’s aruarded, I’ll stand at your side"

Aeriel shook her head and held out the sword A little of the Ancient rilaive burned and whispered in its sheath "Soht in my stead,"

she said softly "Whom can I trust but you?"

Erin looked at the sword, then back at Aeriel The pale girl waited At last, very reluctantly, Erin took the sword "Oh," she cried, gripping the pommel and sheath "Oh, what is this? It feels alive"

Aeriel did not answer--for truly, she did not yet knohat power the sword ht hold The Witch’s pin hat it once had been Whatinto which Ravenna had now transforirded it about her waist The sword hung, shi in its sheath As Erin lifted the now-plain scabbard to study the silvery grain of the wood, running one finger along its sheath’s s lightly stroking her side

She shivered, frowning, and brushed herself When Erin warily tried to pull the blade free, it would not come

"Soft," Aeriel murmured, sure only as she spoke that what she said was so "Now is not the tih you will be able to draw it at need" The pearl told her this, she realized, scarcely stopping to wonder at it She gazed out over the dry, crested dunes before turning back to Erin "Fare you well," she said

"Wait--" the dark girl began, groping for words, unwilling still to let her go "Have you no journey fare, no water?"

For the first time Aeriel noticed the little sack of provisions and the waterskin slung froirl shook her head She felt not the slightest hunger or thirst

"The pearl feeds me," she answered, certain suddenly that she would need no nourish as she wore Ravenna’s jewel upon her brow As Erin e sari from her bodice and handed it to her "Give this to Irrylath," she said, "to make a banner of And tell my husband he will find irl carefully tucked the folded square of yellow silk into her shift Aeriel drew back Behind thehest toithin the Do