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"You are ap of several paces separated them

"And you," the one before her answered, "late companion to my wife, you who deserted us so abruptly--in secret, so soon after she was taken-- that ht have been" His words were quiet, keen and hard "I, too, had a trusted companion once," the prince continued, "one who betrayed me to the Witch"

Miles distant, Aeriel flinched at the barely veiled accusation Before hi to be baited

"I left because ent," she snapped "Now I have returned, having lately been with Aeriel"

The others in the tent stirred,Syllva, the Lady of Esternesse, took a step forward as though to speak, but her son the prince of Avaric spoke first

"Have you?" he scoffed "Then you have been to the Witch’s palace and back" His voice held such a brittle edge that Aeriel shuddered

"I have been to the City of Crystalglass," the dark girl replied, her own voice angry but controlled

The prince’s very presence grated on her Aeriel had never before this moment realized the extent of their antipathy " That is where Aeriel had gone"

"You lie!" His vehemence surprised even Erin "Either way, you lie! If you have been to the City, you have not been with Aeriel If you have been with her and are now returned, you belong to the Witch"

Irrylath’s brothers shifted, shaking their heads Hadin, the youngest, nored them all, his eyes locked on Erin’s

"I have been with Aeriel," the dark girl told hilass--"

"And is she well?" the prince exclaiain suddenly "Then tell me what the Witch had made of her: is it a lorelei like herself that devours el, an icare? She needs another to replace ot six now Or a harridan, perchance, such as we met at Orm--or even a wraith? Is that it? Has she made my wife into a wraith? Tell me"

Aeriel stood, fists doubled at her breasts, able to perceive it all so vividly across the miles, yet powerless to intervene Rather than stand helpless, she alirl and herself: tear the pearl from her own brow, or the sword froht of Irrylath, even for a moht," Erin replied, outwardly ier burned just beneath the skin

"Then why has she not returned with you?" Irrylath’s cry was not so wild this tiuish and a fury to irl’s ire Aeriel stood dismayed

"She is on her way to face the Witch," Erin replied evenly

"Alone?" The prince of Avaric shook his head A weak, unsteady laugh escaped his lips One hand was in his hair now, clenched, become a fist He whispered, "Lies"

"Irrylath, Irrylath, calm yourself," Aeriel exclaimed

No one heard--but her words were echoed by the Lady Syllva Pendarlon ruently to Hadin beside hi his beard Unheeding, Irrylath touched the hilt of the Edge Adamantine, ht Burning Aeriel felt the dark girl’s jaw hardening

"I ahtened on the sword With a start, the youngat Erin’s weapon Aeriel heard the sharp intake of his breath His eyes had becolaive you bear is Witch-made," he breathed "I doubt it not Her handiwork is unrated "Disbelieve if you dare, you faithless wretch!" She spat the last word "It is only your own falsehood gnawing at you That and the knowledge that this whole war hangs on her, and you are nothing beside her No match to her and never will be…"

Hoarse as aman cried, "You are so, covering the paces between hiirl’s eyes widened Through her, Aeriel saw the sweat on Irrylath’s brow, the scars threading one cheek, the animosity in his hot blue eyes

"My son, no!" the Lady Syllva gasped

Adaleae so keen it could cut anything Already Pendarlon was springing Behind hi forward to stay hiuards in the entryere nearer-- but they would all be too late The sas beginning to fall It would be over between one heartbeat and the next

Perceived through the dark girl’s eyes, Irrylath’s blade al down upon herself Seething, the dark islander stood, refusing to retreat

"Erin!" Aeriel screah somehow to fend off the adamantine blade