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In that saht her own long, straight, burning blade up in a clean arc to e of the prince’s shortsword The two blades met with a sound at once like a silver bell and a low flute note and a bandolyn string sharply plucked Aeriel fell to her knees, feeling the shock resonate along her whole length as the Edge Adamantine was blocked and held The blade that could cut anything could not cut the burning sword

Irrylath cried out Grih he meant to release his weapon or lift it away, but it seemed he could not irl’s blade threaded upward along Adaroan, he sank to his knees Erin stood gazing at him, astonished

"Let be!" Aeriel cried out "Have done!"

And this tiues distant heard The Lady Syllva halted where she stood Roshka and Irrylath’s brothers broke off their headlong rush Pendarlon checked, snarling

The guards dashing in fro away fro his hand vanished, and the prince sluround

Adamantine made a clean, dustless cut in the earth Sabr ran to hilaive upright before her, staring at it

"I did notseemed to steer my hand I meant only to stand defiant until the last moment, to see if you trulyat the blade, she was speaking to the prince "I thought no need for swords I thought the others would stop you"

The broadsword sang and hu, Irrylath cradled his arh it were painful--or nuh Aeriel She had no idea whether the sword’s fire had harmed him permanently He see about with baffled or frightened looks, save Pendarlon, who, staring at Erin’s blade, was rowl

"Stop, stop," Aeriel wept, hardly realizing that she spoke aloud

Now everyone was staring at the glaive, even Irrylath Sabr steadied his head, which lolled as though he in to flicker and waver, like a long white flaed until the whole sas a tongue of fire

Aeriel staggered to her feet The flairl’s astonished eyes, she saw the flanized herself, then felt her own being drawn irresistibly across theto her husband, she called his naently "Irrylath, heed me You are not mistaken Erin’s sas Witch-ed it to serve our cause"

The prince of Avaric shook his head, gazing at her in disbelief Aeriel saw Sabr’s hands upon hihten

"Pay no heed, Cousin," she e of the Witch The shadowue with your tormentor She was never your friend"

Irrylath seee in the sword Aeriel choked down her sudden fury at the intervention of Sabr An outburst of jealousy noould serve neither herself nor Irrylath Resolutely, she ignored the bandit queen, spoke only to the prince

"Husband, it is I"

"You can’t be," Irrylath cried out hoarsely "The Witch sent her darkangels to steal you away"

Aeriel shook her head "Not so One of her black birds set a pin behind my ear"

"I would have told you that if you had let rowled between her teeth She pulled the folded sari froasp, touched the cascade of yellow silk about his knees Lifting his eyes, he gazed at the sword, as a e of water

"Oh, Aeriel," Irrylath whispered "If only it were you…"

"It isn’t," Sabr hissed desperately "An ie! Solea coolly An idea formed itself in her mind

"The rime," she said "I have the last of Ravenna’s riddle now Will that convince you?" She raised her eyes and voice to the others in the tent "Will that convince you all?"

Irrylath struggled to his feet, throwing off Sabr’s persistent hands His voice rang clear and certain suddenly "Speak it," he cried "Say the rime, and if you are truly Aeriel, unharmed and not in the Witch’s power, I will know you"

His one hand was clenched about their wedding silk The other, his sword hand, twitched as though trying to close He bent his ar out to hile" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>