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"Whereafter shall commence

such a cruel, sorcerous war

To wrest recoht burning,

a shadow black as night

Froht

For love of one above who, flag unfurled,

lone must stand,

The pearl of the soul of the world

in her hand

When Winterock to water

falls flooding, foes to drown,

Ravenna’s own daughter

shall kindle the crown"

Silence No sound in the tent but the fizz of la Her brother Roshka eyed her uncertainly Syllva stood lanced at one another Then she heard Talb the Mage chuckle and Pendarlon begin to purr But her gaze remained on Irrylath

"Oh, husband," she breathed, "believe inforward, he knelt before the flame that Erin held His sword arm seemed nearly recovered now, for with it, he reached toward Aeriel

"I do," he whispered, "for it is you Forgive h the fla, and the odd feeling of soh her, but then it was gone, and her vision of Irrylath and the rose silk tent steadied again Sabr had come to stand beside the prince She touched his shoulder, mistrust plain upon her face

"Cousin," she warned "How can you be sure? We have known for months that Aeriel is lost--yet now this apparition claiiven you?"

The prince rose suddenly and turned on her "Unhandoil "It was you I let convince me that Aeriel was lost, you I let persuade me to turn froe uncounted hours on your advisement This is Aeriel I know her Do not presume to advise e, his expression furious Aeriel felt an ugly little thread of satisfaction run through her

"My thought was for you," Sabr cried, stuh she had been struck Her face held a look of desperate betrayal "Always and ever for you"

Turning, the prince’s cousin fled, disappearing into the night Irrylath watched her go, his expression hard, full of fury still It was the Lady Syllva who spoke at last, co forward to touch the prince’s arm

"You are too hard, my son," she reproved him sternly "Too hard by half Aeriel is your wife, but Sabr is your cousin still, and a commander in my warhost--your equal in rank What she says is true: she thinks only of you She has been the one to lead our desert trek, keeping our forces together against desertion and despair, and not two daymonths past, it was she alone that stood between you and your own dagger"

The prince glared at the Lady, but made no reply Aeriel put one hand to her teun to steal over her She had not realized the effort that speaking through the sword required Perception through it was h the pearl, arduous even, sapping her energy Its strange sensation of heatless burning had hollowed her

"I must leave you," she said unsteadily Irrylath and the others turned

"No!" the prince began, reaching for her again "Don’t go"

She shook her head "Ithe distance between us is difficult… and I have Ravenna’s task to fulfill"