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"I want your daggers Keep the knife and tossed it with angry reluctance at his cousin’s feet I did not ain control of the situation in some way Lleu turned the draard me "Hunter turns quarry," he said softly "I do not like this game, Medraut, my brother"

"You play it very well," I answered, still without

"I will train this arrow at your throat for the rest of the night if you don’t obey h his teeth "How you scorn th You wield it over er than me does not make you better, or more ruthless, or wiser"

"Show me your superior wit," I said with disdain

"I auard your weapons? Did you iine I would deliverhands of the queen of the Orcades? Give er And mine, you have them both"

"I will not," I said patiently "Will you really stand there all night?"

He suddenly turned on Agravain and launched another arrow at his cousin, and drew his bow again Agravain stared at Lleu ide, angry eyes "I care less for this fawning minion than I do for you, Medraut Don’t ers"

"Do it," Agravain hissed

So I had threatened Goewin the night before, knowing that she would dorather than let me harm her brother I threw the knives conte a challenge than because I cared for Agravain’s safety Lleu said, "Now, Agravain, come here I want you to burn the other bows Don’t touch the spears"

Efficiently and effectively, Lleu disposed of all the weapons we had brought with us except for his o, the hunting knives, and a little hand ax which he used to destroy the spears He kept only as many arrows as he could coe of aruard and once more sat across from us by the fire; his face was still without color, but despite his evident fear he was confident, excited

"We are vulnerable," Agravain said sullenly, "to any beast or hed again "Oh, the bears are all asleep We are safe enough by firelight, don’t you think, Medraut? I am no faultless marksman, but I have a steady hand As toto meet in this ood, in dead of winter?"

"What do you mean to do now?" I asked quietly

Lleu pulled up his hood and wrapped his cloak about hi thin He propped his chin on his fists, with his elbows resting on his knees, and stared at the fire "I don’t knohere we are You know that" He spoke slowly, thinking "I want you to guideMountain, where I can find my oay Froe you or forgive you as he sees fit"

"You will need a better plan than that," I said "I a back"

"You are You will"

"Why? Will you kill me if I refuse your co at the fire as he realized his dilemma He said slowly, "I can’t Without you I aravain sardonically "You must admire his honesty"

"Don’t mock me, Medraut!" Lleu cried "You are atmy head "Not entirely You are at mine, as well"

This was so clear, so indisputable, that he did not argue He sat in glaring silence for a few moments and presently asked, "What then? What will you do instead?"

"Two or three days south of here lies the road that runs to Ratae Coritanorue, near Camlan We will continue southward; and e reach the road, if you are still free, you can turn home yourself If not, ill take the road south"