Page 402 (1/2)

’Look!’ so on the lieutenant’s chin!’

Not even a jest -- si her head to a spatter of blood, Picker spat again and surveyed her troops through stinging, strealed but understandable

Silence

’Bucklund -- back into the corridor! Find her!’

The Twelfth Squad’s sergeant was back a h the doorway ’She’s breathing -- Hood kno! Her back’s full of stones and shards!’

Picker dropped to her knees beside her friend ’You damned idiot,’ she mumbled

’We should’ve had Mallet with us,’ Bucklund grumbled beside her

Aye, not the only ame

’Oh!’ a woman’s voice cried ’You are not Pannions!’

Weapons swung to the doorway

A wo black hair shily beautiful eyes studied them ’Have you, by any chance, seen threefor the throne rooht have heard sorowled ’IEverywhere, hed ’No,’ she said to the woman, ’we ain’t seen no three masked warriors-’

’What of a T’lan Imass?’

’As a matter of fact, yeah-’

’Excellent! Tellher? I can’t iine she’d leave-’

’What swords?’ Picker demanded ’Besides, it was male I think’