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No-one spoke

Abruptly, Hannan Mosag reached out and gripped Fear’s shoulder, gaze sharpening on Trull’s older brother ‘The four sons of Toift You may take two others – I saw the tracks of six intowards that spire of ice’

Fear spoke ‘Theradas and Midik Buhn’

The Warlock King nodded ‘Well chosen, yes Fear Sengar, I charge you as leader of this expedition You are my will and shall not be disobeyed Neither you nor any other in your party ift Your flesh must not make contact with it, is that understood? Retrieve it from the spire, wrap it in hides if that is possible, and return here’

Fear nodded ‘It will be as you command, sire’

‘Good’ He scanned the three brothers ‘It is the belief of many – perhaps even you – that the unification of the tribes was oal as leader of the Hiroth Sons of To’

All of a sudden a new presence was in the roo and the brothers, and they turned as one to the entrance

A K’risnan stood in the threshold

Hannan Mosag nodded ‘The slaves,’ he ht Coathered round his soul, for soul was all he was,without flesh as the vague, bestial things closed in, plucking at his around a turtle

They were hungry, those shadow spirits Yet so held them back, some deep-set prohibition They poked and prodded, but did nothing more

They scattered – reluctantly – at the approach of so, someone, and Udinaas felt a warm, protective presence settle at his side

Feather Witch She hole, her face lurey eyes quizzical as she studied hihed ‘They say you cutfor that ’ She studied hier, then said, ‘Your love burns my eyes, Udinaas What am I to do about this truth?’

He found he could speak ‘Do nothing, Feather Witch I knohat is not to be I would not surrender this burden’

‘No I see that’

‘What has happened? Aar, came in answer to our… distress She drew upon Kurald Emurlahn, and has driven the Wyval away And now she works healing upon us both We lie side by side, Udinaas, on the blood-soaked earth Unconscious She wonders at our reluctance to return’