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A voice ht to follow, but could not You travelled far’

Wither Udinaas rolled onto his side ‘Your place of slaughter,’ he whispered ‘I was there What do you want of me?’

‘What does anyone want, slave? Escape From the past, from their past I will lead you onto the path The blood of the Wyval shall protect you-’

‘Against the Edur?’

‘Leave the threat of the Edur to ht’

A sleep that had left hi, he climbed to his feet

With two of her chosen slaves, Mayen walked across the threshold then paused two strides into the main chamber Shethin, the shade of her skin darker than littered beads of onyx A traditional tunic of silver sealskin and a wide belt of pearlescent shells Bracelets and anklets of whale ivory

Trull Sengar could see in her eyes a supreme awareness of her own beauty, and there was darkness within that heavy-lidded regard, as if she was not averse to wielding that beauty, to achieving dominance, and with it a potentially unpleasant freedoe her desires

There were all kinds of pleasure, and hungers which spoke naught of virtues, only depravity Once again, however, Trull was struck by self-doubt as he watched his mother stride to stand before Mayen to voice the household’s welcoh shadows of his own casting

Leaning until his back was to the wall, he glanced over at Fear Uncertain pride There was also unease in his brother’s expression, but it could have been born of anything – the journey they would undertake on the morrow, the very future of his people Just beyond him, Rhulad, whose eyes devoured Mayen as if her mere presence answered his cruellest appetites

Mayen herself held Uruth in her gaze