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The soldiers cinched the straps of their helrips on the lances to a third of the way up froht,’ Iron Bars said ‘Corlo, keep them asleep until we’re thirty paces away Then wake ’em quick and panicky’
‘Aye, Avowed It’s been a while, ain’t it?’
Halfpeck asked, ‘Want any of ’em left alive, sir?’
‘No’
Iron Bars, with Halfpeck on his left and the toht, formed the first line Walk to trot, then a collected canter Fifty paces, and no-one was stirring alanced back at Corlo, and he sers
She saw the three prisoners at the wagon sit up, then quickly crawl beneath the bed
Lances were levelled, the horses rolling into a gallop
Suddento their feet, bewildered shouts, a screaon, and Seren pulled hard to her left after a litter of wide eyes froside the tall wheels
Ahead, four lances found targets, three of theht to flee
A deserter stu his shoulder and spinning hi at the clumsy blow, she pushed herself forward on the saddle and rose to stand in her stirrups Readied the sword oncefour Guards swords The second line of riders, in Seren’s wake, had spread out to pursue victihtered with cold efficiency
A spear stabbed up at Seren on her right She batted the shaft aside, then swung as her horse carried her forward The blade rang in her grip as it connected with a hel the helm from the man’s head It came free and fleard to bounce on the road, red-splashed and caved in on one side
She caught awith appalling ease, a single hand gripping the reins as he guided his horse, seaving ahi at her shoulder She shouted in pain, felt herself being pulled fro, seehastly kiss Then she saw the features go slack Blood filled his eyes The veins on his te beneath the skin More blood, spraying frorip fell away and he toppled backward
Drawing in close, a long, thin-bladed knife in one hand, Corlo caside her ‘Push yourself up, lass! Use rip of her sword, she set it against hihted herself ‘Thanks, Corlo-’
‘Rein in, lass, we’re about done here’
She looked round Three Guardsmen had dis the wounded and dying, swords thrusting down into bodies She glanced back ‘That man – what happened to hiranted, but the Avowed said to keep you safe’