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The sergeant thumped onto his back

Trull stood over hi thetendrils of blood

The other warriors were shouting, expressing disbelief with Trull’s speed, with the stunning, deceptive simplicity of the attack He did not look up

Ahlrada Ahn stepped close ‘Finish hione ‘I see no need for that-’

‘Then you are a fool He will not forget-’

‘I trust not’

‘Fear must be told of this Canarth must be punished’

‘No, Ahlrada Ahn Not a word’ He raised his gaze, looked northward ‘Let us greet Binadas and ’

The dark-skinned warrior’s stare faltered, flickered away ‘Sisters take me, Trull, so would I’

There were no old wo lightly stained clothing froulls to wheel down to the vast feast There was nothing to read of the battle now past, no sprawl of figures cut down from behind – not here, in the centre of the basin – no last stands writ in blood-splashed heaps and encircling rings of bodies No tilted standards, held up only by the press of cold flesh, with their sigils grinning down Only bones and glea coins

The settling dust was a soft whisper, gently dulling the ground and its random carpet of human and Edur detritus

The e the base of the slope as Udinaas reached the of the field had stirred up a trail of dust that hung white and hesitant in their wake Rhulad held his sword in his left hand, the blade wavering in the diold was dark-tracked with sweat, the bear fur on the emperor’s shoulders the muted silver of clouds

Udinaas could see in Rhulad’s face that the e capable of lashing out in any direction Behind the e waited, scrambled Theradas and Midik Buhn, Choram Irard, Kholb Harat and Matra Brith All but Theradas had been old followers of Rhulad, and Udinaas was not pleased to see them Nor, frohted with the slave’s arrival

Udinaas alhed Just like the palace in Letheras, the factions take shape