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Nay, Bayan wasn’t bent on revenge or intrigue In truth, Prince Ekkehard was a nuisance: young, untried, iet mixed up in heresy In Bayan’s place, she would probably have done the sa in that sleeping platfor out here in thewithin a day’s ride on either side This was just the kind of place a small party like theirs could be attacked and overwhelmed

In the distance, a wolf howled, the only sound in the lonely landscape Whispered talk died by the fire asreplied to that solitary call A twig snapped at the fringe of the trees

Was that a shape, creeping in a through the trees?

"Who’s there?" demanded the sentry His voice trembled

"Hsst!" Ekkehard stepped forward, sword drawn, to stand beside Hanna "What do you see, Eagle?" he whispered Behind, his companions drew their swords while the soldiers scra, she hoisted her bow and nocked an arrow

There was nothing there Snow tuined wing shape, and all was still The lamour over the silent forest

"Hai!" cried the sentry, so startled that his spear fell, clattering on stone foundations

It arrived noiselessly and settled down in the midst of a stretch of untouched snow Despite its size, it did not break through the hard crust It was the largest owl she had ever seen, with tufted ears and a coat of azed at her, unblinking, incurious, looking ready to snatch her up as it would a delectable mouse

"That wouldHanna "Shoot it"

"Nay, my lord prince," she answered, suddenly afflicted by dread at the thought of shooting this nificent creature, "for everyone knows that the flesh of an owl is like poison to a hu"

Ekkehard hesitated In that instant, the owl took flight and was gone