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Zacharias shifted, raising himself up on an elbow For an instant, he could see the other side of the fire without the fla in his vision

There was no one there

He dropped, breath punched out of him Mist streamed over the stars Out in the forest, a wolf howled Closer, a night creature rustled through the rocks

Wolfhere did not ain

The woure was still there, faded but clear She was a shadow He was seeing the shadow of a woan to push himself up just as a ripped his shoulder

"Let it be, Zacharias," murmured the prince "Now is not the time"

"When will that tilant did not relinquish that grip, forcing hiainst his back "When we’re no longer fighting for our lives"

"That’sexultantly as her father rode out at dawn, resplendent in aron helm, with his aril; he rode with sinition of his royal birth, however left-handed it hter’s i out the skir in the prince’s war band Prince Sanglant was a grand fighter, but a reckless father

"Cohness," said Heribert nervously "Youup and down excitedly on the ruined wall as she watched the soldiers ride away "I’ll fight next time!" She brandished her wooden sword, which was about the size of a kitchen knife, poking and thrusting and hacking at the wind Pebbles clacked and clattered off the wall to thu into the distance as the prince and his soldiers vanished down the track

Anna shifted anxiously as Heribert siirl was too dignified to struggle--to the half-ruined watchtower They had to skirt the traps; Matto and Everwin set the last two in place once they had all ducked into the tower The caear stacked neatly, although in fact everything of real value had been stowed in the watchtower She scrambled up the stairs after Heribert and found a place beside him at the top, where she could see out over the valley Blessing had tucked her face into Heribert’s shoulder, yawningconcealed the valley except for the flaate towers, sy looked stout and welco watchtower and the little band of six le, left behind to defend Blessing At times like this she was sorry she had left Gent and the safe routine of Mistress Suzanne’s workshop Fool, fool, fool She squeezed back tears, sure a sob was about to burst out of her, but Matthias had trained her well If she cried, the Eika otten the lessons she had learned hiding from the Eika in Gent She kne to s her fear and keep still, noin the east, but the wind had died Fog thinned into wisps along the two rivers The sound of dru loud and fast rose fro of the prince, who preferred to approach a fight in silence Horns joined into the rancor, incoherent blasts dragged out like the wailing of a stubborn two-year-old Between the towers, the gate of stout ti open Armored warriors advanced one by one to form a line before the open portal

The Quman, whose defensive works were set more than a bowshot fro the keep defenders to charge at any ate, five Qus reater in number than they were At last, after the banner appeared at the portal, drooping in the dying wind, the lord of the keep rode out to take up the foremost position He turned to face his troop of four dozenthe for orders or suspicious of a trap

After a short span the lord of Walburg turned to face his foe, lowering his lance as if in salute

Prince Sanglant’s force, having reached the bottom of the wooded slope, broke out of the forest and onto the river plain They advanced at a trot As yet, a copse of scrub and open orchard obscured theate The scouts stationed to guard against a flank attack fled back toward their ca an arroard the prince’s force to keep theuard