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The Cursed Ones were slower to rise Some crawled away Other were killed by those centaurs who recovered first, but Alain could do nothing to help them, any of them All he could do was help the shaman to rise This close, he saw the horrible bruises across her torso, the led stump of one ear, its tip cut clean off

At last, Sos’ka appeared at his side, singed but living "In the wagon," she said It was not easy to get Li’at’dano in, and a tight fit besides to place a centaur’s body in a bed o When they had done, other centaurs had already unfastened the stunned horses and harnessed themselves in their place

"What did she do?" Alain asked, leaning on the wagon to catch his breath His hair was finally beginning to settle A huge scar marked the center of the road

"Li’at’dano wields the weather "

A new herd of centaurs galloped up, wielding torches like clubs as they scattered or killed the rest of the Cursed Ones Only now could Alain hear the distant clash of battle by the fort, fading as wind rose up out the dark, a rushing in the nearby trees He heard barking, co closer

Sos’ka whistled, and a centaur with burnt-butter-colored skin and a glossy gray coat trotted up She carried a boith a quiver of arrows slung over her back "He’ll need to ride if he’s to come with us," said Sos’ka

"He is not," said Gray Coat "His companions come now, on the backs of Ni’at’s foals They must return to their own herd with this news"

"Let him come beforesweetly He turned to look The shah her eyes were open

"Here I a hand

"Yes" She caught hold of his fingers, her grip unco "You are here What is it that you wish to ask me?"

How did she know? "Are you the one called Liathano?" He stuain "Li’at’dano"

"I am called Li’at’dano" A thin siven my name in the time yet to coh hilanced around at the centaurs looet their rescued shaman to a place of safety where she could heal But he still had so many questions "Where am I, truly?"

"You are here"