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"I’d guess not ht hundred under Sapientia’s command," replied Heribert "We aren’t truly an army the way the old Dariyans had armies We just use the Dariyan words"

"Why?" asked Blessing These days she was full of "why"

The last of Sapientia’s horseap, a new banner ca the path of the first "Here is Lady Bertha and her legion of Austran and Olsatian marchlanders," said Heribert

"Why?" repeated Blessing

"Why do we use the old words? To reth of the old e, "so I’ll call ion was perhaps half the number of those who had ridden out with Sapientia After she had passed, Sanglant rode forward, saluting his daughter, and headed down the track with Captain Fulk and his ulars, and Lord Druthent froest and hters in the army, came next, followed in their turn by Lord Zwentibold, Lord Wichion of skire train under the coht silver tabard and feathered helht after the prince had been drinking toowas to ride trundled to a stop before the platfor allowed Lord Thiemo to help her into the back as Heribert folded up her chair Although she could ride a pony, she wasn’t old enough to do so under the circuon As she settled down arain, Captain Thiadbold of the Lions knelt before her

"Your Highness, your father Prince Sanglant has charged me and my cohort of Lions to see that you re I pray you, Your Highness, if there is any trouble, do as I command, and we’ll see that no har at the rear," said Blessing

He grinned, then hid the smile quickly, not sure of her tes necessary to victory here in the baggage train It is no insult to be left to guard thehness Nor is it any insult to you to ride with the baggage train Do you see?" He pointed toward the painted wagon belonging to Prince Bayan’s age train"

The sight of the wagon convinced Blessing not to argue

Duke Boleslas rode up with a dozen frilled and colorful attendants to either side of his brightly caparisoned horse He bowed before Blessing "Your Highness," he said, before riding away again, circling toward the tail end of the train as the wagon lurched forward and they began round was still daht’s brief rain, there wasn’t too hting men had passed this way before them Dirt soon coated her lips and tickled her nostrils Any overhanging branches were snapped back or torn off by the press of bodies

A feeling of dread grew in Anna’s heart as they rolled onward and the sun rose higher Would they be able to hear the clash of aruard met the Quman? Was it true that every Quman soldier carried a shrunken head at his belt, as a trophy? She touched her own neck, wondering if they chopped the heads off children, too, or if in Quh to be married or taken as a slave

But at least, here in the rear guard, they were a long, long way froht

By lilinted in the trees belohere the rest of the ar in on the river plain

Blessing stood up on the cart and grasped the shoulders of the good-natured wagoner as driving "Look!" she cried in her piercing voice "I see the Qu for an instant that she saw a dark stain, like a plague of locusts, swar over the river plain; then the road dropped into a cleft that steadily widened into flatter ground as it opened into broken woodland, oak and hornbeaave the sun, but she eating, even though she didn’t have to walk The Lions, striding steadily alongside, had their helms thrown back and wiped their faces frequently