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Cloudy leaped down and led her on After so in on theed as they neared, the thud of Raven’s hooves rebounding The rew heavy in the air Water trickled nearby froht above to the forest floor Cloudy stepped off the path and juan strained her eyes, peered into the dark, and yes, there was the tall, pale finger of stone, the second obelisk, that marked the entrance to the tombs

Had she missed the appointed time? Would someone come out to see her, or would she have to knock on the portal? Not that anyone would hear her if she did She thought she reht--there was a glyph of Westrion on its center One only had to press it

She took a step forward thinking to do just that She did not feel like standing there forever in the dark, waiting for so to happen She was about to take a second step when a low voice issued out of the dark: "Do not e of steel suddenly touching her throat She sed slowly, carefully A trap after all! She had not even seen or heard anyone draw the sword, and now she dared not see ielded it for fear he would cut her throat

"Naan had not been around guns very much, but she easily identified the particular click of the haht into her

Beside her, Raventhe scents of the two men Were there ripped the reins tightly

"Your naan knew she could be giving away everything, but if these were in fact the people she was supposed to meet and not a pair of villains who’d drawn her here for nefarious purposes, withholding her real nauned, knocked the sword away from her throat, and lashed out with his rear hooves Sohting length She stood in a defensive posture, the entrance to the tombs somewhere behind her

People moved about the woods farther down the trail It sounded like a brawl had erupted, fists thudding on flesh, branches cracking, grunts of pain and muted shouts What in the hells? Raven snorted beside her and dug at the ground

Even as the fight continued, Karigan sensed so toward her from the side She turned to face hiainst a gun" When she paused, he added, "I will surely blow a hole through your head if you do not comply"

She believed it His voice was imbued with layers of threat Slowly she laid the bonewood on the ground and raised her hands palms outward to show they were empty Obviously he could see her better than she him

"Now your name Your name and that of your accoan sed hard Well, if she was going to give her naan G’ladheon of His Majesty’s Messenger Service" She’d have bowed, but she feared any sudden er

He paused,with you? Name your accomplice"

"I have no accomplice, unless you mean my horse"

"You were followed," he accused