Page 2 (1/2)

This writer is fully convinced that the Elorious history The willing cooperation of the Atans in the massacre within the imperial compound is clear evidence that not even their loyalty can be depended upon

To whom can we turn for aid? Where in all this world can we find a force sufficient to repel the savage lory fall before the onslaught of the Elene zealots? I weep, lory that ht, the home of truth and beauty, the center of the world, is doomed The darkness descends, and there is little hope that a

Maps

Chapter 1

The seasons were turning, and the long su in the streets of fire-doht starkly etched the opalescent towers and do in the streets Matherion, all aglow, stood with her feet bathed in shining ht sky

Sparhaas tired The tensions of the past week and the climactic events which had resolved them had drained him, but he could not sleep Wrapped in his black Pandion cloak, he stood on the parapet looking pensively out over the glowing city He was tired, but his need to evaluate, to assess, to understand, was far too great to permit him to seek his bed and let hishad been put into its proper place

‘What are you doing up here, Sparhawk?’ Khalad spoke quietly, his voice so much like his father’s that Sparhawk turned his head sharply to be sure that Kurik himself had not returned from the House of the Dead to chide hi man with thick shoulders and an abrupt enerations now, and Khalad, like his father, customarily addressed his lord with a plain-spoken bluntness

‘I couldn’t sleep,’ Sparhawk replied with a brief shrug

‘Your wife’s got half the garrison out looking for you, you know’

Sparhawk grimaced ‘Why does she always have to do that?’

‘It’s your own fault You know she’s going to send people out after you anyti her where you’ll be You could save yourself – and us – a lot of time and trouble if you’d just tell her in the first place It seeested that several times already’

‘Don’t bully ood traits breed true Would you like to go down and tell your wife that you’re all right? – before she calls in the workhed ‘All right’ He turned away froht to know that we’ll be ?’

‘We have to go pick so up Have a ith the farriers Faran needs to be re-shod He’s scuffed his right front shoe down until it’s as thin as paper’

‘That’s your fault, Sparhawk He wouldn’t do that if you’d sit up straight in your saddle’

‘We start to get crooked as we grow older That’s one of the things you have to look forward to’

‘Thanks When are we leaving on this trip?’

‘Just as soon as I can coh lie to persuade ot plenty of time, then’ Khalad looked out across ht awakening the rainbows of fire in her naed shoulders ‘Pretty,’ he noted

‘Is that the best you can do? You look at theit off as "pretty"’

‘I’m not an aristocrat, Sparhawk I don’t have to invent flowery phrases to iet you inside before the das You crooked old people have delicate health soether lovely, was irritated ry; Sparha that ione to so goas dark blue satin, her cheeks had been carefully pinched to ive the impression of winsomely distracted dishevelment She berated hiht easily have made the trees cry and the very rocks shrink from her Her cadences were measured, and her voice rose, then sank, as she told him exactly how she felt Sparhawk concealed a s to him on two levels at the same time as she stood in the center of the blue-draped royal apart him Her words expressed extreme displeasure; her careful preparations, however, said soized

She refused to accept his apology and stor the door behind her

‘Spirited,’ Sephrenia murmured The small woman sat out of harlowing in the candlelight

‘You noticed,’ Sparhawk smiled

‘Does she do that often?’

‘Oh, yes She enjoys it What are you doing up so late, little mother?’

‘Aphrael wanted me to speak with you’

‘Why didn’t she just come and talk with me herself? It’s not as if she ay over on the other side of town’

‘It’s a formal sort of occasion, Sparhawk I’m supposed to speak for her at times like this’

‘Was that intended toto have to o to retrieve Bhelliom Khalad can fill in for his father without any particular probleo back to Chyrellos with Ee his mind?’

Sparhawk shook his head ‘I wouldn’t even try, Sephrenia I’ht h That crossbow bolt went right through his shoulder joint If he starts ht, and that’s his sword arm’

‘Aphrael could fix it, you know’

‘Not without exposing her identity she couldn’t, and I won’t let her do that’

‘Won’t let?’

‘Ask her if she wants to endanger her mother’s sanity just for the sake of sy to accept Khalad in place of Kurik, she should be able to pick someone else to fill in for Tynian Why is it so important to her in the first place?’

‘You wouldn’t understand’