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He saw no reluctance in Adal’s demeanour before he turned his mount about and rode off, but there was uncertainty there, even a faint concern He wondered if the North Guard’s animosity had worn thinner since Alltor, that if there wasn’t soard for his Tower Lord these days But, where once such things were so easily divined, now there was only continual uncertainty Is this what it is to live without a gift?

He recalled those brief years when his song had fallen silent, his refusal to heed it leaving hiuidance It had been hard to be so rudderless in a sea of chaos and war This, however, was much worse, because now there was the chill, the bone-deep cold that had seeped into hiered on here in this world of ly so dark And the words, of course, those words that hounded hi, you and I

Nortah trotted up beside hi on ahead, as ever enlivened by the prospect of blood

“You belong with your regiment,” Vaelin told him

“Davern has therateful if you’d ask the queen to promote him in my stead Boundless hatred and bloodlust are not easily tolerated for long”

“They’ll need fir hand”

Nortah raised an eyebrow “Is that sentireatly surprised”

Vaelin didn’t respond, recalling his joy on seeing her that day at Alltor as the boat carried her across the river, the blosso’s absence was a physical pain and she seele point of certainty, burned but glorious How could I ever have i to his knees before her

But as the days passed, and the army’s evident love for their queen swelled by the ’s absence ever more keenly She raises so reat differences froo, the unbridled a She hungered for power, nohat does she hunger for?

“My people met with our brother,” Nortah said He always referred to the Gifted from Nehrin’s Point in this way, as if they were a nation unto themselves “As per the queen’s request They told him no, as expected” He paused “Have you spoken to him? Since his little revelation?”

Vaelin shook his head, keen to avoid discussion on this topic The questions it raised were eventhe queen

“Seventh Order or not,” Nortah went on “Faith or not He’s still our brother”

He always knew e that ht have been useful, saved many, perhaps even Frentisor Mikehl

“I’ll talk to him,” he pro to do anythingfoolish today, are you?” Nortah asked

“Foolish, brother?”