Page 74 (2/2)
Many Wings waved her bone at hiuttural exclamation, her face suddenly drawn in irritation “Mother says you have another name,” Astorek Anvir related
“I am called Avenshura by the Eorhil,” Vaelin said “And Beral Shak Ur by the Seordah”
“We do not know these words,” Astorek said “Explain their ht star that appears in thesky Beral Shak Ur is the Shadow of the Raven”
Astorek and Many Wings exchanged a glance, faces suddenly grave They said nothing but frohtened Vaelin divined they were co by other means
“Gather your people,” Astorek said after a moment “You will follow us”
“To what purpose?” Vaelin asked
“Follow and find out” The Volarian turned and started back to his sled, the wolves rising as one to fall in on either side as their master cast a final word over his shoulder, “Or stay here and perish when the Long Night falls”
• • •
The island stretched away on either side for several miles, liberally covered with trees, a steep-sidedfroh translation of its unpronounceable true name “I not see this foracross the ice, which became noticeably thinner the farther south they travelled It was unnerving to see through it when the sun rose high, light playing on the bubbles visible beneath a barrier no more than a few feet thick “It melts in summer,” Astorek explained “And the islands becoh we have plenty of those”
He had been an affable guide so far, unwilling to take offence at the instinctive suspicion of the Sentar or the open hostility of the Real trust to such as him does not seem wise, my lord,” Orven advised, his dark expression a arded the Volarian Like all the rooimen and was now of so hair rendering hinisable “We know to our cost hoell they use their spies”
“He’s no spy,” Kiral said, the only one in their co sha tells of no deceit”
“These people trust him,” Vaelin pointed out as Orven plainly found scant reassurance in the huntress’s words “And Wise Bear trusts the of Wolf People waited on a spit of land on the island’s west-facing coast, several hundredin open curiosity at the newco the ten or reat flock of spear-hawks circled above Many Wings raised her bone-staff to order a halt as a reet them, a little taller than her with a broader build than most ice people Fros and Astorek, Vaelin deduced he itnessing a family reunion
“My father bids you welcoue his name means Whale Killer”
“I thank hi that, in contrast to Many Wings, the shaman was required to translate his words aloud to the Wolf People chieftain
Whale Killer favoured Vaelin with h with a e when an old tale takes foran to ask for clarification but Whale Killer had alreadyWise Bear with arue of the ice people fro it, Vaelin still failed to discern any