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Alturk’s head sluy features so steeped in sorrow even Kiral seeaze “Instead of accepting this gift,” Alturk went on, “I raged at Nishak, finding the strength to stand ‘My son has greatness in him!’ I cried ‘He will sweep the Meri and hard ‘Think on that when you kill hi of the water I lingered a while longer, calling for Nishak to return and take back his lies, but he had no e froreen glow After hours uncounted it brought me back to the world above, which now see towards the distant fires with the eyes of a tired ht of his life He didn’t turn when he spoke again, though it was obvious to who the Mahlessa freed you from Did it find him or did he find it?”

“The Sentar had already been reborn before I wastaken,” Kiral said “Your son had been one of those who rery for blood and seeking to justify their cruelty He hated the Mahlessa for his disgrace, claireatest of the Merim Her but for her weakness, for she was old, and corrupted by the ages But they were few in nu possessed of a shared madness To fulfil their mission the Sentar needed leadership, and found it in y, “You would always have had to kill hiods”

• • •

He was roused by one of the wolves, a hugebreath It juling its head at hi an iroaned at his side, her pale and bleary-eyed face appearing above the furs

“I think so for his boots

Astorek, Kiral and Wise Bear waited at the foot of the south-facing slope, a line of wolves spread out before them and a cluster of spear-hawks overhead “Howto Kiral’s side

“Just one”

Vaelin peered into the distance, picking out a single figure, hooded and cloaked, striding towards them without any apparent alar to circle hiht Vaelin went forward to welcome him as he caht, broad but not overlyhis hood back to reveal lean but deeply lined features, and eyes that spoke of a depth of experience Vaelin no to be vast

“Ah,” said Erlin “I thought it ht be you”

CHAPTER SIX

Reva

She awoke to pain, a fierce, piercing ache in her right hand, banishing the blackness with a persistent, pulsing agony She groaned, shaking her hand, but the pain flared rather than faded She winced as her eyes opened, sunlight sending a bolt of white fire into her brain For a time all she could see was a faint yellow blur, her ears constantly assaulted by a roaring hiss Forcing herself to blink, sheinto a beach, the roar the rushing waves that jostled her, and the pain in her hand the result of a s to eat her thu it into the surf, gritting her teeth against the sting of salt in the wound but finding herself oddly grateful for the sensation; it confirmed she was,prostrate on a beach whilst waves pounded her, but still undeniably alive

Why? she asked the Father, ry You cannot think I deserve to live You cannot reward one whose lie has killed soin its voluned to respond Her heart calmed when she realised the voice called out words she couldn’t understand, her still-cloudy vision finding the owner, a hulking shape in black labouring through the surf towards her The details of his garb became clear as he neared, a black leather jerkin, a silver medallion worn around the neck, and a whip on his belt Overseer