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CHAPTER TEN

Vaelin

Dahrena returned to her body with a shout, doubling over as her face tensed in distress Vaelin pulled her close, holding her until the shudders subsided She had flown for only a short time, at her own insistence since the mountain folk continued to uish was not due to the depredations of her gift

“They’re in theup at hi all they can find He knew, Vaelin He knew I saw, and he laughed”

He gathered the Wolf People elders to hear her full report, watching the last vestige of hope fade fro-pro them,” Dahrena said, “Kuritai too The Free Swords are not so nu red with suspicion and fear They entered the o, I saw evidence of a battle and the re folk and old, no captives were taken They do not come for slaves” She paused, eyes closed as she forced herself to recall the s were done to those they took alive, their toraze met Vaelin’s “He wantedto the north-east They’refew patrols I saw roups, none with the strength to halt their advance”

“Then they will need our aid,” Vaelin said

“No” The hooded man was the only one present to be seated, perched close to a ca stick

“You have advice to offer, Master Erlin?” Vaelin asked hihed and drew back his hood, offering Dahrena a smile rich in sympathy “They have more than twice our nuuarded look at Vaelin and nodded

“The tribes would have to unite to have a chance against the to Vaelin “And they won’t I tried to warn the chieftains but they wouldn’t listen, thinking this just another slaving can Every few years the Volarians coht off with ore and captives taken fro warriors can earn their first scars It’s been going on for over two hundred years now and is almost ritual They do not understand what they face By the time you join battle they’ll be defeated and scattered”

Erlin turned back to the fire, Vaelin noting the whiteness of his knuckles on his stick as he prodded the embers He’s afraid, he realised What could scare a man who cannot die?

“You are known to the tribes,” he said “You can guide us to them? Speak for us?”

“They do not speak as one When the tribes are not fighting each other they fight aotiated with all it will be too late In any case, they will see you and these people as just nore a slaughter?”

“The Ally’s creature is trying to draw you out, surely you see that And you did not coine I hold The key to defeating the Ally”

Vaelin frowned at the sardonic note in Erlin’s voice, the tone of aan all-too-predictable outcome “This has happened before?”

“There have been a few over the centuries Scholars, kings”—he gave Vaelin a brief, regretful grin—“warriors All facing the unhappy truth of the Ally’s existence, guided to h none found me in times quite so troubled as these”

“The Ally means to hed and got to his feet “Then I had best show you what I showed them, brother” He pointed his stick towards the east where the black clouds hung low over the peaks “Though I doubt these folk will find the cli”

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