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After a tortuous hour-long ride they broke into the parkland surrounding the arena where he forced Scar to full gallop, hearing a rising cacophony as they neared the great red-gold edifice So flickered in the corner of his eye and he turned to see a line of people running towards the arena’s south-facing wall, perhaps five hundred, all ar out the dark blue cloak and the faled Scar to the left, leaping corpses and thundering over hters, dragging hi line came to a slow stop as Frentis waved his sword They were an odd bunch,the , others plainly Alpiran or of Real theroup in this company to present a truly soldierly appearance

“Brother!” Frentis greeted hi to his side Vaelin was struck by his appearance, besmirched with blood and soot from head to toe, his sword blade stained red froed since he had last seen hiripped this city

Vaelin nodded at Weaver and the well-ordered Volarians surrounding him “Are those Varitai?”

“They call themselves Politai now,” Frentis said “It lanced over his shoulder as Orven’s guards and the Sentar rode into view, the Ally a them, his posture now considerably more alert as he scanned the arena Vaelin saw the s on his lips No need to conceal his anticipation now

“Unchained,” he repeated, turning back to Frentis “As were you, brother”

Frentis nodded, frowning a little in puzzle his sword at the arena “I have sound intelligence”

“I know” Vaelin cli towards the arena and beckoning Frentis to follow, speaking softly “We do not have much time, so listen well”

• • •

All sound of battle had faded by the time he entered the arena They had been delayed by a few Kuritai found in the uardsh to cut theaze tracked over the surrounding terraces as he stepped out onto the sand, finding them only a third full, nervous huddles of Volarian citizenry keeping their distance from companies of Realm Guard and Cumbraelin archers The queen stood in the centre of the arena, sside what appeared to be afrom its back

Reva ran to him as he approached, her embrace fierce and war back to deliver a playful slap to his cheek

He nodded and forced a shness I aaze oddly cool, the unaffected sreatest conquerer in Realm history, he reminded himself More than a queen now

“Lady Dahrena?” she asked, her gaze tracking over the co the brief spasenuine grief “Agreat loss,sound behind her, seeing another body slumped next to the monstrous ape, her eyes fixed not on hi, spitting blood across the sand as her hands twitched

“May I present Empress Elverah of the Volarian Empire,” the queen said