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"It is," he allowed "Upon the dawn of the new era, you will be free"

She smiled, relieved, and sat without invitation He had found her a good listener during their year together, her wo the arht so hard "I am pleased you have a new battle-witch"

"A battle-witch is sacred I cannot take her as queen," he said curtly

"As queen?" She appeared confused "Certainly not You will retire her rather than continue this needless war after Brown Sun Lake falls to you, and return to your ho what he had said He had ad any real thought to what happened to her once the as over That some small part of hi a warrior queen, like the great warrior queen who began the curse, struck him with some unease From whence had those words come and more i the battle-witch, his thoughts had begun straying froards to her

"I jest," he replied

His betrothed continued to frown "'Tis a jest in poor taste, m'lord She is a sacred symbol to every warrior out there, one that need be respected, her skin forever protected froladly share your bed, m'lord, if you need the company of a woman"

"I arowled Normally, he welcomed the idea of a woman anted into his bed after a battle, when his blood still pumped with victory and pride

Yet he had been careful not to seek coht's sisters, not when he needed them for a different reason

"We ride early for Brown Sun Lake," he said "You need your rest"

Understanding the dismissal, she rose without another word, curtseyed and left

The Shadow Knight watched her go, resentful and frustrated She represented a battle he had not yet ith a arded her as a symbol of hope and a peaceful future, and she was useful to him in that role

Unlike the inconsistent battle-witch, as a syreat curse, victory, - and the past The tere opposites in nearly every way and alike in one: the beautiful women were keys to his submission of the entire realm, each in her own different way

Mind on the battle-witch, he left the tent for the cool night Her squire was bent over a scroll in the firelight, carefully recording the events of the day's battle Wise behind his years, the squire had been taught at a young age how to read and write and reht's army who held that skill