Page 62 (1/1)

'Have you looked inside?'

The soldier shook his head

'It has recently been resealed,' the old warrior observed 'The varnish is chipped and there is a smell of resin'

The soldier stood stiffly to attention

'I took possession of the box as instructed I was not instructed to open it'

The old warrior inserted a blade and broke the seal

'You paid in gold?'

'I handed over a sealed bag'

'The Catti have a new Head Master '

'That is correct, Excellency He is the one they call Sky Warrior'

'Hgh,' the old warrior grunted 'Let us see what the Sky Warrior gave you for the contents of that bag'

He re face of the foron's feet

'We paid gold and this is e got!'

A gasp went up fro at the soldier who had delivered the box His knife curved up under the man's breastplate and entered his heart

'Death to all who disobey ue and was relieved to see the look of approval on the tribesmen's faces His prompt action had prevented a riot

Alvero entered thethere The natives weren't so bad when you got to know theot used to that Soe and treated them as equals He felt ho e of land and lots of o home He didn't like irlfriends knew that

There was one he particularly wanted to see He'd got to know her when he was on guard duty outside King Pius' residence She was a servant there and knew Princess Adrina He'd even spoken to the princess, bidding her good day in the native language To his surprise she returned the greeting in his own language, speaking his own dialect

A young boy sidled up to hie Alvero was suspicious There was a sort of boy who traded his body for e is froave me this to show you'

The boy held out a piece of linen It caarment and bore the chevron pattern of the Royal House of Gorm Alvero was still suspicious He had friends who had received invitations froirls, only to find themselves confronted by their male relatives