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The queen grasped the i about her neck
'I pray that you are right, Sky Warrior'
A long causeway stretched out from the fortified settlement of Dunavon to a small island in the estuary Ships lay at anchor beside the many wharfs and warehouses that lined itstransport vessels Others were sleek warships with dragon prows and banks of oars Shrines to the Holy Mother reminded visitors that they had entered territory controlled by natives still loyal to the religion of their ancestors
The warriors who defended the island were dressed in brightly coloured tunics and carried shields emblazoned with the head of a boar, the eon boats wore sealskin and their shields were decorated with a winged dragon, the emblem of the powerful maritime tribe of Galboreth
On that sultry sued around half-naked on the decks of the transports It was hot by local standards and they were content to soak up the sun and let others get on with the job of loading the boats with lead and hides for the long trip back to Ibero and other parts of the e beneath a sealskin cloak He plodded up a rae decks His sack crashed down unconvincingly An agent of the e very suspicious about the lad
He stepped over the sack and made his way down a hatch to the main cabin A gy trousers and a linen tunic that hung open to reveal a powerful chest covered in dark hair His face was clean-shaven and the hair on his head was grey He rose and smiled
'I alad to see you, Uncle'
Adrina pulled back the hood of her sealskin cloak and duathered in a bun Beads of perspiration ran down her face She shook her hair loose and undid the toggles that fastened her tunic
'Phew That was hot work'
She spoke in the southern language
The rown since we last er and you have grown more handsome than ever'
Her uncle's eyes continued to bore into her
'Your mother worries about you'
The reply was not welcome Adrina knew her ot old They saw problems everywhere Once you fell into that trap you were finished You ht just as well be dead Success came to those who seized the moment