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Her sto when she realized that Colvin was so near Would she see hih to see hi her heart cruelly She was so thankful to have the Cruciger orb and hoould help her find the be spent with him? Would she be able to tell hi of hi her eyes shut, she forced away thoughts of the new day Sleep – she desperately needed to sleep

The pallet was co, that she drifted off to sleep, re vividly the Alderht of the Great Storht there by Seth, bleeding and unconscious A knock at the door had announced the arrival A fitful knocking A persistent knocking

"Get thee gone, we are closed!" Huette hissed through the door "There is no cider here Get thee gone!"

The voice answering was gruff and heavily accented – the accent of her native country "Open thy door We serve the earl of Dieyre"

Lia’s blood went cold and she sat up instantly

"Go thy way!" one of the patrons roared from the loft "We care not!" Mutters of assent ca turned louder Lia was about to warn her, when Huette lifted the crossbar and opened the door a small way "I do not care who thy ners and I shall hail the…"

She was flung backwards as the knight shoved past her to enter Fourtheir tunics made her stomach clench with dread She did not know any of theance and pride would have announced theue, woainst us" Their eyes searched across the roo at the eripped a sword hilt ry

Anotherat Jouvent "Lad, here is a coin Is there a young lass here with golden hair? She arrived in the Holk before twilight She has hair like flax or gold and ith frets The earl will pay handsomely if she is found Dost thou knohere she is, lad? Dost thou?"

"It be rude to accost us thus," Huette said with fury "Thou art not welcome here Take thy crow coins and fly with theone!"

Jouvent slowly backed away from them, towards the front door He did not look at Lia once "Aye," he said slowly "I have seen the lass"

"Have you now?" said the knight, walking towards him firmly

Jouvent backed away even faster "I shall tell thee what I know Give me thy coin first, to help ht enter from outside Jouvent saw him too late and the led suddenly, wriggling like he was ht clenched hard and steadied hi the knight by the collar, but he shoved her back

"Lia," the new arrival said in her native language His voice carried through the inn "We know you are here You were foolish to stay in one place so long There are five of us, girl and Dieyre has already warned us what you are capable of He does not wish you any harm He only seeks to speak with you Coive you my word, Lia" He squeezed Jouvent’s arm so hard the boy yelped with pain

Lia stood fully in the corner where she was concealed Already Huette and Jouvent had sacrificed for her "I am reassured by your promises," Lia said tartly "I know full well the earl of Dieyre is a man of his word When it suits him"

The five turned and faced her They each wore chain hauberks, covered by the tunics of theirJouvent leered at her "Well, it is true But he inforo That your handYou seeh As I said, he only wishes to speak with you"

"I co, and approached them They seemed to watch her warily She looked at each of their faces, at their s presumption that any one of them could outmatch her They were servants of the best swordsdoms, so they had a reputation at least to uphold