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Dahohts were posted at each end, their horses tethered There were easily twenty e Lia knew that daas coh the Queen Dowager’s ar past the soldiers without a fight was her first choice

Lia led the way, her bow ready, an arrow nipped in the string Sheto reach the shadow of the bridge that their torchlight could not expose She heard the of the cold and wondering when they would abandon the bridge and join their fellows in the woods surrounding the Abbey

"We will be warh," one of the stones of the Abbey This land is cursed with cold and mist"

Lia reached the block of stone at the base of the bridge, mid-stream She could hear the soldiers above her, but no one had heard her approach Elloatching the bridge, nearly stuht her and kept her near hihed in relief and listened There was the loud ru from the north in the darkness Shedown at the black waters, Lia shuddered How deep was the river? She could not tell It looked absolutely frigid The far end was not near enough to juuarded She was not counting on having to cross two rivers Hoould they cross quietly enough? They had to cross directly under the bridge or the knights ht see the to think

Colvin dragged Ellowyn up to the hiding place, clutching her hand as she shook, her teeth chattering The girl was too cold A dunk in the river ht their way across

"It is Dieyre," ca voice "He looks vexed"

Another chill swept down Lia’s spine but not because of the water or the breeze How she wanted to reward hi horses closed in and the soldiers clustered along the banks There were probably a dozen riders in all, theHooves dashed in the dirt

Dieyre’s voice was unn of them?"

"Of who,down the river this way They should have reached you by now No sign of Forshee or the girls?"

"Believe us," said a tired voice, "If there oht, ould have noticed Soht as this Would you agree, my lord? I do not see your prisoner with you Where is she?"

Lia and Colvin faced each other, their eyes ht Marciana

"Safe and quite warm, I assure you I left her on a fur coverlet with cider and meat You can pay for your pleasures when the work is finished Some of the lasses at the Abbey are pretty Stay here until the next watch, then ride hard I want you at Muirwood by dawn"

"We will not be late, my lord"

The clop of hooves started across the stones above the one at a ti She whispered that in Colvin’s ear He understood Dieyre’s arrival would help them cross undetected

"How deep is the water?" Colvin whispered to her She shrugged Nodding, he held her shoulders and ventured into the river first He scoith the shock of cold water but he was tall enough he could stand It was up to his waist Motioning for Ellowyn, he reached out to her She looked confused, but Lia helped lead her into his arht and then looked back at Lia "I will come back for you," he whispered

She shook her head "No, I will follow I am not that cold"

He shook his head violently "Wait for me" Then he stepped deeper into the river The clatter and clash of hooves overhead was like thunder Ellowyn squeezed around his neck, burying her face against his cheek He struggled with her weight and his footing Lia clenched her teeth, willing his feet to find safety The water was deeper in the her, teeth set, and then the worst was over and they were in the shallows on the other side He deposited her on thethe river again to thewith cold and terrified by the proximity of the soldiers above

He beckoned for her to co off the rock, she lowered herself into his ar of the river again, she held her boith one hand and wrapped her other arm around his neck, her mouth near his ear He stepped deeper into the cold depths, his entire body shuddering with the cold His teeth rattled, despite his tight clenching With his face so near, she could alh all was deep with shadow He nearly stuher, to keep her away frorasp of the current