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Like a flash of lightning, Baldwin’s pale hair showed up within the crowd Ivar raised a hand to hail hi at his beard "They just won’t listen to me! There’s anotherI told hie, but he said--" He took a second look at thethe Quht we’d escaped the at Baldith the look of a young bull stunned by a sledge bloeen the eyes Lord Berthold’s eyes had gone quite round

"He’s not our enemy, Baldwin In what direction have you come from, Lord Berthold?"

"From the west, and the southwest, before that We have traveled all the way north froh St Barnaria’s Pass We only arrived here at Hersford this "

"Then have you been all this ti before Autun?"

"We cale’s path, known to our guide We did not see Autun at all, nor any Eika" These matters were of little interest to hio up to the crown Maybe we can still find the his head "They’re dead, Berthold Don’t believe otherwise"

"Who is dead?" asked Baldwin

A file of rave’s son shifted to let them pass into the church for Vespers and Compline In their wake, Prior Ratbold hurried up

"I pray you, my lords," he said "Pray with us It would do us honor"

Berthold ran a hand nervously through his hair, still staring toward the half hidden swell of hill and forest rising to the west-northwest Jonas tugged on his sleeve, and he retreated backward and through the door, looking over his shoulder at the darkening sky The Quman sank to his haunches in the posture of a ht The prior frowned at hi hiaze on Ivar and Baldwin

"Will you come inside, Brother Ivar? Brother Baldwin?" The question was as e as request

"Perhaps it would be better if we rode on tonight," said Ivar

"Of course we’ll pray!" Baldwintoward the distant smithy, where smoke poured heavenward in a steady, thin streaht deepened

"It would be safer for you to leave at daybreak," said the prior "Strange creatures walk abroad in the night, half man and half ani you Or their dogs"

Ivar shuddered Ratbold was a hard but basically decent man with a sharp te others squirood folk see that you do not fear to bide here," the prior continued "Their hearts tremble, for they know that Father Ortulfus is lost to the Eika"

"Not dead," said Ivar "He wasn’t killed, but only taken prisoner"

"Just so! I beg you, stand and speak this word before the assembly They will believe you, for you have seen it with your own eyes Let us pray together to God, and plead with God to restore him to us Is that too much to ask of you?"

Ivar could not refuse Before the service began, he raised his voice and told the assembly of monks what he had seen Afterward, he knelt with the others when it was appropriate to kneel, and stood when one round into his knees His feet hurt, and his eyes stung fro off torches bound frohly dry,With each breath he sucked s headache flowered into life behind his eyes as the liturgy sang around him

"Blessed is the Country born out of the Mother of Life Blessed is Her Son Blessed is the Holy Word revealed, now and ever and unto ages of ages"

One of the holy men paced out the stations of the blessed Daisan’s life and ministry, the seven miracles, and the final redemption, but it all see the responses with enthusiasm

"Kyrie eleison Lady have mercy For healthful seasons, for the abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray"