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Secha wove the gate; she and Eldest Uncle would reh sparks and the bright blue light of the aetherical gateway to another place As her feet found earth again and the blue aether surrounding thelanced immediately toward the sky, but a dawn haze hid the heavens

"What’s this?" A dozen mask warriors approached The perimeter was held by double ranks of bold soldiers

"Two prisoners for Feather Cloak," said Sharp Edge tartly She sauntered past with a sly so, a in a line down her half-naked back to brush the low-slung band of her skirt She had a shocking amount of skin exposed, but the Ashioi were not, on the whole, a modest people

Liath followed, head bowed but eyes lifted, and Anna walked behind her, frightened enough that Liath heard her panting When they cauard and started down the path that led to the base of the hill, Liath raised her head to survey the landscape A town, ringed with a stone wall, nestled where the higher foothills broke into a rolling plain All seeates were closed and there was no traffic in and out A wide road, no doubt paved in the time of the Dariyan Empire, cut northward into the hills toward distant peaks, most shrouded in cloud North beyond the reaches of Karrone and Wayland lay Wendar and Varre, closer now She breathed in, wondering if she could discern any least change in the air, some hint of northern spice They had in one "stride" crossed a vast region of land, all of Dalhland trees, the landscape was brown and gold, little different than the sere countryside of Ashioi country It s

The Ashioi walked in Aosta, a land their half-breed descendants had once ruled The Ashioi are around Novoh soldiers to encircle the town, and no doubt the paths leading northward re ith them

The small company tramped down to the main road and turned toward the town A sparse woodland covered the slopes of nearby hills Vineyards and olive trees ringed the town, arain No one e

Anna moaned "They’ve burned all those houses" She ith fear "Do you think they’ve killed everyone? They hate us"

"Maybe so," said Liath, "but ‘they’ do not all think alike, Anna Some will help us So, ill need your help"

"She won’t co to be a soldier"

Sharp Edge, hearing their speech, dropped back to walk beside Liath "Bright One, do you think your daughter will follow us? It’s said that Zuangua, who is a bold leader and a very handso"

"So I hear"

"She , if Feather Cloak takes you and kills you I do not want to lose you Without you, I will never have a chance to learn properly The Pale Sun Dog hoards his knowledge He’ll never teach us everything he knows He’ll never trust us"

"It is a risk," Liath adhter to remain with your people, then she will always be at ith her father’s kin She ht up by those ill always counsel ith huht think differently"

"It is hard to i on the Eagle Seat and Zuangua the Handsome--her own uncle!--as her chief councillor and war leader a to try to get your daughter back I will help you, and you will teach et what I want any other way!"

Liath chuckled, although her ri Mask, ith Falcon Mask led the way "See, there are hu the walls of the town But our own cahts of warriors ready to strike"

"There!" said Sharp Edge "The war party is holding a convocation, there on that hill Do you see their banners? Nay, stop here!"

They halted where the curve and height of the road gave theround Individual folk were easily visible a the earth A procession led by Feather Cloak’s spinning gold wheel broke free of the asse just beyond bowshot of the walls