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Conrad and Sabella had reached Kassel before then of the Eika The Varren tents circled two thirds of the valley, which was anchored to the north on a wide slope so steep that a recent avalanche had torn through the trees In the broad valley, e works Work was particularly busy along the eastern edge

Ivar tried to estimate the number of Varren troops but could not Beside him, Wolfhere spoke in a low voice to Berthold

"More than ten centuries, my lord, but less than twenty Yet see what banners rise above the citadel!" Behind Kassel’s walls flew the Wendish banner, with eagle, lion, and dragon, and the Eagle of Fesse, together with a black dragon banner Ivar had never seen before "Duchess Liutgard has returned It "

"It was always Henry’s wish, or at least so h it was never to be spoken of I think that’s why Father wanted Waltharia to ood idea that she had a chance to becorandchildren royal"

"He meant her to rule both Wendar and Varre and the marchland?" Wolfhere asked

"Nay I thinkto pass to le, Ivar sulked, wishing the youth liked hiave him the charisht to have passed as ic that had stolen so eant in charge of theyour pardon, led company crossed fields and were herded into the outer reaches of the encampold and flew the banner of Arconia’s guivre, while the other boasted pure gold cloth blazoned all around its sides with the stallion of Wayland, bold and strong To the ground before these tents they were brought, and eant went inside and ca," he said In the distance they heard a chorus of cheers, and he looked up and in that instant his face opened to reveal all the loyalty and love he gave to his duke "Well, here he comes Get do"

Berthold did not kneel, and so none of the others did, not even Ivar

The procession arrived, two-score men in mail and helave that bastard a scare!" said the darkuntil he saw the prisoners, shorn of their weapons and strange to look on

"Good God!" He tossed his hel down, and crossed to stand before the prisoners, surveying them with a sly smile A trio of whippets loped up to lick his hands "Good lord! You are Villam’s son, the one that was lost Can it be? What sorcery has restored you to the land of the living?"

"I was never dead," said Berthold stoutly "In truth, Cousin, I think I ht have slept under a stone crown for many years What sorcery bound me I cannot say This man, Lord Jonas, is the only one who survived of the six who accompanied me I pray you, do you h way? Surely we are kinshed "Coht If you’ve been asleep for years, you must have developed a powerful thirst! Yet these others …" He stared for the longest time at Berda, shook his head, squinted at Odei, noted Brother Heribert, nodded at Wolfhere with the casual nizes, and finally settled on Ivar "Pull off that hood"

Grimly, Ivar obeyed

"Ah, indeed, the rufus boy fro in and out of ain?"

"Ivar, son of Count Harl of the North Mark and Countess Herlinda"

"Yes Lord Berthold, you travel with a strange and puzzling retinue A banished Eagle, a Quins I cannot account for, a cleric, and Lord Ivar as last known to be dead I aht to be dead are walking on Earth like soTide"

"We are not dead, hter, Lady Elene"

Like a hound catching a scent, Conrad went rigid He disht up to the Eagle until his height and breadth and stature overwhelle did not back down