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And farther yet, beyond all, you ht and darkness, whirling in a silence so vast that it is both so, substance and void, an infinite span irain of sand resting in the palm of his hand

This is the Abyss, into which all of huht, incandescent and enco, the rose of coed him, and he fell flat on his buttocks and found hi and his head aching froht into his face What cal discontent Restlessness stirred in his heart

Liath was returning to Wendar, but she would coer will always ride in the world There was still work to be done

He stood shakily and raised both hands "I release you," he said to the guivre "Go free, friend You have honored the trust I placed in you"

Its chirp was as high and light as that of a baby bird, incongruous in such a huge and terrifying beast It opened its wings, spanning the width of the road, bunched its haunches, and sprang heavenward The draft slapped him back down on the road The hounds were flattened by it, and men and riders who had until now re to their knees, horses pushed sideithin the circle of that powerful gust It gained height, circled once, and arrowed northwest, back toward its old haunts deep in the wild forestlands where few ot to his feet although every ure of Conrad The duke of Wayland had been tossed fro to rise and grasp his sword as the influence of the guivre waned Alain drew the sword, wresting it out of the duke’s hand, and heaved it to one side It rang on the stone paving and tumbled off the roadbed

Conrad blinked, shook hiered to his feet "What led body and the shattered wagon "Ai, God!" he cried, stulant! Cousin!"

"Call off your men," said Alain

Conrad looked up at him in surprise, noted the hounds, and with a shake of his head recognized him

"Call off your men," repeated Alain "The battle is over"

Movee works, and up along the ridgeline as soldiers found their legs and crept cautiously to get a view of the field The silence was oppressive, but it also made men hesitant to strike the first blow at others as bewildered and groggy as themselves

Alain trotted over to the Wayland’s banner bearer, a towheaded lad still rubbing his eyes as he searched for the banner he had dropped which lay folded in the dirt He wore a horn looped to his belt Alain tugged it free before the lad had recovered enough strength to protest, and raised it to his own lips

Four ti over the field When it faded, a second horn answered and then a third, one higher voice and one lower A captain wearing Wendish colors fell to his knees beside Sanglant’s body He lifted a horn to hiscry, and broke off as he folded forward in anguish Conrad reached to co a hand on his shoulder

To the southeast, a procession-- the banner of Saony Of Arconia’s banner there was no sign Individuals rose froon: a cleric in torn and dusty robes; a dozen soldiers groaning as they saw the wreck of their noble leader; a young Eagle hite hair; a pair of young, dazed-looking noble le of Eika shifting a cautious advance down the raons onto the slope Alain saw the one he sought at the head of this coe with the broken haft of what had once been his standard Alain handed the horn back to Conrad’s standard-bearer and loped forith the hounds at his heels

"Brother!" he called

The Eika raised a hand in salute

When only a few paces separated thehand halted They stared at each other because they were, in this way and at this h they had dreahand had changed He had an Eika’s posture, bold as predators are bold, accustomed to the kill, but a man’s expression