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Alain hurried after the to call them to heel They had really run this time He could not keep up with theates, and loped east along the Hellweg

He followed as well as he could, unwilling to give up their trail At length an escort of riders caught up with him on the road, with spare horses, and he saw behind the at their own tireless jog

These were powerful reinforcements, but even so, a ain, eat a slice of bread and cheese when he has not eaten since the day before, and take a drink Horses et, surely, for how else could their unnatural stamina be explained?

In the end, it took hi in thethe Hersford Monastery had been built to keep wild aniates could not sustain an assault by armed forces, but they were closed nevertheless when Liath lie The exertions of the previous day had caused her thigh wound to flare with pain It was not fully healed Maybe, with poison scarring the tissue, it would never fully heal

Anna was her sole attendant The servant held on to the staff as though it was the only thing that kept her walking

Folk lined the stockade wall, armed with staves, scythes, sharpened staffs, shovels, and a trio of pitchforks Beyond thethe eastern horizon but with the wind at her back, she was safe from their rain for now

"I pray you," she shouted "I ahter of Bernard In earlier days I rode as an Eagle at the co Henry I aot no answer

"I seek a irl child, in appearance no e"

In difficult tiers are ed her audience suspicious of her A ate and walked toward her, stopping at a distance perfectly balanced to allow hih away that he could bolt if she threatened hiees are under e There are others with you, but they hide in the woods Who are they?"

She did not turn, knowing better, but naturally Anna did, taken by surprise when, after all, they had decided ahead of ti

The prior slanced at the stockade When he nodded, shovels and staves and fists were raised and shaken defiantly

"So arned," he said, turning back to face her "Go on your way This ainst God’s holiest law to abandon one who has begged for Her sanctuary"

The wind shifted, skating in out of the north Although it was summer, this wind blew chill, and Liath shivered Far away, thunder growled

"The girl he holds captive is hter, Brother Ratbold I will come in and fetch her, whatever you say I would rather do so peaceably"

"That child he saved froe and dressed in scraps? Growling and biting like a dog? He saved her from the clutch of the Enemy!"

"So you believe He has told you lies and woven thehter, I will leave you in peace"

The prior had the tenacious look of a dog bred to go after vermin, and he had also the broad shoulders of aa stave or spear in defense of the innocent He did not back down "Every person who can bear arms has risen to the defense of this monastery today All these were driven from their homes by the creatures of the Ene, and worse still, what crops were sown are left unattended Famine will stalk us in the seasons to coht now," ua sent his nal by now if there was fighting back there What will you do,them talk between themselves "What will you do?" he asked, in an echo of Anna’s soft words

Liath took one step toward him, and he took one step back "I ah of Austra has told you is a lie"