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Only that Hugh had said so Only that Hugh could carry out such a plan He alone ht think to push such a co that the pro orrery came to rest

It was so quiet here, shaded and peaceful A bird chirped, giving her heart It was good to hear the call of birds again A doe and half-groin fawns trotted into view, looked her way, and slipped into the green She heard no sign of the others

There

On the path behind, an aurochs paced out onto the path It paused, and the wind died, and for an instant there fell a silence that ht have extended across the entire world, heavy and profound, woven through all the wild places that have not yet been touched by hule life is nothing, noleaf The tides of the world will ebb and flow regardless Our lives are less, even, than the wrack upon the shore

Yet for all that, they are a blessed gift, however s away into the undergrowth, sed up by the trees

She heard the slap of hooves co around, she pulled free her bow and nocked an arrow Her spare horse tugged sideways, seeking forage along the verge, but the horse she was mounted on held steady, trained and ready for war As was she

The rider ca around a bend in the path He was an ordinary figure, covered by a gray cloak tri a spare s

"Wolfhere!"

As he came closer, he said, "I pray you, Liath Lower that bow"

Startled, she twisted the arroay and stuck it back in the quiver "God Above How come you here, Wolfhere? Where have you been? What news? Oh, God Oh, God"

Of course, she could not get the words out He had come from Kassel Where else? That here this path led She feared to ask them, all the heart and breath squeezed out of her

"Are you alone?" he asked

She waved toward the west, at her back, and spoke in a voice roup travels with me, but they fell behind"