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The man blinked, and a different kind of sadness seemed to burden him than had troubled him when he’d strode past the car
"I know the nahly of you"
"And of you, Marc Which is why I’s"
Friedle’s eyes narrowed "What things ht those be?"
"Is there somewhere we could talk?" Jackson asked
The man arched an eyebrow and looked at Sara She realized that it was the first time he had focused on her since she and the sheriff had walked up behind Friedle together A shudder went through her Already the details of that face had begun to fade frolimpse and it had disappeared in an eye blink Sara had to consider that it had only been her iination, the stress of the past few months, and her inner conviction that Friedle was some kind of monster
But she’d never had hallucinations before, nor seen visions, so she couldn’t brush it off so easily
"I had just been going to the café for a sandwich and coffee You’re welcome to join me, and I’ll anshatever questions you’ve come so far to ask But, first, who is your lovely coer Where did you get an accent like that? Switzerland? Denmark?
"This is Sara Halliwell," the sheriff said "Her father was--is--, just like Oliver and Collette Bascoave her a syland with Julianna I’m very sorry It appears that I must add your name to the list of people I have failed"
Sara stared at him "What do you--"
Jackson shot her a look that reminded her that he was the sheriff and would ask the questions
The man they had come so far to speak with saw the h in approval "Perhaps you could both do with a bite to eat as well We can find a comfortable booth and discuss all of the mistaken assumptions that have been made about Max Bascombe’s murder, and the fate of those who’ve vanished"
That sounded good to Sara, in spite of the fact that she did not want to move any closer to the man who sometimes had the face of a monster
But Sheriff Norris took insult at the man’s words
"What mistaken assunawed his lower lip and such sadness carew moist and a tear slid down his cheek
"Oh, nearly all of theive you the truth You won’t accept it, but telling it is the least I can do I owe them all that much"
The lanced back and Sara flinched, afraid she would see that hideous face again But he looked perfectly nor, Sheriff, Miss Halliwell It’s a story that could cost my life, and it’s what you ca’s Gorgein their wake They were aa broad array of weaponry, but still Ovid Tsing felt proud of them
They would follow the Orient Road toward the Isthmus of the Conquistadors, and the moment they found a detache themselves to the commander of that force Whatever it took to defend Euphrasia, they would do In all his life, Ovid had never done anything as iainst the Borderkind They had shattered the Truce They had doms
They had to be stopped
The Jokao e militia The Stonecoats had rendezvoused with the across the plateau with a rumble that shook Ovid’s heart in his chest Soraved in the stone that armored their bodies, dyed deep, natural colors He had not been with thenize any hierarchy dependent upon these sigils, but knew their leader from the three ochre-painted furrows on his chest
Ovid would have preferred to have the Jokao at the front of their force, but the Stonecoats’ thunderous passing raised a great deal of dust Also, their presence seeends were often fore nu with thereater than Ovid had hoped--and they had sworn the same vow as the doms
When the last of his militia had passed, Ovid nodded at the leader of the Jokao and fell in with the final line of his recruits--the seven archers he had helped to train They greeted hiave hi, but enorladdened hi
They marched on From time to time he saw someone sip from a water-skin In another hour, they would stop for a brief rest and dry rations No full ht It had been planned fairly well, he thought The help he’d received from his lieutenants had been invaluable, but he would be relieved to hand over co’s army They would kno best to utilize volunteers, as well as how to keep thehts occupiedas his feet rose and fell Theto war, and there would be no
The day grearmer As they continued southwest, the heat would only increase, but he didn’t mind Ovid liked the way heat settled into his skin and then down into his bones It made him feel alive and vital Death always seemed close by when the snow fell
A voice shouted his nalanced to his left and saw LeBeau, the swordse of the road even as the militia marched on The troubled expression on the swords
"What is it?" Ovid demanded as he stepped out of the ranks
"Another army awaits us on the road ahead A rabble, I’d say, but I don’t see Hunyadi’s colors anywhere"
"Da across his chest, then caught up to the other archers who uard "Come withranks Ovid and LeBeau led the way, running alongside the rest of the militia As they neared the front of thehis bow in the air to draw their attention over the sto of the Stonecoats at the rear Men and woends that’d joined them, came to a stop Some watched him curiously, but the front line knew exactly why Ovid had halted them
Two hundred yards ahead, an arht have proclaireat many of them--perhaps three hundred--and a third of those had horses Where in a thousand Hells had they come from?
"What will you do?" LeBeau asked