Page 38 (1/2)

The sounds of war carried to them up the hill, the area around the head of the Isthh Oliver Their view of the ocean unnerved hiht soothed him and it seemed soht to haveme out," Julianna said

"Hell, yeah," Oliver said, glancing at her as they labored up the hill "Of course it is"

"I don’t justup here, after they’ve all taken off Like we’ve been left behind on purpose, cheese baiting the trap"

Oliver frowned "This isn’t--"

"I know" She waved his protest away "But I’d feel safer down there with all the people who have weapons"

Even as she said it, they caer one Six riders sat atop their horses around the tent and a couple of dozen others were spread out at the top of the hill Twowar hammers stood on either side of the tent’s entrance In the air, robed in dark green, a trio of Mazikeen floated over the tent

"The King’s Guard," Julianna said

Blue Jay glanced back at the "We’re only hu Julianna squeezed his hand

"You’re not," she said "I’ up with you"

"You got ," Oliver said, but only because he couldn’t think of any reply that wasn’t a joke Hoas he supposed to respond to that? He wasn’t ready yet to start thinking about hih in his heart, he had always been a child of torlds

Julianna rolled her eyes

He lifted her hand and kissed it

Blue Jay stopped in front of the tent Oliver and Julianna halted on either side of hi’s Guard ran to meet them

"Tell hi woirl--widened her eyes in surprise, nodded, and nearly fled into the tent

"Damn, you’re like Elvis now," Julianna whispered to hied from the tent, pulled a flap aside, and nodded for the Hunyadi, will see you"

Blue Jay gru about protocol in the middle of a war, but Oliver couldn’t quite make out the entire sentiment He held back so that Julianna could precede him into the tent, and went in last

A table with round and troop deploy Hunyadi still looked like the rough-hewn, bearded fisherman he had seemed when Oliver had first encountered him, despite the armor and the sword at his side Damia Beck stood with him in the tent Blue Jay strode over to the tall black woers entwining As they traveled together over the past few days, Blue Jay had spoken of Damia quite a bit--and Oliver remembered her from their brief encounters in Euphrasia--but he’d had a hard tiri the way they looked at each other erased all of his preconceptions

Frost stood in a far corner, deep in conversation with Wayland Sh his lance

"Collette!" Julianna cried happily

The to-lost sisters Oliver stood by during their reunion, until Collette detached herself and turned to look at hiot a bit of a tan," Oliver said

"I’ve been on alife," Collette replied "Of course, the boat was stolen and ere getting shot at, but beyond that, very luxurious Hence the tan"

Oliver drew his sister into his arotten you back here alive, I’d have killed him," Oliver whispered into her hair "Damn it, Coll, I was afraid for you"

Collette ran her hands up and down his arms and stepped back "Me, too, little brother But at least you had Julianna to look after you"

"Oliver," Blue Jay said, sharply

He turned to see King Hunyadi looking at him and Julianna expectantly

"Your Majesty, I’an

"We’re both sorry," Oliver said "It’s just that ere--"

Hunyadi held up a hand His eyes spoke of hard-isdom, but also of a fondness that touched Oliver

"I understand And it’s good to see you,and the time has come for all of us to share e know For the sake of Euphrasia, for the Two Kingdoend-Born ht now, depends upon you two"

He nodded at Oliver and then Collette

"Your presence means a lot to the human soldiers down there amidst the bloodshed and monsters Still, it would be simpler if you were elsewhere"

Oliver opened his hands wide "But we’re here And we can help, Your Majesty All , whether in a court of law or on the stage The ti real"

"You can’t--" Julianna began

"He’s right," Collette interrupted "We have--it’s hard for ic in us We can help"

Frost flowed across the tent on a blast of frigid air "No Absolutely not"

Oliver turned on hih of you pulling the strings You’ve got sooes well for you But we’ll make our own decisions"

The winter es "I did what I had to do"