page2 (1/2)

The hiding and canized what they had given up and left behind forever Yes, they had lost much, but they still possessed their freedom and their lives, and here they could wear their pendants or tattoos of the black tree unhidden One day, Grandain, but in the ’s law

When the king discovered the existence of Second Ean to collapse almost immediately with the capture of their leader, Weldon Spurlock It was not Weldon who had revealed theiven, which led toadditional naed to escape with little more than a hundred of the faithful

Others chose to remain in Sacor City on the chance they’d not be discovered, and so had those ere too elderly or unfit to travel So to acquire information, and a feere operatives who kne to evade capture

The refugees froranite summit, where children recited lessons with Master Holdt and their parents washed laundry, repaired household goods, tended chickens and goats, and prepared for stalking ga the flanks of the mountain The soldiers camped across from them, where they currently sharpened blades, practiced swordplay, and ate breakfast Their tents and sturdy lean-tos were tucked into clusters of boulders and against outcrops

The soldiers were not children of the e Some were bandits, mercenaries, and deserters, but most were loyalists of the old Lord Mirwell, who had atteo The loyalists had been forced into hiding to avoid arrest and the inevitable execution

Grandht her people and the soldiers together, unlikely allies though they may be Her people required protection, and she needed to start building an ar be, she found the leader of the soldiers at a crossroads during their exodus She had no gold to pay the soldiers with, no position in life hich to reward theive the and Sacoridia

When the tiht, she would expand their ranks with the devout of Second Empire Already some of the men and older boys of her sect trained with the soldiers Others remained embedded with their units in provincial and private ’s own military When she called, they would come to her well trained and ready to attend to whatever task she set before them

Her ancestors had been wise toa network of sects across the provinces and into Rhovanny as well They had infiltrated not only the uilds They ran farms and sold wares They lived as any Sacoridian did, but secretly awaited the tiain

One day they would rule over those who had been their neighbors, control all trade and the military The empire would finally conquer this land of heathens This was the dream of the five who founded Second E War, and Grandmother did not think the fruition of that dream far off

Such thoughts alarmed her, made her proud of her people Over atheir secrets, and waiting ever so patiently Their day would come

The officer who commanded the soldiersin theand halted before her They had an appointment