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“Aye,” one of theed his horse away fro for the crossroads
The first speaker then turned in his saddle to address the others “Jeremy, you’re with me Whittle, you are to stay here with the lady” He and the rider na their horses toward the crossroads but halting just at the edge of the road, re within the cover of the woods They sat there, apparently waiting Waiting for what?
Karigan wondered if “the lady” seated on the white horsesidesaddle Perplexed, she whispered to Fergal, “I’ a closer look You stay here”
Before he could protest, she called upon her ability to fade and stepped out from behind their cluster of boulders She crept toward Whittle and the lady as silently as possible When she got near enough to identify features, she alal and behind the boulders, dropping the fading
“That’s Lady Estora on the white horse,” Karigan told him without preamble “Her hands are bound—she’s a prisoner”
Fergal’s mouth dropped open in surprise
“We’ve got to act,” Karigan told hiot to act quickly That’s our future queen being held captive, and we have no idea of what’s about to happen to her I need your help, Fergal Will you do exactly as I ask? I’ a lot of you”
There was a slight hesitation before Fergal nodded “Aye Anything I’ll do anything you ask”
Karigan smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder “You wanted our errand to be ht, here’s e’re going to do The darkness will be our friend…”
In the ht, Estora saw before her an intersection of roads with a signpost in its center She could not, however, read the lettering for it was too dark and too distant Sarge ordered her and Whittle to remain several yards under cover of the woods He sent Clay off to do his usual scouting while Jere for what? Or for whom?
Falan shook herShe was as restless as Estora felt
Thunk
Both she and Whittle glanced into the woods at the unbidden noise
“What was that?” Estora asked him
He scratched his head “Nothing, most like”
Crack The unmistakable snap of a branch
“Anie and Jeremy, but they had not moved, had not seemed to hear the noise