| She heard screaming so loud she felt the sound as painThen she became aware of something elseNorth of them, that hillAnd in that moment Elena and the three other Night Walkers understood why they had been summoned, feeling in their own minds the punishing weight of the assault they had to resist
Back in Castle Borso, Alienor stood by, helpless and blind in her uncertainty, understanding nothing of this at all, only knowing that it was happening, that it was upon them at lastShe wanted to pray, to reach back toward words not thought or spoken in almost twenty yearsShe saw Elena bring her hands up to cover her face
"Oh no," she heard the girl whisper in a voice thin as old parchment"So strong! How can one man be so strong?"
Alienor's hands gripped each other so tightly the knuckles were whiteShe waited, desperately seeking a clue to what was happening to all of them, so far to the north submariner rolex where she could not go
She did not, could not hear Sandre d'Astibar's reply to Elena: He is strong yes, but with you we will be stronger! Oh, children, we can do it now! In the name of the Palm, together we can be strong
enough!
What Alienor did see was how Elena's hands came down, how her white face grew calm, the wild, primitive terror leaving her staring eyes
"Yes," she heard the other woman whisper
Then there was silence in that room in Castle Borso under the Braccio PassOutside, the cool wind of the highlands blew the high white clouds across the sun and away, and across it and away, and a
single hunting hawk hovered on motionless wings in that passing of light and shadow over the face of the mountains
In fact, the next man scrabbling up the slope of the cliff was Ducas di TregeaDevin had actually begun to swing his sword before he recognized who it was
Ducas reached the summit in two copy mulberry handbag hard, churning strides and stood beside himHe was a fearful sightHis face was covered in blood, dripping down into his beardThere was blood all over him, and wet on his swordHe was smiling though, a terrible red look of battle-lust and rage
"You are hurt!" he said sharply to Devin
"I wouldn't talk," Devin grunted, pressing his left hand to his torn side"Come on!"
Quickly they turned back eastMore than fifteen of the Ygrathens were still on their summit, pressing forward against the untrained band of men Alessan had kept back to defend the wizardsThe numbers were almost even, but the Ygrathens were the picked and deadly warriors of that realm
Even so, even with this, they were not getting throughAnd they would not, Devin realized with a surge of exultation in his heart, rising high over pain and grief
They would not, because facing them, side by side, swinging blades together in their discount hermes longed-for battle after all the long waiting years that had run by, were Alessan, Prince of Tigana, and Baerd bar Saevar, the only brother of his soul, and the two of them were absolute and deadly, and even beautiful, if killing could be so
Devin and Ducas rushed overBut by the time they got there five Ygrathens only were left, then threeOne of them made as if to lay down his swordBefore he could do so, a figure moved forward with an awkward, deceptive swiftness from the ring guarding the wizardsDragging his lame foot, Ricaso came up to the YgrathenBefore anyone could stay him he swung his old, half-rusted blade in a passionate, scything arc, cleaving through the links in armor to bury itself in the man's breast
Then he fell to his knees on the ground beside the soldier he'd killed, weeping as though his soul was pouring out of him
Which left one of them onlyAnd the last was the leader, the dior monogram messenger bag large, broad-chested man Devin had seen down belowThe man's hair was plastered flat to his head, he was red-faced with heat and exhaustion, sucking hard for breath, but his eyes glared at Alessan
"Are you fools?" he gasped"Fighting for the Barbadian? Instead of with a man who has joined the Palm? Do you want to be slaves?"
Slowly Alessan shook his head"It is twenty years too late for Brandin of Ygrath to join the PalmIt was too late the day he landed here with an invading forceI would prefer not to kill youWill you give us an oath in your own name and lay down your sword in surrender?"
Beside Devin, Ducas snarled angrilyBut before the Tregean could speak, the Ygrathen said: "My name is RhamanusI offer it to you in pride, for no dishonor has ever attached to that nameYou will have no oath from me thoughI swore one to the King I love before I led his Guard hereI told him I would stop you or fendi spy die |