chapter 12

  THECOLDANDACRAMPEDSTIFFNESSWOKEDEVINABOUTANhourbeforesuookhimamomenttorememberwherehewas.Itwasstilldarkintheroom.HemassagedhisnedlisteoCatrianasquietbreathingfromunderherblasinthebed.Aruefulexpressioncrossedhisface.

  Itwasstrange,hereflected,twistinghisheadfromsidetosidetotrytoeasethesoreness,howonlyafewhoursinasoftarmchaircouldleaveonefeelingmoreknottedandunfortablethanawholenightoutoncoldgrousurprisinglyawakethough,giventhenighthedjusthadathathecouldnthavebeenasleepformorethanthreehoursorso.Hesideredgoingbacktohisowrealizedthathewasntgoingtobeabletosleepanymorethatnight.Hedecidedtogodowntothekitsandseeifanyofthehouseholdstaffcouldbeiomakehimapotofkhav.

  Helefttheroom,tratingonclosingthedoorsilentlybehindhim.SomuchsothatwhenhesawAlessanstandinginthehallwaywatghimfrominfrontofhisowndoorhejumpedinvoluntarily.

  ThePrincewalkedover,eyebrowsarched.

  Devinshookhisheadfirmly."Wejusttalked.Isleptinthechair.Gotakinkioshowforit.”

  "Imsure,"Alessanmurmured.

  "No,really,"Devininsisted.

  "Imsure,"Alessaed.Hesmiled."Ibelieveyou.IfyouhadessayedmoreIwouldhaveheardscreaming—yoursleasantinjury,mostlikely.”

  "Verylikely,"DeviheywalkedawayfromCatrianasdoor.

  "HowwasAlienorthough?”

  Devihimselfgoingred."How...?"hebegan,thengraduallybecameawareoftheditionofhisclothingandtheamusedscrutinyAlessanwasgivinghim,"Iing,"heoffered.

  Alessansmiledagain."edownstairswithmeandhelpsolveaproblem.Ineedsomekhavfortheroadanyhow.”

  "Iwasoothekitsmyself.Givemetwomiogemyclothes.”

  "Notabadidea,"Alessanmurmured,eyeiornshirt."Illmeetyoudownthere.”

  Devinduckedintohisownchamberandquicklyged.FoodmeasurehepulledoAlaishadsenthim.Thinkingofher,ofhersheltered,quietinnoce,tookhimback—bypolarity—towhathadhappenedlastnight.Hestoodstock-stillinthemiddleofhisroomforamomentandtriedtoprraspwhathehaddone,andhaddoohim.

  Iing,hehadjustcalledit.Language.Theprocessofsharingwithwordsseemedsuchafutileexercisesometimes.Aremnantofthesadnesshedfelt,leavingAlienor,washedbackoverhimanditpickedupCatrianassorrowstoo.Hefeltasifhedbeenwashedupbytheseaonsomegreybeachatableakhour.

  "Khav,"Devinsaidaloud."OrIlloutofthismood.”

  Onthewaydownstairsherealized,belatedly,whatAlessanhadmeantby"fortheroad."Hismeeting,whereveritwas,wastoday—theentertheydbeenpointingtowardforhalfayear.

  AndafterthathewouldberidioTigana.WherehismotherlaydyinginaSanctuaryofEanna.

  Wideawake,hismindsnappingfromnightreflesintothesharperagitationsoftheday,DevinfollowedaglowoflighttothehugekitsofCastleBorsoandhepausedinthearcheddoorway,lookingwithin.

  Sittingbytherfire,Alessanwascarefullysippingsteamingkhavfromanoversizedmug.InachairbesidehimErleindiSenziowasdoingthesame.Thetwomehgazingintotheflameswhileallarouherewasalreadyapurposefulstirandbustlei.

  Devinstoodinthedoorwayamoment,unnoticed,andfoundhimselflookingcloselyatthetwomen.

  Intheirsilentgravitytheyseemedtohimtobeapartofafrieze,atableau,emblematieplexwayofallsuchpre-dawnhoursforthoseonthelongroads.

  hermanwasastrahishour,Deviosittingthusbeforeacastlekitfireamongtheservantsidarkhourbeforedawn,easingintowakefulnessandafugitivewarmth,preparingfortheroadagainandwhateverturningsitmightofferihathadbegun.

  ItseemedtoDevinthatAlessanandErlein,sittingtogetherastheywere,werebondedihatwentbeyondtheharshthingthathadhappehattwilitstreaminFerraut.ItwasalihadnothingtodowithPrindwizard,itwasshapedofthethingstheyeachhaddohesamethingsdone.Memoriestheywouldeachhaveandcouldshare,ifthesetwomencouldtrulyshareanythingafterwhathadhappeweenthem.

  Foryearstheyhadeachbeentraveling.Therehadtobesomanyimagesthatoverlappedandcouldevokethesamemood,emotions,thesamesoundsandsmells.Likethisone:darknessoutside,theedgeofgreydawnalestirthesunwouldbring,chillofthecorridorsandknowledgeofwindoutsidethewalls,cutbythecrackleandroarofthekitfire;thereassuringsteamandsmellrisingfromtheircradledmugs;sleepanddreamreg,themindslowlyturningforwardtothedaythatlayaheadswathedingroundmist.LookingattheirstillnessamidthebustleofthekitDeviaurnofthesadhatseemedtobehislegathislongstrangenightinthehighlands.

  Sadness,andadistinctstiroflonging.Devinrealizedthathewahatsharedhistoryforhimself,waobeapartofthatself-tained,aplishedfraternityofmenwhokhissesowell.

  Hewasyoungenoughtosavortheroma,butoldenough—especiallyafterthispastwinterandhistimewithMenico—toguessatthepricedemandedforthosememoriesaained,solitary,petentlookofthetwomeninfrontofhim.

  Hesteppedthroughthedoorrettyservantnoticedhimandsmiledshyly.Withoutawordshebroughthimascaldingmugofkhav.Alessanglancedoverathimandhookedathirdchairwithhislongleg,pullingitintoapositionnearhimbythefire.Devinwalkedoverandsankgratefullydowhewarmth.Hisstiffenedneckwasstillbhim.

  "Ididnteveobecharming,"Alessaedcheerfully."Erleinwasalreadyhereandhadstartedinonafreshpotofkhav.Therewerepeopleiallnighttokeepthefiresgoing.

  CouldnthavelitnewonesonanEmberDay.”

  Devinnodded,sippingcarefullyandwithinteitudefromhissteamingmug."Aherquestionyoumentioned?"heaskedguardedly,withaglaErlein.

  "Solved,"thePrincesaidpromptly.Heseemedunnaturallybright,brittleaskindling."Erleinsgoingtohavetoewithme.WeveestablishedthatItlethimgettoofarawayormysummonswontwork.Andifthatsthecase,wellhesimplyhastogo.Allthewaywest.Wereallydoseemtobetiedtogether,dontwe?"Heflashedhisteethinasmileatthewizard.Erleindidntbothertorespoiosiphisdrink,gazingexpressionlesslyintothefire.

  "Whywereyouupsoearly?"Devinaskedhim,afteramoment.

  Erleinmadeasourface."Slaverydoesntagreewithmyrest,"hemumbledintohiskhav.

  Deviedtoig.Thereweretimeswhenhereallydidfeelsorryforthewizard,butnotwherottedouthisreflexiveself-pity.

  AthoughtstruckDeviuroAlessan."Ishegoingtoyourmeetingthism,too?”

  "Isuppose,"Alessansaidarentcarelessness."Asmallrewardforhisloyaltyandthelongridehellhaveafterward.Iexpecttotravelwithoutstoppingverymuch."Histonewasgenuinelyodd;toodeliberatelycasual,asifdenyingtheverypossibilityofstrain.

  "Isee,"Devinsaid,asrallyasheaurnedhisgazetothefireathere.

  Therewasasilence.Whenitstretched,DevinlookedbadsawAlessanlookingathim.

  "Doyouwanttoe?"thePrinceasked.

  Didhewanttoe?Forhalfayear,fromthemomentDevinandSandrehadjoiheotherthree,AlessanhadbeentellihateverythingtheywaoachievewouldpointtowardandoinginthesesouthernhighlandsonthefirstoftheEmberDays.

  Didhewanttoe?

  Devincoughed,spillingsomekhavoonefloor."Well,"hesaid,"notifImintheway,naturally.OnlyifyouthinkIcouldbeusefulandifmaybeIcould...”

  HetrailedoffbecauseAlessanwaslaughingathim.

  EvenErleinhadbeenrousedfromhissulktoafaiantsnortofamusement.Thetwooldermenexgedaglance.

  "Youareaterribleliar,"thewizardsaidtoDevin.

  "Hesright,"Alessansaid,stillchug."Butnevermind.Idontactuallythinkyoubeuseful—itisntiureofwhatIhavetodo.ButImcertainyouwontdoanyharmandyouandErleinkeepeachothereaillbeaverylongride.”

  "What?Tothemeeting?"Deviartled.

  Alessanshookhishead."Onlytwoorthreehoursthere,dependingoeofthepassthism.No,Devin,Iminvitingyouwestwithme."Hisvoicealtered."Home.”

  "Pigeon!"thebalding,burly-chestedmahoughtheywerestillsomedistanceaway.HesatinamassiveoakchairsetsquarelydowninthemiddleoftheBraccioPass.Therehadbeenearlyspringflowersbloomingonthelowerslopesbutnotverymanythisfarup.Ohersideofthepathpiledrodstoneyieldedtoforest.Furtherup,tothesouth,therewasonlyrodsnow.

  Carrying-poleswereattachedtotheoakchairandsixmenstoodbehinditinburgundylivery.Devinthoughttheywereservants,butwhenheearerhesawfromtheironsthathewaswrong:theseweresoldiers,andguards.

  "Pigeon,"themaninthechairrepeatedloudly."Youhaverisenintheworld!Ypanionsthistime!”

  ItwaswithagenuinesenseofdisorientationthatDevinrealizedthatthechildishheraucous,carryingwordswereaddressedtoAlessan.

  Whohadtheoddestlooktohisfaceallofasudden.Hesaidnothingbywayofreplythoughastheyrodeuptothesevehepass.Alessandismounted;behindhimDevinandErleindidthesame.Themaninthechairdidnotrisetogreetthem,buthisbright,smalleyesfollowedeverymovethatAlessanmade.Hisenormoushandsweremotionlessonthecarvedarmsofthechair.Heworeatleastsixrings;theysparkledinthelightofthemsun.Hehadahookedmuch-brokennoseihery,weather-beateshowedtwolividscars.Onewasanoldwound,slantingdownhisrightcheekinawhiteliheother,muchmoreret,rakedredlyacrosshisforeheadtothegreying,reghairlineabovehisleftear.

  "panyfortheride,"Alessansaidmildly."Iwasntsureifyoude.Theybothsing.Couldhaveeonthewayback.TheyoungoneisDeviherisErlein.Youvegrownmonstrousfatinayear.”

  "AndwhyshouldInotgrowfat?"theotherroaredindelight."AndhowdareyoudoubtthatIwoulde!HaveIeverfaithwithyou?"Thetonewasboisterousireme,butDevinsawthatthesmalleyeswerealertandverywatchful.

  "Notever,"Alessanagreedcalmly.Hisownfebrilemannerhadgoobereplacedbyanalmostpreternaturalcalm."Butthingshavegedsiwo.Youdontneedmeanymore.Notsisummer.”

  "Notneedyou!"thebigmancried."Pigeon,ofcourseIneedyou.Youaremyyouth,mymemoryofwhatIwas.Andmytalismanoffortuneinbattle.”

  "Nomorebattlesthough,"saidAlessaly."Willyouallowmetooffermyhumblestgratulations?”

  "No!"therowled."No,Iwillnotallowyou.Nosuchmewlingcourtlyclaptrapfromyou.

  WhatIwantisforyoutoehereandhugmeandstopthisimbecilidering!Whoarewetobeclutteringlikethis?Thetwoofus!”

  Andwiththelastwordshepropelledhimselfuprightwithaferociouspushofhistwomuscledarms.

  Thehugeoakchairrockedbackwards.Threeoftheliveriedguardssprangtobala.

  Thebigmantooktard,crippled,hoppingstepsforwardasAlessanstrodetomeethim.AndinthatmomentDevinabruptlyrealized—abucketoficedownthelengthofhisspine—whothisscarred,maimedmanhadtobe.

  "Bear!"saidAlessan,laughtercatginhisthroat.Hethrewhisarmsfiercelyabouttheotherman.

  "Oh,Marius,Itrulydidntknowifyouwoulde.”

  Marius.

  Stupefiedbymorethanaltitudeandasleeplessnight,Devinsawtheself-edKingofQuileia—thecrippledmanwhodkilledsevenarmedchallengersbare-hahesacredgrove—liftthePriiganaoffhisfeetandkisshimloudlyonbothcheeks.Heloweredared-facedAlessantothepathandheldhimatarmslengthforaclosescrutiny.

  "Itistrue,"hesaidatlengthasAlessansgrinfaded."Iseeit.Youreallydiddoubtme.Ishouldbeed,Pigeon.Ishouldbewoundedandhurt.WhatdidPigeonTwosay?”

  "Baerdwassureyouwouldbehere,"Alessanadmittedruefully."ImafraidIowehimmoney.”

  "Atleastoneofyouhasgrownupenoughtohavesomesense,”

  Mariusgrowled.Thehiisterwithhim."What?Youtwoyoungscampswerewageringonme?Howdareyou!"Hewaslaughing,buttheblowhesuddenlyclappedonAlessansshouldermadetheothermanstagger.

  Mariushobbledbacktohischairandsatdown.AgainDevinwasstruckbytheall-embraatureoftheglaurhem.OnlyforaninstantdiditflitoverDevinhimself,buthehadtheunyseMariushad,inthatonesed,sizedhimupquiteprehehathewouldbereizedandrememberedshouldtheymeetbyceevenadecadehence.

  Heexperiencedaweird,fleetingmomentofpityforthesevenwarriorswhohadhadtobattlethisman,bringingmerelyswordsorspears,andarmorandtwogoodlegstomeethiminanightgrove.

  Thosearmsliketree-trunksandthemessageinthoseeyestoldDevinallheoknowaboutwhichwaythebalancewouldhavetiltedinthosebattlesdespitetheritualmaiming—theseveredaendons—ofthesortposedtodieinthegrove,tothegreatergloryoftheModdessandherHighPriestess.

  Mariushadnotdied.Foranyonesgreaterglory.Seventimeshehadnotdied.Andnow,siseventhtime,therewasatrueKinginQuileiaagainaHighPriestesswasdead.IthadbeenRovigo,Devinrememberedsuddenly,whohadfirstgivenhimthatnews.InarancidtaverncalledTheBird,eitherhalfayearorhalfalifetimeago.

  "YoumusthavebeenslippingorlazyoralreadyfatlastsummerintheGrove,"Alessanwassaying.

  Hegesturedtowardthesariussforehead."Tonaliusshouldneverhavebeeogetthatclosetoyouwithablade.”

  ThesmileonthefaceoftheKingofQuileiawasnot,intruth,apleasantthingtosee."Hedidnt,”

  Mariussaidgrimly."Iusedourkick-dropfromthetwenty-seventreeandhewasdeadbeforewebothhittheground.Thescarisafarewelltokenfrommylatewifeinourlastenter.MaythesacredMotherofusallguardherever-blessedspirit.Willyoutakewineandamiddaymeal?”

  Alessansgreyeyesblinked."Wewouldbepleasedto,"hesaid.

  "Good,"saidMarius.Hegesturedtohisguards."Inthatcase,whilemymeolayingthingsoutforusyoutellme,Pigeon,andIhopeyouwilltellme,whyyouhesitatedjustnowbeforeacceptingthatinvitation.”

  ItwasDevinsturntoblink;hehadnteveeredthepause.

  Alessanwassmilingthough."Iwish,"hesaid,withawrytwistofhismouth,"thatyouwouldmisssomethingonawhile."Mariussmiledthinly,butdidnotspeak."Ihavealongrideaheadofme.Atleastthreedays,flatout.SomeoneImustgetto,assoonasI.”

  "Moreimportantthanme,Pigeon?Iamdesolated.”

  Alessanshookhishead."Notmoreimportant,orIwouldntbeherenow.Morepellingperhaps.

  TherewasamessagefromDa-noleonwaitingformeatBorsolastnight.Mymotherisdying.”

  Mariussexpressiongedswiftly."Iamdeeplysorry,"hesaid."Alessan,trulyIam."Hepaused.

  "Itcouldnothavebeeneasyforyoutoeherefirst,knowingthat.”

  Alessangavehissmallcharacteristicshrug.HiseyesmovedawayfromMarius,gazingpasthimupthepasstowardthehighpeaksbeyond.Thesoldiershadfinishedspreadingaquiteextravagantgoldenclothoverthelevelgroundinfrontofthechair.Nowtheybeganlayingoutmulti-coloredcushionsuponitandputtingdownbasketsanddishesoffood.

  "Wewillbreakbreadtogether,"Mariussaidcrisply,"anddiscusswhatweareheretodiscuss—thenyoumustgo.Youtrustthismessage?Istheredangerforyouiurning?”

  Devinhadhoughtaboutthat.

  "Isupposethereis,"Alessansaidindifferently."Butyes,ItrustDanoleon.OfcourseIdo.Hetookmetoyouinthefirstplace.”

  "Iamawareofthat,"Mariussaidmildly."Irememberhim.IalsoknowthatuhingshavegreatlygedheisnottheonlypriestinthatSanctuaryofEanna,andyourclergyinthePalmhavenotbeennotedfortheirreliability.”

  Alessangavehisshrugagain."WhatIdo?Mymotherisdying.Ivenotseenherinalmosttwodecades,Bear."Hismouthcrooked."IdontthinkIamlikelytnizedbymanypeople,evenwithoutBaerdsdisguises.WouldyounotsayIhavegedsomewhatsinceIwasfourteen?"Therewasaslightchallehewords.

  "Somewhat,"Mariussaidquietly."Notsomuightthink.Yrowhen,inmanyways.SowasBaerdwhenhecametojoinyou.”

  AgainAlessanseyesseemedtodriftathelihepass,asifchasingamemoryorafar-offimagetothesouth.Devinhadanacutesetherewasmuchmorebeingsaidherethanhewashearing.

  "e,"Mariussaid,leveringhishandsonthechairarms."Willyoujoinmeonourcarpetinthemeadow?”

  "Stayinthechair!"Alessanrappedsharply.Hisexpressionremainedingruouslybenignanduntroubled."Howmanymencameherewithyou,Bear?”

  Mariushadnotmoved."Apanytothefoothills.Thesesixthroughthepass.Why?”

  Movingeasily,smilingcarelessly,AlessansatdownohattheKi."Hardlywise,tsofewuphere.”

  "Thereislittleenoughdanger.Myenemiesaretoosuperstitioustoveothemountains.Youknoigeon.ThepasseswereaboolongagowhentheyshutdowntradewiththePalm.”

  "Inthatcase,"Alessansaid,stillsmiling,"IamatalosstoexplainthebowmanIjustsawbehindarockupthetrail.”

  "Youarecertain?"MariussvoicewasascasualasAlessans,buttherewassuddenlyihiseyes.

  "Twiow.”

  "Iamdeeplydistressed,"saidtheKingofQuileia."Suchapersonisuobehereforanyreasohantokillme.AndiftheyarebreakingthemountaintabooIamgoingtobeforcedtorethinkanumberofassumptions.Willyoutakesomewine?"Hegestured,ahemeninburgundypouredwithahandthattrembledslightly.

  "Thankyou,"Alessanmurmured."Erlein,youdoanythingherewithoutitbeingknown?”

  Thewizardsfatpale,buthetookepthisvoicelevel."Notanysortofattack.Itwouldtaketoomuchpower,andthereisnothiositfromanyTrackerinthehighlands.”

  "AshieldfortheKing?”

  Erleiated.

  "Myfriend,"Alessansaidgravely,"IneedyouandIamgoingtotioneedyou.Iknowthereisdangerinusingyic—forallofus.Imusthavehoahough,tomakeintelligentdecisions.Pourhimsomewine,"hesaidtotheQuileiansoldier.

  Erleiedaglassanddrank."Idoalow-levelsbehindhimagainstarrows."Hestopped."Doyouwantit?Thereissomerisk.”

  "IthinkIdo,"Alessansaid."Putuptheshieldasunobtrusivelyasyou.”

  Erleinsmouthtightehesaidnothing.Hislefthandmovedveryslightlyfromsidetoside.

  Devincouldseethetwomissingfingersnow,butnothingelsehappened,sofarashecouldtell.

  "Itisdone,"Erleinsaidgrimly."TheriskwillihelongerIholditup."Hedrankagainfromhiswine.

  Alessannodded,acceptingawedgeofbreadandaplatefulofmeatandcheesefromoheQuileians."Devin?”

  Devinhadbeenwaiting."Iseetherock,"hesaidquietly."Upthepath.Ontherightside.Arre.Sendmehome.”

  "Takemyhorse.Theresabowinthesaddle.”

  Devinshookhishead."HemaynotidImnotgoodenoughwiththebowanyhow.IlldowhatI.yetobenoisyinabouttwentyminutes?”

  "Webeverynoisy,"saidMariusofQuileia."Theclimbbackupandaroundwillbeeasiertoyourleftasyougodown,justpastthepoihispathbends.Idverymuchlikethispersonalive,bytheway.”

  Devinsmiled.MariussuddenlyroaredwithlaughterandAlessanfollowedsuit.ErleinwassilentasAlessaanimperioushandouttowardDevin.

  "Ifyotitthenyoufetchit,thimble-brain!Wellbehere,enjoyingourmeal.Wemayleavesomethingforyou.”

  "Itwasntmyfault!"Devinprotestedloudly,lettinghissmilefadetopetulaurnedbacktowherethehorsesweretethered.Shakinghishead,visiblydissolate,hemountedhisgreyandrodedowhalongwhichtheyhade.

  Asfarasthebendirail.

  Hedismountedaheredthehorse.Afteramomentsthoughthelefthisswordwhereitwas,hangingfromthesaddle.Hewasawarethatitwasadecisionthatmightcosthimhislife.Hedseenthewoodedslopesbesidethepassthough;aswordwouldbeawkwardandnoisywheoclimb.

  Cuttingtothewesthesoonfoundhimselfamorees.Hedoubledbacksouthandup,asfaroffthelihepassastheterrainallowed.Itwashard,sweatygoing,aohurry,butDevinwasfitandhedalwaysbeenquidagile—pensationsforalackofsize.Hescrambledupthesteepslopes,weavingamongmountaintreesanddarkserranobushes,graspingrootswedgeddeepintotheslantingsoil.

  Partofthe,thetreesbrieflygaveoutbeforeashort,steepclifftothesoutha.Hecouldgouporhecouldgoaround,anglingbacktowardthepass.Devioguesshisbearingsbutitwasdifficult—nosoundsreachedhimthisfaroffthetrail.HecouldntbesureifhewasalreadyabovetheplacewheretheQuileianclothreadforlunch.Twentyminutes,hedtoldthem.Hegrittedhisteeth,offeredaquickprayertoAdaon,aoclimbtherock.ItoccurredtohimthattherewassomethingprofoundlyingruousaboutanAsolinifarmerssonfromthenorthernmarshesstrugglingupacliff-fatheBraccie.

  HewasntanAsolinifarmerssonthough.HewasfromTiganaandhisfatherwas,andhisPrincehadaskedhimtodothisthing.

  Devinskitteredsidewaysalongtherock-facetryingnottodislodgeanypebbles.Hereachedanoutcropofstone,gedgrip,hungfreeforased,andthenboostedhimselfstraightupandontoit.

  Hescrambledquicklyacrosssomelevelground,droppedflatonhisstomad,breathinghard,lookeduptothesouth.

  Araightdown.Hecaughthisbreath,realizinghowluckyhedbeen.Therewasasinglefigurehidingbehindaboulderalmostdirectlybelowhim.Devinhadquitecertainlybeenvisibleopartofhisclimbwherethecliff-facebrokeclearofthetrees.Hissilencehadservedhimwellthough,forthefigurebelowwasoblivioustohim,avidlyionthegroupfeastingoh.Devincouldhem,buttheirvoicescarriedtohimnow.ThesunmovedbehindacloudandDevininstinctivelyflattenedhimself,justastheassassinglaogaugethegeinthelight.

  Foranarcheritwouldmatter,Deviwasalongshot,downhillandpartlysedbytheguards.Therewouldalsobetime,mostlikely,foronlyonearrow.Hewohetipswerepoisoned.

  Probably,hedecided.

  Verycarefullyhestartedcrawlinguphill,tryingtoworkhiswayfurtheraroundbehindtheassassin.

  Hisbrainwasragasheslippedintoahigherstandoftrees.Howwashegoingtogetcloseenoughtodealwithanarcher?

  JustthehesoundofAlessanspipesfollowed,ameasurelater,byErleinsharp.Amomentafterthatanumberofvoicesstartedinoheoldest,mostrollighighlandballadsofall.AboutalegendarybandofmountainoutlawswhohadruledthesehillsandcragswitharrogantimpunityuntiltheyweresurprisedaedbyQuileiaaandotogether.

  ThirtybravemenrodeapathenorthAndfortyQuileiahemsidebyside.ThereinthemountainseachpledgedtotheanBurdashhighinhisroostdefied!

  Theboomingvoiariusledtheothersintotherefrain.BythenDevinhadrememberedsomethingandheknewwhathewasgoingtotrytodo.Hewasawarethattherewasmorethanaoflunahisplanning,buthealsoknewhedidnthavemuchtime,ormanyoptions.

  Hisheartounding.Hewipedhishandsdryonhisbreechesandbeganmovingmorequicklythroughthetreesalongtheliheridgehedclimbed.Behindhimwasthesingihhimnow,perhapsfifteeeastofthishigherridgeayfeetbelowwasanassassinwithabow.Thesufrombehindtheclouds.

  DevinwasaboveandbehindtheQuileiannow.Hadhebeencarryingabowaallaplishedwithonehewouldhavehadtheotherathismercy.

  Instead,whathehadwasaknife,aainprideandtrustinhisowncoordination,andatallgiantofamountaireerisingallthetefromjustbehindtheboulderthatshelteredthearcher.Hecouldseetheotherclearlynow,cladinamaskinggreenforthemountaintrail,withastrungbowandhalfadozenarrowstohand.

  Devinknewwhathehadtodo.Healsoknew—becausetherehadbeenwoodsathome,ifnotmountainpasses—thathecouldnotclimbdownthattreewithanyhopeofsileevenwiththeloud,seriouslyoff-keyvoicessinghissoundsfrombelow.

  Whichleft,sofarashecouldjudge,onlytheoion.hthaveplabetter,butotherswerentonthisridge.Devinwipedhisdamppalmsverycarefullydryagainandbegantratingonalargebranchthatstretchedoutandawayfromtheothers.Theonlyomightdohimanygood.Hetriedtocalculateangleanddistanceasbesthecould,givenanalmosttotallackofexperiehisparticularmaneuver松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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