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The regirey sky, the late suriet the than Vaelin had liked and he found his te the march to the city

“Pick it up, lack-wit!” he snarled at one unfortunate soldier who dropped his pole-axe “It’s worth ht”

“Aye,hiht not always be punctilious in enforcing his punishh today he felt ate an hour before noon, theat the lack of rest on the march, but not too loudly

“Where are they all?” Barkus asked, looking at the empty plain “Isn’t the whole Realm Guard supposed to be here?”

“Maybe they’re late,” Dentos suggested “We beat them here cos we march faster”

“Brother Coate where Makril had appeared, leading his sallop

“The Real on the Western Road,” the Brother Co dust before him “The Battle Lord orders us to wait here”

“Battle Lord?” Vaelin asked There hadn’t been a Battle Lord in the Real’s service

“Lord Marshal Al Hestian has been honoured by the King He leads the Realm Guard to Cumbrael with orders to take the capital with all dispatch”

Al Hestian…The King has put the Realm Guard in the hands of Linden’s father Vaelin wished now he had met with the Lord Marshal when he delivered his sword to Linden’s brother He would have given eance If so the Aspect’s fears for the innocent people of Cueant Krelnik “Make sure thewe’ll be here”

“Ayesky, the ether to play dice or toss board, the Order gai knives had becost the soldiers, although Vaelin had been keen to ensure other Order traditions, such as thievery and frequent , did not cross over into the ranks

“Faith, Barkus! What is that?”

Dentos was staring at the object Barkus had unfurled fro with a spiralled iron haft and a double headed blade that seeht “Battle-axe,” Barkus replied “Master Jestin helpedat the weapon Vaelin experienced a , his unease deepened by what he knew of Barkus’s Dark affinity for athered round to inspect the weapon

“Of course, only the on the edges though The haft is hollow to keep it light” He tossed the axe into the air where it turned end over end before landing in his palht with this Try it”

He handed the weapon to Nortah who gave it a few practice swings, his eyebrows raising at the fluid passage of the blade through the air “Sounds like it’s singing Listen” He swung the axe again and there was a faint, almost musical note in the air Vaelin felt the pitch of the blood-song deepen at the sound and found hi in his gut

“Want to try, brother?” Nortah offered hileae and the broad centre of the blade indented with an inscription “You gave it a na the axe

“Bendra For my… A woman I used to know”

Nortah peered closely at the blade “Can’t read it What language is this?”

“Master Jestin said it was old Volarian It’s a s blades Dunno why”