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“She does not explain Words from the Mountain are not to be questioned”
“And yet your son tried to kill me”
“Boys seek renown in forbidden deeds He had visions of defeating you and winning glory, the keenest sword of the Meriods so that they visit lancing up at Vaelin “Why did you spare hi without need is against the Faith”
“Brother Kellin spoke often of your faith, endless lies How can a od to punish hiod is a lie, and a man cannot be punished by a lie”
The Lonak chewed some more beef and shook his head, he seeod, Nishak, deep in the dark places under the sod? Obviously thecavern for the voice of one of his gods “What did he tell you?”
“Many things None of them for your ears, Merim Her” He tossed the beef and water skin back to Vaelin “It’s ill luck for a man to seek the death of his brother Why do you do it?”
Vaelin was tenore the question and sit in silence until the Lonak left, there seemed little left to talk about and he certainly didn’t cherish the s that pained hier “He’s not my brother in blood, but in the Faith We are of the sareat offence”
“And so you will kill him?”
“I will have to He will not let h Priestess tell you to let hih seven days ago,for the Maars Nir-Uhlin Sol You intend to follow him there?”
“I have to”
“Then you’llfor you There is only death in those ruins”
“I’ve heard Do you knohat it is that deals death in the fallen city?”
The Lonak's face twitched in annoyance Fear was clearly a touchy subject “Our people do not go there, haven’t for more than five winters, even before then we didn’t like the place, there’s a weight to the air that bears down on aSeasoned hunters and warriors torn and rent by so unseen, their faces frozen in fear A shalanced up at Vaelin “You go there you’ll soon be as dead as your brother”
“My brother isn’t dead” He knew it, felt it in the constant note of the blood-song Nortah was still alive Waiting
Abruptly the Lonak reached for his weapons and rose to his feet, fixing Vaelin with a hostile glare “We’ve talked long enough, Merier with your company”
“Vaelin Al Sorna,” Vaelin said
The Lonak squinted at him suspiciously “What?”
“My naarded hiaze Eventually he shook his head “That is not your naone, into the blackness beyond the fire without a sound
The tower h and Vaelin could only iine how iranite pointing straight to the heavens Noas a broken and cracked road of weed dotted rock leading hi closer he noticed the rubble was adorned with fine relief carvings showing anaked hus of the capital were all otten battles with archaic weaponry But there were no battles here, the carvings see sun had dawned behind a thick layer of cloud bringing flurries of snow driven by a stiff wind he kneould only gain in strength as the day wore on He closed his cloak against the chill and urged Spit onwards Although less fractious than usual there was a tension in the animal he hadn’t sensed before, his eyes ide and he nickered nervously at the slightest sound It was the city, he knew The Lonak and Brother Artin hadn’t exaggerated the oppression in the air It thickened as he drew closer to the jagged outline of the ruins ahead, a dull ache building at the base of his skull The blood-song was different too, less constant in its tone, uide Spit towards a central archway near to where the fallen tower appeared to have had its base They had only gone a few paces when Spit began to tre his head about in alarm
“Easy!” Vaelin tried to calm him with a soft stroke to the neck but the horse was uncontrollable with fear, giving a shrill whinny and tipping Vaelin fro away before Vaelin could grab at the reins