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“The ht because of it It was a well known story when I researched your occupation of the city Yet you ed “Hardly a friendship I wanted hi to confirm his ownership of the city Needless to say thehis house down though I believe he and his wife left the city when the war ended, with good reason it seeue frorier now “What of her? The city folk I interviewed told many tales of her kindness and her closeness to you Soht you were lovers”
He shook his head wearily “That is absurd As for what became of her, I assu, I was sure of it “Why relate this tale if you have no intention of telling me all of it?” I demanded “Do you seek to h “A fool is any man who doesn’t think he’s a fool Let me sleep, my lord”
In the twenty years since its destruction the Meldeneans had rander anddefiance in architectural achievement The city clustered around the wide natural harbour on the southern shore of Ildera, the largest island in the archipelago, a vista of glea marble walls and red tiled rooftops interspersed with tall coluods I had read how Al Sorna’s equally for of the colu fire and destruction Survivors spoke of Real on the fallen statues that sat atop the coluod is lie!” as the city burned around them
If Al Sorna felt any reht he failed to show it, gazing at the fast approaching city with only the faintest interest, hateful sword in hand, ignored by the sailors as he rested against the rail It was a bright, cloudless day and the ship ploughed easily through the still waters with sails furled, the sailors hauling on their oars under the bosun’s harsh exhortations
We exchanged no greeting when I joined him at the rail My head still buzzed with questions but e that he would provide no answers Whatever purpose he had pursued in tellingover his story, seeking answers and finding only more questions I wondered if his intention had been to take soe for the harsh condemnation of him and his people that had coloured nearly every line of my history of the war, but, despite the fact that I could never feel any warmth for him, I kneas not truly vindictive A deadly eneeful one
“Can you still use that?” I asked eventually, tiring of the silence
He glanced at the sword in his hand “We’ll soon see”
“Apparently, The Shield is insisting on a fair contest I expect they’ll give you a few days to practice So many years of inactivity would hardly make you the most fearsome opponent”
His black eyes played over my face, faintly aed “What is there to do in a cell for five years?”
He turned back to the city, his reply a vague whisper nearly lost to the wind “Sing”
All activity on the dockside gradually died away as we tied up to the quay Every stevedore, fisher and turned to regard the son of the City Burner The silence was instantly thick and oppressive, even the constant keening of the innuulls seemed to fade in an atmosphere now heavy with an unspoken, universal hatred Only one figure a see arplank, perfect teeth glea in a broad smile “Welcome, friends, welcome!” he called in rich, deep baritone
I took in his full stature as I descended to the quay, noting the expensive blue silk shirt that clad his broad, lean torso and the gold-hilted sabre at his belt His hair, long and honey-blond, trailed in the wind like a lion’s mane He was, quite simply, the most handsome man I had ever seen Unlike Al Sorna, his appearance was entirely in keeping with his legend and I knew his name before he told me, Atheran Ell-Nestra, Shield of the Isles, the ht
“Lord Verniers is it not?” he greetedmy own “An honour, sir Your histories have pride of place on my shelves”
“Thank you” I turned as Al Sorna plank “This…”