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Al Sorna rose and stepped towards the Lady E her flinch, not in hatred I knew, but fear What else had he seen? What else would he say? Kneeling before her he spoke in clear, for your husband’s life”
It took her a moment to master her fear “And will you offer your own in recoy is as empty as your heart, Northman And my hatred is undimmed”
They found a vessel from the Northern Reaches for Al Sorna, ships frohts of anchorage in Meldenean waters denied their countrymen I had heard and read a little of the Reaches, hoas home to peoples of varied ancestry, and was therefore unsurprised to find the crew mostly dark-skinned with the broad features common in the Empire’s south-western provinces I walked with Al Sorna to the ship’s berth, leaving the Lady Eidly im to grace the Northman with another word
“You should heed her,” I told hiplank “Her vendetta won’t end here”
He glanced over at the still forret “Then she is to be pitied”
“We thought ere sending you here to your death, but all we have done is set you free As you kneould, I’m sure Ell-Nestra never had a chance Why didn’t you kill hiaze I kne far too much “At my trial Lord Velsus asked me how many lives I had taken, I honestly couldn’t tell hiood, the bad, cowards and heroes, thieves and… poets” His eyes becay “Even friends And I’m sick of it” He looked down at the sheathed sword in his hand “I hope to never draw this again”
He didn’t linger, made no offer of his hand or any word of farewell, siplank The vessel’s captain greeted him with a deep bow, his face lit with a naked awe shared by the surrounding crew The Northh thesedistant froreatWhat waits for hierhalf its cargo unloaded on the docks, keen to be aith its prize I stood at the end of thethe Hope Killer sail away I could see hiure at the prow of the ship I fancied he lanced back at us, just once, perhaps even have raised a hand in a wave, but he was too far away to be sure Once free of the harbour the ship unfurled to full sail and was soon vanished beyond the headland, heading east with all speed
“You should forget him,” I told the Lady Emeren “This obsession will be your ruin Go ho you”
I was appalled to see she was crying, tears streaidly devoid of expression Her voice was a whisper, but fierce as ever, “Not until the gods claieance through the veil”
Part V
In longer gas outlined above has failed, the co chapters will exa ga its name from a manoeuvre employed by Alpiran horse archers Like the Liar’s Attack, The Bowman’s Switch employsunforeseen opportunity A skilled player cantheir opponent ignorant of the ultiet until the most fruitful opportunity presents itself
Author unknown, Keschet – Rules and Strategies, Great Library of the Unified Realm