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“Sergeant Travick, Highness,” he said, going to one knee before her the day she joined theiment of Foot”

“Ah, the Black Bears as I recall,” Lyrna said, gesturing for Benten to bring her the ite arhness Your memory does you credit”

“Thank you However, I must advise you that your etiquette, by contrast, is sadly lacking”

The veteran lowered his head, frowning in es”

“Hardly an excuse,” Lyrna said, holding out her hand as Benten handed her the sword, an Asraelin blade, as befit the occasion “For a Sword of the Realeant I professat the sight of the sword “Lord Marshal Al Travick,” she said, reversing the weapon to lay it across her forearm, handle first, “do you accept this sword offered by your queen?”

Behind Travick the Real in their ranks, less neat and well shaved as she remembered, but all uniforerous I can use, she decided Let theht harder against the Volarians

“I-I do, Highness,” Travick staet up” His meaty, scarred hand closed on the sword-handle and he rose, holding it up with an expression of blank astonishment

“It is my wish that the Real his attention and ht and eyes averted

“Whatever , but we cannot allow it to obstruct our purpose Many proud regiments of their former complement or iped out completely If I calculate correctly, there are little over six thousand Realii only three can truly be called such, and even they are greatly reduced in nu these up to full coiments, their names and banners to be determined by the men, subject to my approval Also you will add Lord Nortah’s coiaze on the ranks of the Realiendary and she saw open dismay onher voice, “I give youto rejoin their forranted leave to do so For noe have a war to win and sentiment will not aid us in that endeavour”

Lord Travick barked a co every soldier to one knee, heads bowed “The Reale as you will, and,” he added, his voice loud and carrying to every soldier in his co him down to the bone”

• • •

The walls of Warnsclave had been neglected forperiod of peace heralded by her father’s ascensionthem an expensive irrelevance to successive town factors Vaelin opined they had been strong enough to repel one Volarian assault, but ultimately proved too weak to withstand another They were rent in several places, great gashes torn into the stone fro an all-too-clear viehat lay beyond as Arrow brought Lyrna closer

“Nothing re returned from reconnaissance “Not a house, and not a soul”

Her faint hope the North Guard had exaggerated dwindled with every tread of Arrow’s hooves, the ash and rubble visible through the breaches told of utter destruction She found Vaelin waiting at the ruined gate, expression grihness,” he said

The harbour waters were cloudy with silt and scu fro fleet, but she could see thereen by the algae in the water so they reseaze around the remnants of what she recalled as a lively if so in a coarse accent, aze than in Varinshold, and less ready to bow But they had been happy to see her, she re babies to kiss and tossing flower petals in her path She had come to open an alms-house, paid for by the Crown and staffed by the Fifth Order She had found no trace of it in the journey to the harbour, just street after street of piled brick and scorched tiether,” Vaelin said “Pushed the first in and the rest followed Perhaps four hundred, the only survivors from when they took the town, I assume”

“Didn’t want to be burdened with slaves on the march north,” Lord Adal commented His voice had the clipped tones of well-controlled emotion, but Lyrna sa the muscles of his jaw bunched as he stared down at the water

“March north, my lord?” she asked hi the kind of paleness that only came froence, Highness”