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The Ally now rode at the rear of the column, his bruised and partially reuards had been given stern instructions to gag hiain, but he hadKiral stared at hi on her reins and Vaelin knew she was resisting the iuidance is rarely ift more keenly than ever But Dahrena’s vision had held no desire for the Ally’s i path
A line of red appeared on the horizon five days later, growing as they drew closer until they paused amidst a vast array of redflower fields and, in the hazy distance, the tall towers of a marble city
“Volar,” Lorkan breathed at Vaelin’s side, shaking his head in unabashed wonder “I truly never thought to see it”
Vaelin called for Lord Orven and pointed to the west and east “Send out your scouts, we need word of the queen’s whereabouts We’ll make camp here”
“You don’t have ti hie of huuards on either side moved closer to fulfil their orders but Vaelin waved thelare “Why?”
“My servant plays with your sister in the arena as we speak Or rather, that perverted bitch you call your sister Delay further, and I suspect she’ll be dead before long, after a suitable period of well-deserved punishment She did always irk ritted her teeth and nodded Reva! His creature has Reva
“She holds no gift,” the Ally went on “No place in the Beyond for her”
Vaelin wheeled away fro an order at Orven to follow, allop
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lyrna
It seems I have come far to visit justice on a people intent on their own destruction The city seemed to be ruled by the dead; there was not an avenue, doorway or garden free of corpses They also hung frootten dolls It was clear to her this had been a wealthy district, the opulence of the houses and the extensive walled gardens rich in cherry blossoh status, but whatever had swept through here had little regard for rank; copious enslaved dead told her this was not the product of revolt
“Arisai, Highness,” Brother Sollis reported, his horse’s iron-shod hooves a jarring intrusion into the silence covering this place He clattered to a halt nearby, pausing to offer Aspect Arlyn a respectful nod before addressing her “We found twenty or so in the neighbouring district, killing all they could find We dealt with them but I’ve little doubt there are more”
He shifted in his saddle as his fellow brothers reined in a short way off, clearly impatient to be off “The route to the arena?” she asked hihness There appear to be no other Volarian soldiery in the city I believe you have sufficient protection to proceed there”
Whilst you ride off to save the people we came to destroy, no doubt She was about to order him to form up his company in escort when Murel abruptly leapt down fro near the arched entrance to one of the larger houses She pulled the top wound to her neck, and reached into the bloody ure She clutched it in a tight e at Murel’s side as she wiped fresh blood froe, alive but oddly still, staring about ide, dark eyes Murel eeping, the first time Lyrna had seen her do so since the day of her ennobleirl blinked at the lady then looked up at Lyrna with a curious frown “I know you,” she said in a so to her haunches and reaching out to tease back a stiff strand of irl’s forehead