Page 52 (1/2)

She rounded on them "Why did you attack us? Have you been sent for me?" Maybe Omort had posted a

bounty?

"Our land You trespassed," one said, as he began ransacking Rydstroest, which meant he would likely be the leader "You to slave' market"

Slave market? They didn't know she was one of the Sorceri-she wasn't de powers, nor was she

dressed like one She had no jewelry, and the blue tas-sels on her belt didn't necessarily look like gold

Do I tell them I'?

She had better do soloths weren't just slave traders They were trophy collectors, with the body parts of their eneers and scalps adorned the at hers with intent in his beady eyes

"I'm sister to Omort of Rothkalina By law, you ht different," he said, his speech pattern primitive

She'd heard about the slave markets, the ones Oold "That was King Rydstrom you just attacked, and I'm his wife He will find me And when he feasts on your throats, I will pat hia like you to understand it"

He slapped her

She staggered, herwith blood When she spat at him, he struck her twice as hard, until her vision wavered and she reeled on her feet He hauled her up, tossing her over his shoulder Daas just breaking as the pack set out

Hours later, Sabine still had seen no sign of Ryd­stroht aid her

Why wasn't she succu to that cold fury she kneell? Where was the nausea, the urgency? When she recognized as happening, she was dis­gusted with herself

I expect Rydstrom to save me

With her bound hands, she reached for the back of her belt, plucking a gold tassel, dropping it for hiold for hiooder probably wouldn't! He'd tossed away her headdress like an apple core!

By dusk, she was convinced that every ounce of blood in her body resided in her head She'd also accepted the fact that Rydstro for her His injuries had been severe-before he'd fallen

Now, fear threatened to overwhel sunlight, sand gave way to rock as they neared another ods, they took her inside it, down into a pitch-black , could only hear their breathing and grunting words as they continued deep within

At last, the Teegloth dropped her on her ass in the dark, and she heard the about around her

They started a fire, and as soon she could see once more, she almost wished she couldn't While they tore into their dinner-bones and bloody meat-they eyed her with renewed interest

She surveyed the area, searching for any means to escape They were in a central terminus of mine shafts, an area where three corridors ended This ine, with bea supports and track laid out