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By Root 1021 0

flashed, lighting up her throat with an eerie glow. As they stared at it, Sarasper said grimly, "Someone is using another Dwaer to seek this one."

The Lady of Jewels nodded and passed her hand over the Stone. The radiance was suddenly gone, the room shadowed once more.

"My father lives, I do not doubt that," Embra murmured. "I would be unsurprised to meet with one or more of his mages alive again, too."

The king nodded. "I did not mean to accuse you, Lady, or impugn your loyalty. Aglirta has many enemies, not all of them risen since I first left my throne, and they grew to like lawlessness. They are gathering now, wolves beginning to circle."

Something dark and swift flapped its wings past the window just then, causing everyone to start and snatch at weapons. A bat glared red-eyed at them for a moment as it fluttered, circling once before flitting from view.

"That was less than natural," Hawkril growled. The Four exchanged glances, and in grim unison they drew their weapons.

"Have you noticed, any of you," Craer asked bitterly, "that the work of heroes is never finished?"

"Until death finishes everything for them," the old healer told him quietly. "I wonder how many barons' spies are waiting for us to leave this room right now?"

The king nodded grimly and undid the lacings of the pouch at his hip. "Lady Embra, I have gathered here what you'll need to cast a spell that carries you all away together, against that very peril."

"Your Majesty is too thoughtful," Embra murmured, not raising her eyes.

Kelgrael Snowsar sighed. "You, too, Embra Silvertree? Have I no friends in all the Vale?"

"I did not mean that," the sorceress said quickly, lifting pleading eyes to meet his gaze. "I hope you never have cause to doubt us, Lord of Aglirta."

"The name is Kelgrael," the king said quietly. "And I hope, in time to come, to name you all Lords and Ladies of Aglirta. I desire this almost as much as I desire the gods to keep an Aglirta safe and standing for all of us to enjoy, as we grow old."

"Sounds like a childrens' fireside tale to me," the armaragor rumbled, and the king nodded grimly.

"Aye," he said, as he slapped purses heavy with shifting coins into their palms, "I fear it does. Go and write me a brighter one to stand with it."

This file was created with BookDesigner program

bookdesigner@the-ebook.org

1/30/2009

LRS to LRF parser v.0.9; Mikhail Sharonov, 2006; msh-tools.com/ebook/

Table of Contents

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Epilogue