judging by what she has told Baldric thus far."

"Aye," said Gart, "and she used her witch's wiles on us to escape. She had to be captured and gagged, lest she get away, and give us away in the bargain."

"Nevertheless," said Celedhan, "you were brutal in your handling of her, Akaru."

"I am a warrior," said Akaru simply, "and we were in the east, far from aid." He said the word `east' with a peculiar inflection, as though the word itself contained some kind of importance to him. "She was not unduly damaged, and she was fed and not abused in any way, save her lack of freedom." He left unsaid what the others already guessed, that the girl had been terrified of his appearance, and therefore, of him. What they did not, could not have guessed, was how that knowledge hurt him. He sighed, remembering how she had stared whitely at him as she had sat by the fire, gagged, the fear in her eyes indistinguishable from loathing.

"Tell us of the east," said Garnak. The great warrior's once-golden hair was thick still, though shot through with silver. His homespun shirt was untied at the throat, the sleeves rolled up. On his legs cloth leggings were bound. He still wore his heavy hobnail soldier's boots. Setting down his flagon and lighting his pipe, he said, "I, for one, would like to know more about that hated place, from whence death takes my men, and from whence naught but evil things crawl about." He blew a




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