The boy shook his head.

At that, Niles of Astargoth closed his eyes as though something fundamental within him, some cord that held him back from acting outright, had snapped, leaving him as painfully unbound as a freed slave who hugged wounds cut by bonds into living flesh. When he opened his eyes once more, there was fury enough there to match his new-found sense of purpose. With a curt gesture, he indicated for a messenger to approach. "I find that I have a message for our King."

Chagrined, the messenger got scroll and pen ready to record Captain Niles' message.

"After I have done with my dictation, you will straightaway take these two children with you, and you will deliver these children and this message both to the King. And here . . . here is my coin purse. You will need a second mount and extra supplies in order for you to make the return journey.

"`My King, it is I, Niles of County Peridew. At present, I am here without your leave, Captain of a force who will soon throw themselves against the might of Morlock the Wizard.

"`Our mission was to have proved that we people of Astargoth are capable of proving ourselves equal to the influences that corrupted our forebears who became the Wights that, to this day, serve the evil in the east.




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