|
Alessan gave his shrug again"What can I do? My mother is dyingI've not seen her in almost two decades, Bear"I don't think I am likely to be recognized by many people, even without Baerd's disguisesWould you not say I have changed somewhat since I was fourteen?" There was a slight challenge in the words
"Somewhat," Marius said quietly"Not so much as one might thinkYou were a grown man even then, in many waysSo was Baerd when he came to join you
Again Alessan's eyes seemed to drift away up the line of the pass, as if chasing a memory or a far-off image to the southDevin had an acute sense that there gucci monogram wallet was much more being said here than he was hearing
"Come," Marius said, levering his hands on the chair arms"Will you join me on our carpet in the meadow?"
"Stay in the chair!" Alessan rapped sharplyHis expression remained incongruously benign and untroubled"How many men came here with you, Bear?"
Marius had not moved"A company to the foothillsThese six through the passWhy?"
Moving easily, smiling carelessly, Alessan sat down on the cloth at the King's feet"Hardly wise, to bring so few up here
"There is little enough dangerMy enemies are too superstitious to venture into the mountainsYou know that, fake gucci handbags PigeonThe passes were named as taboo long ago when they shut down trade with the Palm
"In that case," Alessan said, still smiling, "I am at a loss to explain the bowman I just saw behind a rock up the trail
"You are certain?" Marius's voice was as casual as Alessan's, but there was suddenly ice in his eyes
"I am deeply distressed," said the King of Quileia"Such a person is unlikely to be here for any reason other than to kill meAnd if they are breaking the mountain taboo I am going to be forced to rethink a number of assumptionsWill you take some wine?" He gestured, and one of the men in burgundy omega speedmaster white poured with a hand that trembled slightly
"Thank you," Alessan murmured"Erlein, can you do anything here without it being known?"
The wizard's face went pale, but he too kept his voice level"Not any sort of attackIt would take too much power, and there is nothing here to screen it from any Tracker in the highlands
"A shield for the King?"
Erlein hesitated
"My friend," Alessan said gravely, "I need you and I am going to continue to need youI know there is danger in using your magic, for all of usI must have honest answers though, to make intelligent decisionsPour him some wine," he said to the Quileian cartier watches women soldier
Erlein accepted a glass and drank"I can do a low-level screen behind him against arrows"Do you want it? There is some risk
"I think I do," Alessan said"Put up the shield as unobtrusively as you can
Erlein's mouth tightened but he said nothingHis left hand moved very slightly from side to sideDevin could see the two missing fingers now, but nothing else happened, so far as he could tell
"It is done," Erlein said grimly"The risk will increase the longer I hold it up He drank again from his wine
Alessan nodded, accepting a wedge of bread and a plateful of meat and cheese from one of the replica chanel jewelry Quileian |
| 