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403 lines
17 KiB
HTML
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<head>
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<title>Mythlands - Chapter 24</title>
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<div class="section" id="xhtmldocuments">
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<h1>24</h1>
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<p>
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Kerry picked up the trail just as Jack was losing hope. Seven days north, they were thirsty and tired and swaying from lack of sleep. Big Declan didn't
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look any different. He rode his horse as if glued to the saddle and kept a weather eye for signs of pursuit.
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</p>
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<p>
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The little Leprechaun, clinging to the horse's neck made very little conversation. When he did, his voice sounded like twigs in a winter wind.
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</p>
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<p>
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"He's scared witless," Kerry said.
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</p>
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<p>
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"He's not the only one," Jack replied. "This is a scary place."
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</p>
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<p>
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All around them the land was rising and the scrub bushes had given way to boulder-strewn tracks that seemed to lead nowhere. It was sere and windswept and
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it was days since they had passed the last, empty hamlet where the people had left in a hurry.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Taken from their homes," Declan said, eyebrows drawn together in anger. "Taken to dig for Mandrake. Free men now slaves."
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</p>
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<p>
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Seven days out and Kerry had found the half circle of white stones, close to the ashes of a cold campfire, and Jack instantly knew she had left them
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another message besides the fiery locks of hair. He fingered the marks on his chest.
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</p>
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<p>
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"The Corona," he said. "It has to be her."
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</p>
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<p>
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Declan hunkered down, stabbing his sword into the dry ashes. They could see the muscles stand out under his shirt. His twin sheathes hung almost to the
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ground.
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</p>
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<p>
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As he bent to finger the ashes to determine how fresh they were, Kerry nudged Jack in the ribs.
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</p>
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<p>
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"He's lost a knife."
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack looked down and saw the hilt at Declan's waist. Its twin was missing. The boys exchanged a glance, but said nothing. They were both thinking the same
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thing.
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</p>
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<p>
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<em>Ware the sheath that lacks a blade</em>
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</p>
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<p>
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<em>Traitor's hand a prince has slayed</em>
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</p>
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<p>
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The Book of Ways might be cryptic and hard to puzzle out, but not this time. And it hadn't been wrong yet. Its warning was clear.
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack looked at Kerry and Kerry looked back.
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</p>
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<p>
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"What do you think?"
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack shook his head. "I don't know."
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</p>
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<p>
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Declan stood and his plaid cloak swung round to hide the sheaths.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Only a day ahead," he said. "The ashes are dry. We'll find her soon."
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</p>
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<p>
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"Great," Jack forced himself to say."
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</p>
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<p>
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Kerry lit a fire and they ate a thin broth before Declan rolled himself up in his plaid and went instantly to sleep close to the fire, one hand on his
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sword. From where they sat, Jack and Kerry could see the twin sheaths, one now empty where a knife should be.
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</p>
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<p>
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"I think we're in a bit of trouble," Kerry whispered, when Declan's slow breathing told him the big man was asleep.
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</p>
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<p>
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"We should go by the book," Jack agreed. "Alevin says there was a traitor. And the book hasn't been wrong so far. And something's been bothering me. I
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don't think it was a Scree who stole it."
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</p>
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<p>
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"Why not?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"They're not bright. And how would they know what I had? But others knew I had the book and the stone."
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</p>
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<p>
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"You think it was him." Kerry asked, nodding towards Declan.
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</p>
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<p>
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"We'll soon find out."
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</p>
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<p>
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"So what do we do?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"A man's gotta do…."
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</p>
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<p>
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"Like what?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"We've got to get away from him. I trust what the Book tells us. And I don't believe in co-incidences. Not any more."
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</p>
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<p>
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"Me neither. But he'll come after us."
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</p>
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<p>
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"Not if we do it right."
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</p>
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<p>
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"You going to kill him?"
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</p>
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<p>
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They stared at each other for a long moment.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Maybe it won't come to that. But if he tries to stop us, then…." He left the rest unsaid.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Don't worry. We'll find her, whatever it takes."
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</p>
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<p>
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"I know. We find her and help her get this sword and then we get out of here if we can."
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</p>
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<p>
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"Can we find the gate?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"We <em>have </em>to find it," Jack said earnestly. "Or we'll be stuck here for good. But I've been thinking about what the Bard said, and what the old
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Leprechaun told me. They've seen the stone before. And the Leprechaun told me I had Cullain's sap in me. I think he came through the Farward Gate a long
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time ago. Maybe he was an ancestor of mine or something."
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</p>
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<p>
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"Yeah, right. I knew you read too many fairy stories."
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</p>
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<p>
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"Like I said, none of this is coincidence," Jack replied. "Maybe it's a test. And I think my father did use these gates. That's what a journeyman does.
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That's why we have to get back, because the Major knows it all. I never knew what happened to my father when I was a baby. But maybe, just <em>maybe</em>
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he went through one of those other gates and never came back."
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</p>
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<p>
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"What difference would that make?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"Maybe if he did, he's still out there somewhere. Some other world. Maybe he needs the heart-stone to get back. I could have a chance of finding him."
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</p>
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<p>
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"I'll say this for you, Jack," Kerry said said, turning over to get comfortable. "You've got a hell of an imagination. But what I don't get, is what am I
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supposed to do?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"You're part of it as much as me. Over here, you can read. You can use the sling. That's got to be for something. And we need each other. You're the best
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friend I ever had."
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</p>
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<p>
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"More like the only one." Kerry managed a grin. "Okay, we find Corrie, then we look for the gate. Then what?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"We get you home. And then I have to work out the next move."
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</p>
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<p>
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"Home? That's okay for you to say. I don't care if I never see the place again. What have I got? My old man doesn't care. Everybody calls me a thick
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bogtrotter. I even get my shoes in Oxfam. I'm nobody. Over here, I might be scared to death half the time. But I am <em>somebody</em>."
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</p>
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<p>
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"You want to stay here?"
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</p>
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<p>
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Kerry shrugged. "I want to stick with you."
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</p>
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<p class='break'>* * *</p>
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<p>
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Kerry was long asleep and clouds covered the moon, but Jack couldn't sleep. All sorts of thoughts were buzzing around his mind. Thoughts of Cullian.
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Thoughts of his father. Of Corriwen Redthorn somewhere ahead of them. But mostly he thought about the words in the Book of Ways, and the more he thought
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about them, the more concerned he became. Finally, unable to leave it alone, he had to move.
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</p>
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<p>
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He eased himself up and crept silently towards where Declan's horse grazed the sparse vegetation. The big beast backed up and Jack tried to calm it as he
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reached high to the saddle-bags. As quietly as he could he opened the nearest and rummaged inside. There was no book, no stone.
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</p>
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<p>
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In the dim glow of the embers, he crawled under the horse and loosened the thong on the other bag. He reached inside and felt something small and
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rectangular, wrapped in rough cloth. And there was a small leather pouch which jangled at his touch. Jack stood on tiptoe, trying to get them out of the
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saddlebag when a hand snapped around his wrist. A cold point touched his neck.
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</p>
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<p>
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"All you have to do is ask," Declan said from the shadows. For such a big man he had moved so silently that Jack had heard nothing.
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</p>
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<p>
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"I have nothing worth stealing," Declan said. "But if you tell me what you want, you're welcome."
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack tried to think of something to say, but before he could open his mouth, the little Leprechaun spoke urgently from the shadow of the rock. He was
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kneeling on the ground, his fingers dug deep into the earth. His eyes were closed.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Bad comes," he whispered. "Grey axe-cutters. Many in the dark."
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</p>
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<p>
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In an instant Declan kicked earth over the coals until there was no sign. He braced himself, knife in one hand, sword in the other, standing between two
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stones.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Let's have them then," he growled. Kerry grunted, opened his eyes and yawned.
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</p>
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<p>
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"What's up?"
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</p>
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<p>
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Behind him, the little leprechaun spoke.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Too many. Biters and tusk-diggers too."
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</p>
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<p>
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He bent down to the ground again and this time Jack saw him open a little basket that the king had given them. He drew something out and dug his fingers
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into the soil again, whispering quietly as he did so, then covered up the hole he had dug. He took an acorn cup, loosened the top, and poured liquid onto
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the spot.
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</p>
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<p>
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"No time for gardening," Declan said grimly. "Time for killing."
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</p>
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<p>
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But as soon as the leprechaun stood up, two leaves appeared from the ground, opening like wings. A thin sprout wavered upwards.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Jack and the freakin' beanstalk," Kerry said.
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</p>
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<p>
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More leaves appeared. The shoot branched. More leaves budded and unfurled as the vine began to fill hollow. In mere minutes it was head-height and
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spreading out to cover the rock.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Horses in here," the little creature said. "We hide tight."
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack got the picture and took the reins. The horse snickered, but came along.
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</p>
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<p>
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"More devilry," Declan said.
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</p>
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<p>
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"It worked for us before," Jack said. "We can't fight them all."
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</p>
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<p>
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"We can take some with us."
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</p>
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<p>
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"But that won't help Corriwen. We have to stay alive for her."
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</p>
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<p>
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Declan glared at him. "Never turned from a battle yet."
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</p>
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<p>
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"First time for everything," Kerry retorted.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Fine. We'll cower like rabbits."
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</p>
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<p>
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He took the reins of his horse and led it under the leaves that now covered the entire rock face and overhung the hollow. Already they could hear the
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howling of the hounds and the deep, bass grunts of the boars. As soon as they were inside, the vines wove themselves together into a thick mat and then,
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miraculously, buds began to form and crimson flowers unfolded into wide cups that oozed nectar and gave off a sweet scent.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Hides smell," the Leprechaun said. Jack understood right away.
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</p>
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<p>
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Declan stood with a hand over each of the horse's noses, whispering calmly to them. His sword was dug into the ground, ready for action.
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</p>
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<p>
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The Scree hunters poured in to the campsite. The hounds bayed, excited. Jack held his breath, parted the foliage and peered out.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Been here," one of them grated.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Which way?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"Dogs'll sniff 'em."
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</p>
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<p>
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One of the hounds strained at the leash and dragged its handler across to the hollow. It whined and pawed and as it did, more scarlet flowers opened and
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the thick scent wafted out in a cloud.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Stinks, this does," the Scree said, screwing up its ugly face. He jabbed a spear into the vines. The tip stabbed between Jack and Kerry and almost nicked
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the horse on its flank. Nobody moved a muscle.
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</p>
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<p>
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"Not here," another Scree bawled. "But not far. We'll hunt 'em down."
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</p>
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<p>
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And with that, they turned quickly and left.
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</p>
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<p>
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Jack let out a sight of relief.
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</p>
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<p>
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Declan said nothing at all.
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</p>
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<p class='break'>* * *</p>
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<p>
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Alevin and his men had raced towards the dam, covering the ground fast. Every mile took them ever closer to the storm that wheeled in the distance.
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</p>
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<p>
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They were completely unaware that Mandrake and his hordes had headed towards the high country, and that the two opposing armies had passed within twenty
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miles of each other.
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</p>
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<p>
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Mandrake had ordered his captains to hurry the Scree on while he rode in the black wagon. Their boots clattered on the stony ground and the big iron-bound
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wheels crunched rock under their weight.
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</p>
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<p>
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Outrunner scouts came back, breathless and exhausted.
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</p>
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<p>
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"No-one at the redoubt," one of them wheezed. "All burned down."
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</p>
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<p>
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Mandrake's eyes blazed from under the shadows of the cowl that hid his peeling, sickly skin.
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</p>
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<p>
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"The renegade Alevin," he grated, voice hoarse and crackly. "What sign of him?"
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</p>
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<p>
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"All the tracks go east, Lord," the Scree runner said. "Lot of horses. Lot of men. And fast."
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</p>
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<p>
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"The Dam!" Mandrake spat. "They plan to undo our work."
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</p>
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<p>
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One of the turncoat chiefs approached.
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</p>
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<p>
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"They are too late, surely."
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</p>
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<p>
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Mandrake turned on him, and his eyes burned red in the shadows.
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</p>
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<p>
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<em>"Who is thissss?"</em>
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His voice had changed. The Chief flinched back.
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</p>
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<p>
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"<em>We took the guards away." </em>Mandrake cackled to himself.
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</p>
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<p>
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"There will be enough. It will take days to break that water-wall."
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</p>
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<p>
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"<em>Not enough. Not enough. I planned too long." </em>The voice, rose high. The chief turned away, frightened of the sudden change in his Lord, frightened
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of the consequences of this awful fury.
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</p>
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<p>
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Mandrake's face bulged as if something else was swelling under his skin. His eyes blazed and his mouth pulled back to show rotten teeth in weeping gums.
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</p>
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<p>
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<em>"Turn!" </em>
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he screeched<em>. "Stop them. Kill them. Break them. Smash them."</em>
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</p>
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<p>
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"But the girl...the girl…"
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</p>
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<p>
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<em>"We will have her. We will consume her. But I need the water. Water is freedom."</em>
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</p>
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<p>
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The great army wheeled about, sending up grit and dry rock dust, and began to march fast back towards the east.
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</p>
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<p class='break'>* * *</p>
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<p>
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Alevin's men reached the crevice in the ridge where thousands of the people of Mid Temair had been enslaved. Since the great battle, they had been forced
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to dig a narrow channel from west to east, and they were still toiling like ants, when the riders came thundering up the cleft, hooves splashing in water
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that was already seeping through the solid rock from the vast dammed lake on the other side of the ridge.
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</p>
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<p>
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Only a handful of Scree guards were on duty, and the sudden attack took them by surprise. Alevin was in the lead, with his men close-bunched behind him.
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</p>
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<p>
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The carnage was as swift as it was awful.
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</p>
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</div>
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</div>
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</body>
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