And once in a great while, when waylaid or...
And once in a great while, when waylaid or challenged by brigand or mercenary, Baerd would killA night predator in his own incarnation, restless and soon goneAnother kind of ghost, a part of him dead with the dead of the River Deisa
In every corner of the mainland Palm except his own, which was gone, he had done these things for years upon years, feeling the slow turning of the seasons, learning the meaning of night in this forest and that field, by this dark river, or on that mountain ridge, reaching out or back or inward all the time toward a release that was ever and again denied
He had been here in the highlands many times before on this same Ember NightHe and Alessan went back a long way and had shared a great deal with Alienor of Borso, and there was the other, larger reason why they came south to the mountains at the beginning of every second yearHe thought of the news from the westHe remembered the look on Alessan's face reading Danoleon's letter and his heart misgave himBut that was for tomorrow, and more Alessan's burden than his own, however much he might want, as he always wanted, to ease or share the weight
Tonight was his own, and it called to himAlone in the darkness, but hand in hand with a dream of Dianora, he gucci monogram wallet walked away from the castleAlways before he had gone west and then south from Borso, curving his way into the hills themselves below the Braccio PassTonight, for no reason he knew, his footsteps led him the other way, southeastThey carried him along the road to the edge of the village that lay beneath the castle walls and there, as he passed a house with an unexpectedly open door, Baerd saw a fair-haired woman standing in the moonlight as if she had been waiting for him and he stopped
Sitting at the table, resisting the temptation to count their numbers one more time, trying to appear as if all were as normal as it could be on this night of war, Mattio heard Elena call his name and then Donar's from outside the houseHer voice was soft, as it always was, but his senses were pitched toward her, as they had been for yearsEven before poor Verzar had died
He glanced across the table at Donar, but the older man was already reaching for his crutches and rising to swing on his one leg toward the doorA number of the others looked over at them, edgy and apprehensiveMattio forced himself to smile reassuringlyCarenna caught his eye and began speaking soothingly to a few of the more visibly nervous people
Not at all easy himself, Mattio stepped leather chanel purse outside with Donar and saw that someone had comeA dark-haired man, neatly bearded and of middle height, stood motionless before Elena, glancing from her to the two of them, not speakingHe had a sword slung in a scabbard on his back in the Tregean fashion
Mattio looked over at Donar whose face was quite impassiveFor all his experience of Ember Night wars and of Donar's gift he could not repress a shiver
"Someone may come," their one-legged leader had said yesterdayAnd now someone was indeed here in the moonlight in the very hour before battleMattio looked over at Elena; her eyes had not left the strangerShe was standing very straight, slender and motionless, hands holding her elbows, hiding fear and wonder as best she couldBut Mattio had spent years watching her, and he could see that her breathing was shallow and fastHe loved her for her stillness, and for wanting to hide her fear
He glanced at Donar again, and then stepped forward, extending two open palms to the strangerCalmly he said, "Be welcome, though it is not to be abroad
The other man noddedHis feet were planted wide and solid on the earthHe looked as though he knew how to use his swordHe said, "Nor, as I understand the highlands, is it a night to have doors and windows omega speedmaster watches open
"Why would you think you understand the highlands?" Mattio saidElena still had not looked away from this manThere was an odd expression on her face
Moving a little nearer to stand beside her, Mattio realized that he had seen this man beforeThis was one who had come several times to the Lady's castleA musician, he seemed to remember, or a merchant of some sortOne of those landless men who endlessly crossed and recrossed the roads of the PalmHis heart, which had lifted to see the sword, sank a little
The stranger had not responded to his sharp retortHe appeared, as much as the moonight revealed, to be giving the matter thoughtThen he surprised Mattio
"I'm sorry," he said"If I am trespassing upon a custom in ignorance, forgive meI walk for reasons of my ownI will leave you to your peace
He actually turned away then, clearly intending to leave
"No!" Elena said urgently
And in the same moment Donar spoke for the first time
"There is no peace tonight," he said in the deep voice they all trusted so much"And you are not trespassingI thought someone might come along this roadElena was watching for you
And at that the stranger turnedHis eyes seemed wider in the dark, and something new, cooler, more appraising, gleamed in them tiffany co earrings now
"Come for what?" he askedDonar shifted his crutches and swung forwardElena moved to one side to let him stand in front of the strangerMattio looked across at her; her hair was falling over one shoulder, white-gold in the moonlightShe never took her eyes from the dark-haired man
Who was gazing steadily at Donar"Come for what?" he repeated, mildly enough
Still Donar hesitated, and in that moment Mattio realized with a shock that the miller, their Elder, was afraidA sickening lurch of apprehension rose in Mattio, for he suddenly understood what Donar was about to do
And then Donar did itHe gave them away to one from the north
"We are the Night Walkers of Certando," he said, his voice steady and deep"And this is the first of the Ember Nights of springI must ask you: wherever you were born, was there a mark did the birthwomen who attended declare a blessing found?" And slowly he reached a hand inside his shirt and drew forth the leather sac he wore there, holding the caul that had marked him at his birth
Out of the side of his eye Mattio saw Elena biting her lower lipHe looked at the stranger, watched him absorb what Donar had said, and he began gauging his chances of killing the man if it should come to that
This time the silence gucci ladies watch stretch