Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“The Seekers of Winter” by Alex T. Dragonson
23rd December 2024 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:27:00

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When Eufraitis sets out to find her lost brother, she has no idea of what sort of world her search will take her to, nor of the wonders and terrors she’ll discover along the way…

Today’s story is “The Seekers of Winter, or How Eufraitis Joined the Longest Hunt” by Alex T. Dragonson, who spins a horde of cozy yarns from atop a hoard of cozy yarn. First published in The Heavens Within Our Grasp from the Furry Historical Fiction Society, you can find more of their stories on their worldbuilding blog and in the Voice of Dog archive.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-seekers-of-winter-by-alex-t-dragonson

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “The

Speaker:

Seekers

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Winter,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

How

Speaker:

Eufraitis

Speaker:

Joined the

Speaker:

Longest

Speaker:

Hunt”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

T.

Speaker:

Dragonson,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

spins

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

horde

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

cozy

Speaker:

yarns from

Speaker:

atop

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

hoard

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

cozy

Speaker:

yarn.

Speaker:

First

Speaker:

published

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Heavens

Speaker:

Within

Speaker:

Our

Speaker:

Grasp

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Furry

Speaker:

Historical

Speaker:

Fiction

Speaker:

Society,

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

their worldbuilding

Speaker:

blog

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog

Speaker:

archive.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“The

Speaker:

Seekers

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Winter”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Alex

Speaker:

T.

Speaker:

Dragonson

Once

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

ago,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

river

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

merely

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

stream

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

babbled at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

feet

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

smooth

Speaker:

stones

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Eternity,

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

lionfolk,

Speaker:

brother

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sister,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

hunted

Speaker:

together

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

plains,

Speaker:

until

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

morning

Speaker:

Eufraitis

Speaker:

woke

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

brother

Speaker:

gone.

Speaker:

There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

sign

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

struggle,

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

track

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

follow;

Speaker:

but

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the

Speaker:

strangest

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

he'd

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

bow

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

quiver

Speaker:

behind.

From

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

forth,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

lost

Speaker:

brother

Speaker:

Eufraitis

Speaker:

hunted,

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

along

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

trails

Speaker:

they had

Speaker:

walked

Speaker:

countless

Speaker:

times,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

family's

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

hunting

Speaker:

grounds,

Speaker:

and then

Speaker:

farther

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

farther

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rivers

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

forests

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

bounded

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

plains.

Speaker:

Nowhere

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

pawprint

Speaker:

nor a

Speaker:

hair

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

tail,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

soon

Speaker:

despair

Speaker:

became

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

companion.

One

Speaker:

night,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

sat

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

campfire

Speaker:

wondering

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

brother

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

truly

Speaker:

lost

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

send

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

memory

Speaker:

West

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

return

Speaker:

alone

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

mothers'

Speaker:

household,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

noticed

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

human

Speaker:

sitting

Speaker:

across

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire,

Speaker:

watching

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hood

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

cloak.

Speaker:

She'd

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

seen

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

before,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

once

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

depths

Speaker:

of her heart

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was.

"My

Speaker:

lord!"

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

cried

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

scrambled

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

feet.

And

Speaker:

Amruoc,

Speaker:

Lord

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Hunt,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

god

Speaker:

she'd

Speaker:

called

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

strength

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

patience,

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

brother,

Speaker:

motioned

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

sit

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

at ease.

Speaker:

Once

Speaker:

she'd

Speaker:

sat

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

He

spoke:

"What

spoke:

is

spoke:

it

spoke:

that

spoke:

you

spoke:

hunt

spoke:

for?"

"I'm

spoke:

hunting

spoke:

for

spoke:

my

spoke:

brother,"

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

said. "He

spoke:

disappeared

spoke:

from

spoke:

our

spoke:

campsite

spoke:

nearly

spoke:

a

spoke:

month

spoke:

ago,

spoke:

and

spoke:

I've

spoke:

sought

spoke:

him

spoke:

ever

spoke:

since,

spoke:

on

spoke:

our

spoke:

hunting

spoke:

grounds, in

spoke:

the

spoke:

home

spoke:

of

spoke:

our

spoke:

mothers,

spoke:

and

spoke:

in

spoke:

fields

spoke:

and

spoke:

forests

spoke:

I've

spoke:

never

spoke:

before

spoke:

seen.

spoke:

He

spoke:

must

spoke:

be

spoke:

somewhere,

spoke:

but

spoke:

he

spoke:

is

spoke:

nowhere."

Amruoc

spoke:

nodded. "Perhaps

spoke:

we

spoke:

may

spoke:

be

spoke:

of

spoke:

help

spoke:

to

spoke:

each

spoke:

other,"

spoke:

He

spoke:

said. "What is

spoke:

your

spoke:

brother's

spoke:

name?"

"Tigris,

spoke:

my

spoke:

lord."

"And

spoke:

he

spoke:

is

spoke:

lionfolk,

spoke:

like

spoke:

yourself?"

"He is."

Amruoc

spoke:

fell

spoke:

silent,

spoke:

and

spoke:

seemed

spoke:

lost

spoke:

in

spoke:

thought

spoke:

for

spoke:

a

spoke:

very

spoke:

long

spoke:

time,

spoke:

as

spoke:

the

spoke:

fire

spoke:

waned

spoke:

and

spoke:

the

spoke:

moon

spoke:

began

spoke:

to

spoke:

set

spoke:

into

spoke:

distant

spoke:

treetops.

spoke:

At

spoke:

last

spoke:

he

spoke:

"The Lord of

spoke:

the

spoke:

Hunt

spoke:

can

spoke:

find

spoke:

any

spoke:

track,

spoke:

no

spoke:

matter

spoke:

how

spoke:

slight.

spoke:

Your

spoke:

brother's

spoke:

trail

spoke:

is

spoke:

faint,

spoke:

but

spoke:

I

spoke:

know

spoke:

where

spoke:

he

spoke:

must

spoke:

be.

spoke:

But

spoke:

before

spoke:

I

spoke:

can

spoke:

aid

spoke:

you,

spoke:

you

spoke:

must

spoke:

do

spoke:

something

spoke:

for

spoke:

me."

"Anything," Eufraitis said, "if it helps

spoke:

me

spoke:

find

spoke:

him."

Amruoc

spoke:

laughed

spoke:

to

spoke:

himself. "The

spoke:

task

spoke:

is

spoke:

a

spoke:

simple

spoke:

one,

spoke:

and

spoke:

yet

spoke:

among

spoke:

the

spoke:

most

spoke:

difficult

spoke:

known

spoke:

to

spoke:

hunter

spoke:

or

spoke:

quarry.

spoke:

I

spoke:

ask

spoke:

you

spoke:

to

spoke:

swear

spoke:

to

spoke:

me

spoke:

that,

spoke:

in

spoke:

the

spoke:

days to

spoke:

come,

spoke:

you

spoke:

put

spoke:

aside

spoke:

your

spoke:

hunt to

spoke:

aid

spoke:

any who seek what escapes their

spoke:

grasp."

"But

spoke:

if

spoke:

I

spoke:

stop

spoke:

seeking

spoke:

him,"

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

asked, "how will I

spoke:

ever

spoke:

find

spoke:

him?"

"Even

spoke:

the

spoke:

mightiest

spoke:

hunter

spoke:

must rest,"

spoke:

Amruoc

spoke:

said. "Now,

spoke:

will

spoke:

you

spoke:

swear

spoke:

it?"

There

spoke:

was

spoke:

no

spoke:

other

spoke:

path

spoke:

to

spoke:

take. "I

spoke:

swear

spoke:

to

spoke:

you,

spoke:

Amruoc,

spoke:

Lord

spoke:

of the

spoke:

Hunt,

spoke:

that

spoke:

I

spoke:

will

spoke:

aid

spoke:

any

spoke:

who

spoke:

seek what escapes their

spoke:

grasp."

"Very

spoke:

well,"

spoke:

Amruoc

spoke:

said. "Your

spoke:

brother

spoke:

Tigris

spoke:

can

spoke:

be

spoke:

found

spoke:

in the

spoke:

halls

spoke:

of

spoke:

Coreas."

"Coreas!

spoke:

The

spoke:

Lord of

spoke:

Winter

spoke:

has

spoke:

taken

spoke:

him."

"The

spoke:

very

spoke:

same.

spoke:

The

spoke:

journey

spoke:

to

spoke:

the

spoke:

Halls

spoke:

of

spoke:

Winter

spoke:

is

spoke:

not

spoke:

a

spoke:

kindly

spoke:

one,

spoke:

and

spoke:

much

spoke:

of

spoke:

it

spoke:

must

spoke:

be

spoke:

made

spoke:

alone.

spoke:

My

spoke:

familiar

spoke:

can

spoke:

guide

spoke:

you

spoke:

as

spoke:

far

spoke:

as

spoke:

His

spoke:

town

spoke:

below

spoke:

the

spoke:

glacier,

spoke:

but

spoke:

you

spoke:

must

spoke:

find

spoke:

your

spoke:

own

spoke:

way

spoke:

above

spoke:

and

spoke:

beyond

spoke:

it

spoke:

to

spoke:

His

spoke:

home."

spoke:

Amruoc

spoke:

raised

spoke:

one arm, and a ferret emerged from His sleeve to circle the fire and curl up at Eufraitis' feet. She

spoke:

looked

spoke:

down

spoke:

at

spoke:

it,

spoke:

and

spoke:

back

spoke:

up,

spoke:

and

spoke:

found

spoke:

the

spoke:

god

spoke:

had

spoke:

gone.

In

spoke:

the

spoke:

morning,

spoke:

when

spoke:

it

spoke:

came

spoke:

time

spoke:

to

spoke:

break

spoke:

camp,

spoke:

the

spoke:

ferret

spoke:

leapt

spoke:

onto

spoke:

her

spoke:

back,

spoke:

clambered up

spoke:

her

spoke:

coat,

spoke:

and

spoke:

made

spoke:

himself

spoke:

comfortable

spoke:

on

spoke:

her

spoke:

shoulder.

"So,"

spoke:

she

spoke:

said. "North?"

spoke:

The

spoke:

ferret

spoke:

squeaked

spoke:

approvingly,

spoke:

and

spoke:

they

spoke:

set

spoke:

off

spoke:

northward.

On

spoke:

the

spoke:

third

spoke:

morning

spoke:

after

spoke:

Amruoc

spoke:

visited

spoke:

her

spoke:

camp,

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

found

spoke:

the

spoke:

wind

spoke:

had

spoke:

grown

spoke:

cold,

spoke:

and

spoke:

a

spoke:

great

spoke:

wall

spoke:

almost

spoke:

the

spoke:

color

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

sky

spoke:

began

spoke:

to

spoke:

separate

spoke:

itself

spoke:

from

spoke:

the

spoke:

horizon–the

spoke:

glacier

spoke:

that

spoke:

marked

spoke:

the

spoke:

edge

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

world.

spoke:

Seeing

spoke:

it, Eufraitis

spoke:

hesitated,

spoke:

afraid

spoke:

for

spoke:

the

spoke:

first

spoke:

time

spoke:

since she'd sworn her oath to Amruoc,

spoke:

but

spoke:

the ferret

spoke:

on

spoke:

her

spoke:

shoulder chattered

spoke:

at

spoke:

her

spoke:

and

spoke:

nipped at her

spoke:

collar

spoke:

until

spoke:

she

spoke:

got

spoke:

moving

spoke:

again.

By

spoke:

midday

spoke:

the

spoke:

glacier

spoke:

loomed

spoke:

across

spoke:

half

spoke:

the

spoke:

northern

spoke:

sky,

spoke:

wafting

spoke:

its

spoke:

chill

spoke:

across

spoke:

the

spoke:

plains,

spoke:

and

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

found

spoke:

herself

spoke:

on

spoke:

a

spoke:

track

spoke:

full

spoke:

of

spoke:

old

spoke:

wagon

spoke:

ruts.

spoke:

She

spoke:

passed a

spoke:

farm,

spoke:

and

spoke:

then

spoke:

another,

spoke:

and

spoke:

soon

spoke:

the

spoke:

track

spoke:

settled

spoke:

down

spoke:

into

spoke:

cobblestones

spoke:

and

spoke:

became

spoke:

a

spoke:

road,

spoke:

and

spoke:

that

spoke:

road

spoke:

led

spoke:

into

spoke:

a

spoke:

town,

spoke:

and

spoke:

by

spoke:

the

spoke:

time

spoke:

she

spoke:

noticed

spoke:

the

spoke:

ferret

spoke:

was

spoke:

gone

spoke:

from

spoke:

her

spoke:

shoulder

spoke:

she

spoke:

found

spoke:

herself

spoke:

in

spoke:

a

spoke:

market

spoke:

square

spoke:

bustling

spoke:

with

spoke:

folk

spoke:

of

spoke:

all

spoke:

sorts,

spoke:

and

spoke:

all,

spoke:

down

spoke:

to

spoke:

the

spoke:

beggars,

spoke:

dressed

spoke:

in

spoke:

woolens

spoke:

finer

spoke:

than

spoke:

she'd

spoke:

ever

spoke:

seen.

spoke:

This

spoke:

could

spoke:

only be

spoke:

the

spoke:

town

spoke:

of

spoke:

Coreas,

spoke:

which

spoke:

was

spoke:

then

spoke:

as

spoke:

now

spoke:

known

spoke:

for

spoke:

its

spoke:

weavers,

spoke:

its

spoke:

tailors,

spoke:

and its

spoke:

sharply

spoke:

dressed

spoke:

young

spoke:

men.

It

spoke:

was

spoke:

a

spoke:

great

spoke:

deal

spoke:

to take in for a woman

spoke:

used

spoke:

to

spoke:

hunting

spoke:

alongside

spoke:

only

spoke:

her

spoke:

brother.

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

collected

spoke:

herself,

spoke:

squared

spoke:

her

spoke:

shoulders,

spoke:

and

spoke:

set

spoke:

off

spoke:

to

spoke:

find

spoke:

someone

spoke:

who

spoke:

could

spoke:

sell

spoke:

her

spoke:

a

spoke:

cloak.



She

spoke:

was

spoke:

certain

spoke:

she'd

spoke:

given

spoke:

away

spoke:

far

spoke:

too

spoke:

many

spoke:

of

spoke:

her

spoke:

trade

spoke:

furs

spoke:

for

spoke:

it,

spoke:

but

spoke:

the

spoke:

second

spoke:

shop

spoke:

she'd

spoke:

tried

spoke:

had given

spoke:

her a

spoke:

cloak

spoke:

thick

spoke:

enough

spoke:

to

spoke:

keep

spoke:

her

spoke:

warm

spoke:

in

spoke:

the

spoke:

unaccustomed

spoke:

cold of

spoke:

the

spoke:

glacier,

spoke:

yet

spoke:

lighter

spoke:

than

spoke:

the

spoke:

furs

spoke:

she'd

spoke:

paid—surely

spoke:

a

spoke:

magical

spoke:

thing,

spoke:

perhaps

spoke:

even

spoke:

with

spoke:

the

spoke:

god's

spoke:

own

spoke:

favor

spoke:

upon

spoke:

it.

spoke:

The

spoke:

shopkeeper

spoke:

had

spoke:

also

spoke:

given

spoke:

her

spoke:

a

spoke:

wary

spoke:

look

spoke:

when

spoke:

she

spoke:

mentioned

spoke:

she

spoke:

was

spoke:

seeking

spoke:

Coreas,

spoke:

and

spoke:

a

spoke:

word

spoke:

of

spoke:

caution

spoke:

against

spoke:

mentioning

spoke:

to

spoke:

strangers

spoke:

that

spoke:

she

spoke:

planned

spoke:

to

spoke:

challenge

spoke:

Him

spoke:

in

spoke:

His

spoke:

own

spoke:

home.

"They'll

spoke:

think

spoke:

you're

spoke:

mad

spoke:

at

spoke:

best,"

spoke:

they

spoke:

said. "There's

spoke:

always

spoke:

been

spoke:

stories

spoke:

of a

spoke:

path

spoke:

up

spoke:

the

spoke:

glacier,

spoke:

but

spoke:

nobody

spoke:

who

spoke:

goes

spoke:

there

spoke:

ever

spoke:

comes

spoke:

back.

spoke:

We

spoke:

don't

spoke:

know

spoke:

if

spoke:

it's

spoke:

the

spoke:

wind

spoke:

and

spoke:

the

spoke:

ice

spoke:

that

spoke:

take 'em,

spoke:

or

spoke:

the

spoke:

god

spoke:

Himself, and

spoke:

there’s

spoke:

few

spoke:

enough

spoke:

already

spoke:

who’d

spoke:

know

spoke:

the

spoke:

difference.”

“But

spoke:

if

spoke:

no

spoke:

one

spoke:

who

spoke:

goes

spoke:

that

spoke:

way

spoke:

returns,”

spoke:

said

spoke:

Eufraitis, “does

spoke:

anyone

spoke:

still

spoke:

know

spoke:

the

spoke:

way?”

The

spoke:

shopkeeper

spoke:

shrugged. “Every

spoke:

few

spoke:

winters

spoke:

someone’s

spoke:

fool

spoke:

enough

spoke:

to

spoke:

try

spoke:

it,

spoke:

so

spoke:

someone

spoke:

must.”

On

spoke:

her

spoke:

way

spoke:

out

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

shop,

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

nearly

spoke:

tripped

spoke:

over

spoke:

a

spoke:

young

spoke:

jay-man

spoke:

crouched

spoke:

in

spoke:

the

spoke:

doorway,

spoke:

feathers

spoke:

trailing

spoke:

in

spoke:

the

spoke:

dirt

spoke:

as

spoke:

he

spoke:

searched for

spoke:

something

spoke:

between

spoke:

the

spoke:

cobbles.

spoke:

She

spoke:

was

spoke:

about

spoke:

to be

spoke:

angry

spoke:

with

spoke:

him–hunters

spoke:

getting

spoke:

in

spoke:

each

spoke:

other's

spoke:

way

spoke:

could

spoke:

be

spoke:

more

spoke:

dangerous

spoke:

even than

spoke:

a

spoke:

frenzied

spoke:

bison–but

spoke:

she

spoke:

remembered

spoke:

her

spoke:

vow

spoke:

to

spoke:

Amruoc,

spoke:

and

spoke:

held

spoke:

her

spoke:

tongue.

The

spoke:

jay

spoke:

looked

spoke:

up. "Sorry,"

spoke:

he

spoke:

said,

spoke:

craning

spoke:

his

spoke:

neck

spoke:

to

spoke:

meet

spoke:

her

spoke:

eyes. "Lost

spoke:

something."

“It

spoke:

would

spoke:

seem

spoke:

so.”

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

sat

spoke:

back on

spoke:

her

spoke:

heels,

spoke:

carefully

spoke:

out

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

path,

spoke:

and

spoke:

watched

spoke:

him. “What

spoke:

sort

spoke:

of

spoke:

something?”

The

spoke:

jay-man

spoke:

shook

spoke:

his

spoke:

head. "Doesn't

spoke:

matter."

"It might

spoke:

matter

spoke:

very much.

spoke:

I am Eufraitis, and I seek the god of

spoke:

the

spoke:

glacier,

spoke:

who has stolen

spoke:

my

spoke:

brother

spoke:

from

spoke:

me."

"Lucky

spoke:

bastard."

Eufraitis'

spoke:

ears

spoke:

went

spoke:

flat. "My

spoke:

brother

spoke:

did

spoke:

not

spoke:

choose

spoke:

to

spoke:

be

spoke:

stolen,

spoke:

and

spoke:

I

spoke:

have

spoke:

sworn

spoke:

to the

spoke:

Lord

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

Hunt

spoke:

that

spoke:

I

spoke:

will

spoke:

steal

spoke:

him

spoke:

back."

The

spoke:

jay-man

spoke:

considered

spoke:

this,

spoke:

then

spoke:

suddenly

spoke:

stood,

spoke:

brushed

spoke:

the

spoke:

dust

spoke:

from

spoke:

his

spoke:

knees,

spoke:

and

spoke:

offered

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

a

spoke:

hand. "Perhaps

spoke:

we

spoke:

can

spoke:

help

spoke:

each

spoke:

other.

spoke:

I'm

spoke:

called

spoke:

Sky

spoke:

Blackwood,

spoke:

and I've

spoke:

been

spoke:

trying

spoke:

to

spoke:

get

spoke:

to the

spoke:

top

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

glacier

spoke:

for

spoke:

a

spoke:

few

spoke:

winters

spoke:

now."

Eufraitis

spoke:

stood

spoke:

up

spoke:

without

spoke:

taking

spoke:

his

spoke:

hand. "You

spoke:

know

spoke:

the

spoke:

way?"

"More or

spoke:

less.

spoke:

What

spoke:

I

spoke:

mean

spoke:

is,

spoke:

if

spoke:

you've

spoke:

got

spoke:

Amruoc's

spoke:

blessing,

spoke:

then

spoke:

maybe

spoke:

you

spoke:

can

spoke:

find

spoke:

what

spoke:

I've

spoke:

lost.

spoke:

And

spoke:

in

spoke:

return,

spoke:

I'll

spoke:

tell

spoke:

you

spoke:

what

spoke:

I

spoke:

know

spoke:

about

spoke:

climbing the

spoke:

glacier."

"I

spoke:

suppose,"

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

said

spoke:

slowly, "that

spoke:

that's

spoke:

the

spoke:

best

spoke:

I'm

spoke:

going

spoke:

to

spoke:

find

spoke:

here."

spoke:

She

spoke:

clasped

spoke:

his

spoke:

hand

spoke:

as

spoke:

she'd

spoke:

seen

spoke:

others

spoke:

do in

spoke:

the

spoke:

market. "You

spoke:

have

spoke:

a

spoke:

bargain."



It

spoke:

was

spoke:

a

spoke:

bracelet

spoke:

he'd

spoke:

lost,

spoke:

a

spoke:

silver

spoke:

bangle

spoke:

with

spoke:

the

spoke:

three-pronged

spoke:

sign

spoke:

of

spoke:

Coreas inlaid

spoke:

in

spoke:

tiny

spoke:

blue

spoke:

stones,

spoke:

made

spoke:

by

spoke:

the

spoke:

town's

spoke:

master

spoke:

silversmith

spoke:

as

spoke:

an

spoke:

offering

spoke:

to

spoke:

the

spoke:

god.

spoke:

Sky

spoke:

gave

spoke:

no

spoke:

explanation

spoke:

of

spoke:

how

spoke:

he'd

spoke:

lost

spoke:

it,

spoke:

only

spoke:

that

spoke:

it

spoke:

had

spoke:

been

spoke:

somewhere

spoke:

in

spoke:

this

spoke:

quarter

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

market

spoke:

square.

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

agreed

spoke:

to

spoke:

meet

spoke:

him

spoke:

in

spoke:

the

spoke:

nearest

spoke:

inn

spoke:

at

spoke:

dusk

spoke:

and

spoke:

set

spoke:

out

spoke:

to

spoke:

search.

Nothing

spoke:

sparkled

spoke:

at

spoke:

her

spoke:

from

spoke:

the

spoke:

dust

spoke:

between

spoke:

the

spoke:

cobbles,

spoke:

or

spoke:

from

spoke:

under

spoke:

the

spoke:

horse

spoke:

troughs,

spoke:

and

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

could

spoke:

feel

spoke:

the

spoke:

eyes

spoke:

of

spoke:

every

spoke:

merchant

spoke:

she

spoke:

passed

spoke:

following

spoke:

her.

spoke:

After

spoke:

a

spoke:

full

spoke:

circuit

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

quarter,

spoke:

it

spoke:

occurred

spoke:

to

spoke:

her

spoke:

that

spoke:

something so fine and

spoke:

valuable

spoke:

must have

spoke:

been

spoke:

picked

spoke:

up

spoke:

by

spoke:

the

spoke:

first

spoke:

person

spoke:

who

spoke:

noticed

spoke:

it,

spoke:

and

spoke:

given

spoke:

how

spoke:

full

spoke:

the

spoke:

town

spoke:

of

spoke:

Coreas

spoke:

was

spoke:

of

spoke:

young

spoke:

men

spoke:

trying

spoke:

to

spoke:

impress

spoke:

each

spoke:

other,

spoke:

gambled

spoke:

away or

spoke:

perhaps

spoke:

even

spoke:

sold

spoke:

again.

spoke:

So

spoke:

she

spoke:

began

spoke:

to

spoke:

search

spoke:

for

spoke:

stalls

spoke:

and

spoke:

shops

spoke:

selling

spoke:

such

spoke:

finery,

spoke:

certain

spoke:

that

spoke:

Sky

spoke:

would

spoke:

have

spoke:

more

spoke:

luck

spoke:

with

spoke:

the

spoke:

gamblers.

She

spoke:

found it at

spoke:

last

spoke:

under

spoke:

the

spoke:

sign

spoke:

of

spoke:

a

spoke:

brass

spoke:

candlestick,

spoke:

in

spoke:

a

spoke:

shop

spoke:

that bought

spoke:

fine

spoke:

clothing

spoke:

and

spoke:

heirlooms

spoke:

from

spoke:

those

spoke:

desperate

spoke:

for

spoke:

money,

spoke:

with

spoke:

the

spoke:

intention

spoke:

to

spoke:

sell

spoke:

them

spoke:

back

spoke:

someday,

spoke:

or

spoke:

so

spoke:

the

spoke:

shopkeeper's

spoke:

apprentice

spoke:

explained

spoke:

it

spoke:

to

spoke:

her.

spoke:

The

spoke:

shopkeeper

spoke:

herself

spoke:

had

spoke:

little

spoke:

interest

spoke:

in

spoke:

Eufraitis'

spoke:

remaining

spoke:

trade

spoke:

furs,

spoke:

and

spoke:

after

spoke:

what

spoke:

felt

spoke:

like

spoke:

endless

spoke:

haggling,

spoke:

her

spoke:

own

spoke:

desperation

spoke:

growing,

spoke:

she

spoke:

pulled

spoke:

a

spoke:

ring

spoke:

from

spoke:

her

spoke:

ear,

spoke:

a

spoke:

loop

spoke:

of jade

spoke:

traded

spoke:

all

spoke:

the

spoke:

way

spoke:

from

spoke:

the

spoke:

western

spoke:

forests

spoke:

and

spoke:

given

spoke:

to

spoke:

her

spoke:

by

spoke:

her

spoke:

mothers

spoke:

when

spoke:

she

spoke:

came

spoke:

of

spoke:

age,

spoke:

and

spoke:

offered

spoke:

it

spoke:

in

spoke:

exchange.

spoke:

The

spoke:

earring

spoke:

seemed

spoke:

to

spoke:

impress

spoke:

the

spoke:

shopkeeper

spoke:

less

spoke:

than the

spoke:

story

spoke:

of

spoke:

its

spoke:

origin,

spoke:

but

spoke:

it

spoke:

was

spoke:

still

spoke:

enough to

spoke:

let

spoke:

her

spoke:

leave

spoke:

with

spoke:

the

spoke:

bangle

spoke:

on

spoke:

her

spoke:

wrist

spoke:

as

spoke:

the

spoke:

sun

spoke:

descended

spoke:

into

spoke:

Mistelin's

spoke:

embrace.

When

spoke:

she

spoke:

reached

spoke:

the inn,

spoke:

she

spoke:

found

spoke:

Sky

spoke:

sitting

spoke:

in

spoke:

the

spoke:

back

spoke:

corner

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

tavern, with

spoke:

food

spoke:

and

spoke:

beer

spoke:

already

spoke:

on the

spoke:

way. Eufraitis offered him the

spoke:

bracelet,

spoke:

but

spoke:

he

spoke:

waved

spoke:

it

spoke:

away. "Keep

spoke:

it,"

spoke:

he

spoke:

said. "If

spoke:

you're

spoke:

going

spoke:

up

spoke:

the

spoke:

glacier,

spoke:

you

spoke:

can

spoke:

give

spoke:

it

spoke:

to

spoke:

Him

spoke:

in

spoke:

my

spoke:

name."

"And

spoke:

how

spoke:

am I to

spoke:

get

spoke:

there?"

spoke:

she

spoke:

asked. "Hold

spoke:

your

spoke:

end

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

bargain."

And

spoke:

so

spoke:

he

spoke:

told

spoke:

her

spoke:

as

spoke:

they

spoke:

ate,

spoke:

under

spoke:

his

spoke:

breath

spoke:

as

spoke:

if

spoke:

he

spoke:

feared

spoke:

someone

spoke:

were

spoke:

listening,

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

path

spoke:

north

spoke:

out

spoke:

of

spoke:

town

spoke:

that

spoke:

became

spoke:

steeper

spoke:

and

spoke:

steeper

spoke:

as

spoke:

it

spoke:

went;

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

places

spoke:

where

spoke:

previous

spoke:

generations

spoke:

had

spoke:

carved

spoke:

clawholds

spoke:

into

spoke:

the

spoke:

ice;

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

hidden

spoke:

doors

spoke:

and

spoke:

passages

spoke:

that

spoke:

were

spoke:

said

spoke:

to

spoke:

run

spoke:

beneath the

spoke:

halls

spoke:

of

spoke:

Winter;

spoke:

and

spoke:

of

spoke:

prayers

spoke:

and

spoke:

spells

spoke:

passed

spoke:

down

spoke:

from

spoke:

older

spoke:

boys to

spoke:

younger

spoke:

over

spoke:

the

spoke:

generations,

spoke:

to

spoke:

guide

spoke:

and

spoke:

preserve

spoke:

travelers

spoke:

in

spoke:

Coreas'

spoke:

domain.

"But

spoke:

how

spoke:

do

spoke:

you

spoke:

know

spoke:

all this?"

spoke:

Eufraitis asked

spoke:

the

spoke:

third

spoke:

or

spoke:

fourth

spoke:

time

spoke:

he

spoke:

paused

spoke:

to

spoke:

catch

spoke:

his

spoke:

breath. "I

spoke:

was

spoke:

told

spoke:

that

spoke:

none

spoke:

who

spoke:

seek

spoke:

Coreas

spoke:

return."

"Oh,

spoke:

He

spoke:

returns

spoke:

them

spoke:

sometimes,"

spoke:

Sky

spoke:

said

spoke:

almost

spoke:

absentmindedly. "He'll

spoke:

keep

spoke:

a

spoke:

lover

spoke:

for

spoke:

ten,

spoke:

twenty,

spoke:

fifty

spoke:

years, then tire of him and send him back

spoke:

to

spoke:

town,

spoke:

youthful as

spoke:

the

spoke:

day

spoke:

he

spoke:

left.

spoke:

My

spoke:

great-uncle

spoke:

was

spoke:

one

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

lucky

spoke:

few."

Lucky!

spoke:

For

spoke:

the

spoke:

Lord

spoke:

of

spoke:

Winter

spoke:

to

spoke:

tear

spoke:

you

spoke:

on

spoke:

a

spoke:

whim

spoke:

from

spoke:

everything

spoke:

you

spoke:

know,

spoke:

and

spoke:

thrust

spoke:

you

spoke:

back

spoke:

just

spoke:

as

spoke:

suddenly

spoke:

into

spoke:

a

spoke:

world

spoke:

that had

spoke:

given

spoke:

you

spoke:

up

spoke:

for

spoke:

dead? "And

spoke:

you

spoke:

want

spoke:

this

spoke:

to

spoke:

happen

spoke:

to

spoke:

you,"

spoke:

was

spoke:

all

spoke:

she

spoke:

said.

He

spoke:

nodded. "Worth

spoke:

every

spoke:

second

spoke:

of

spoke:

it."

"The cloak

spoke:

seller

spoke:

was

spoke:

right,"

spoke:

she

spoke:

said. "Only

spoke:

madmen

spoke:

seek

spoke:

Him

spoke:

out."

"Says

spoke:

the

spoke:

woman

spoke:

who

spoke:

walked

spoke:

for

spoke:

days

spoke:

to

spoke:

find

spoke:

Him."

spoke:

His

spoke:

eyes

spoke:

smiled

spoke:

wider

spoke:

than

spoke:

his

spoke:

beak

spoke:

ever

spoke:

could.

She

spoke:

sighed. "I

spoke:

suppose

spoke:

I'll

spoke:

set

spoke:

out

spoke:

in

spoke:

the

spoke:

morning."



She

spoke:

left

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Coreas.

Sky's

spoke:

stories

spoke:

had

spoke:

spoken

spoke:

of

spoke:

towers,

spoke:

with

spoke:

windows

spoke:

that

spoke:

looked

spoke:

out

spoke:

over

spoke:

the

spoke:

glacier

spoke:

but

spoke:

never

spoke:

quite

spoke:

to the

spoke:

edge.

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

set

spoke:

off

spoke:

down

spoke:

the

spoke:

corridor,

spoke:

examining

spoke:

every

spoke:

side

spoke:

passage

spoke:

she

spoke:

encountered

spoke:

for

spoke:

a way up

spoke:

and

spoke:

praying

spoke:

for

spoke:

Amruoc

spoke:

to

spoke:

guide

spoke:

her.

spoke:

She

spoke:

knew

spoke:

not

spoke:

how

spoke:

long

spoke:

she

spoke:

walked

spoke:

before

spoke:

she

spoke:

found

spoke:

a

spoke:

passage

spoke:

that

spoke:

led

spoke:

upward

spoke:

in

spoke:

steps and

spoke:

began

spoke:

to

spoke:

climb it,

spoke:

first

spoke:

meeting a

spoke:

grand

spoke:

staircase,

spoke:

richly

spoke:

carpeted

spoke:

over

spoke:

the

spoke:

ice

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

floor,

spoke:

that

spoke:

extended

spoke:

downward

spoke:

into

spoke:

a

spoke:

vast

spoke:

hall,

spoke:

then

spoke:

breaking

spoke:

away

spoke:

and

spoke:

spiraling

spoke:

upward,

spoke:

led

spoke:

by

spoke:

a

spoke:

feeling

spoke:

she

spoke:

could

spoke:

not

spoke:

explain

spoke:

that

spoke:

Tigris

spoke:

awaited

spoke:

her

spoke:

at

spoke:

the

spoke:

top.

And

spoke:

it

spoke:

was

spoke:

there

spoke:

that

spoke:

she

spoke:

found

spoke:

him,

spoke:

fast

spoke:

asleep

spoke:

in

spoke:

a

spoke:

bed

spoke:

carved

spoke:

magnificently

spoke:

from

spoke:

pale

spoke:

blue

spoke:

ice,

spoke:

in

spoke:

a

spoke:

small

spoke:

round

spoke:

room

spoke:

furnished

spoke:

all in

spoke:

the

spoke:

finest

spoke:

cloth

spoke:

of

spoke:

silver

spoke:

with

spoke:

a

spoke:

window

spoke:

overlooking the

spoke:

glacier

spoke:

in

spoke:

exactly

spoke:

the

spoke:

way

spoke:

Sky

spoke:

had

spoke:

told

spoke:

her.

She

spoke:

ran

spoke:

to

spoke:

the

spoke:

bed

spoke:

and

spoke:

shook

spoke:

him

spoke:

awake.

spoke:

His

spoke:

eyes

spoke:

were

spoke:

slow

spoke:

to

spoke:

open,

spoke:

and

spoke:

his face

spoke:

puzzled

spoke:

from the moment he saw her. "Fraity?

spoke:

What

spoke:

are

spoke:

you

spoke:

doing

spoke:

here?"

"We

spoke:

need

spoke:

to

spoke:

get

spoke:

out

spoke:

of

spoke:

here,"

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

said.

"What?

spoke:

Why?"

spoke:

Tigris

spoke:

sat

spoke:

up

spoke:

and

spoke:

looked

spoke:

around. "There's

spoke:

no

spoke:

hurry. Let's

spoke:

at

spoke:

least

spoke:

stay

spoke:

for

spoke:

breakfast..."

He

spoke:

moved

spoke:

and

spoke:

spoke

spoke:

as

spoke:

if

spoke:

he

spoke:

were

spoke:

still

spoke:

half

spoke:

asleep.

spoke:

Something

spoke:

was

spoke:

very

spoke:

wrong. "No,

spoke:

we

spoke:

have

spoke:

to

spoke:

leave

spoke:

now.

spoke:

It's

spoke:

too

spoke:

cold

spoke:

here,

spoke:

I

spoke:

don't

spoke:

know

spoke:

what

spoke:

he's

spoke:

done

spoke:

to

spoke:

you--"

"You

spoke:

needn't

spoke:

worry.

spoke:

He's

spoke:

been

spoke:

very

spoke:

kind.

spoke:

I

spoke:

should

spoke:

introduce

spoke:

you."

The

spoke:

weight of

spoke:

the

spoke:

bows

spoke:

on

spoke:

her

spoke:

back

spoke:

shifted,

spoke:

and

spoke:

suddenly

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

had

spoke:

half an

spoke:

idea of

spoke:

what

spoke:

to

spoke:

do.

spoke:

She

spoke:

pulled

spoke:

Tigris'

spoke:

bow

spoke:

free

spoke:

and pressed it

spoke:

into

spoke:

his

spoke:

hands. "You

spoke:

left

spoke:

this

spoke:

behind.

spoke:

I

spoke:

had

spoke:

to

spoke:

bring

spoke:

it

spoke:

to

spoke:

you."

He

spoke:

looked

spoke:

down

spoke:

at

spoke:

his

spoke:

hands,

spoke:

and

spoke:

suddenly

spoke:

he

spoke:

seemed

spoke:

more

spoke:

alert,

spoke:

more

spoke:

like

spoke:

she

spoke:

remembered

spoke:

him. "Oh,"

spoke:

he

spoke:

said. "Oh,

spoke:

no.

spoke:

You're

spoke:

right,

spoke:

we

spoke:

need

spoke:

to

spoke:

go."

He

spoke:

had

spoke:

no

spoke:

cloak,

spoke:

so

spoke:

she

spoke:

wrapped

spoke:

him

spoke:

up

spoke:

in

spoke:

blankets

spoke:

as best she

spoke:

could,

spoke:

and

spoke:

turned

spoke:

to

spoke:

lead

spoke:

him

spoke:

to

spoke:

the

spoke:

stairs,

spoke:

only

spoke:

to

spoke:

find

spoke:

the

spoke:

god

spoke:

standing

spoke:

in

spoke:

her

spoke:

way.

You

spoke:

can't

spoke:

mistake

spoke:

Coreas

spoke:

for a

spoke:

human,

spoke:

or

spoke:

lionfolk,

spoke:

or

spoke:

birdfolk,

spoke:

or

spoke:

anything

spoke:

else

spoke:

in

spoke:

this

spoke:

world

spoke:

that

spoke:

speaks.

spoke:

He

spoke:

stands

spoke:

head

spoke:

and

spoke:

shoulders

spoke:

above

spoke:

even

spoke:

some

spoke:

other

spoke:

gods,

spoke:

His

spoke:

skin

spoke:

as

spoke:

dark

spoke:

as

spoke:

a

spoke:

moonless

spoke:

night,

spoke:

His fur

spoke:

a

spoke:

brilliant

spoke:

white

spoke:

that

spoke:

catches

spoke:

the

spoke:

faintest

spoke:

light

spoke:

and

spoke:

turns it

spoke:

to

spoke:

snow-blindness,

spoke:

His

spoke:

eyes

spoke:

the

spoke:

bottomless

spoke:

blue

spoke:

of

spoke:

meltwater.

spoke:

No

spoke:

man

spoke:

can

spoke:

look

spoke:

away

spoke:

from

spoke:

Him,

spoke:

no

spoke:

man

spoke:

can

spoke:

deny

spoke:

Him.

Fortunately

spoke:

for

spoke:

Eufraitis,

spoke:

He

spoke:

has

spoke:

no

spoke:

real

spoke:

power

spoke:

over

spoke:

anyone

spoke:

but

spoke:

men.

spoke:

But

spoke:

she

spoke:

was

spoke:

still

spoke:

in

spoke:

His

spoke:

domain,

spoke:

and

spoke:

He

spoke:

stood

spoke:

between

spoke:

her

spoke:

and

spoke:

the

spoke:

path that

spoke:

would

spoke:

bring

spoke:

Tigris

spoke:

home.

"So

spoke:

you're

spoke:

my

spoke:

uninvited

spoke:

guest,"

spoke:

He

spoke:

said. The

spoke:

very

spoke:

air

spoke:

seemed

spoke:

to

spoke:

freeze

spoke:

around

spoke:

him,

spoke:

and

spoke:

ring

spoke:

with

spoke:

silent

spoke:

laughter. "You

spoke:

should

spoke:

know

spoke:

I

spoke:

don't

spoke:

take

spoke:

kindly

spoke:

to

spoke:

trespassers."

Eufraitis

spoke:

tried to

spoke:

not

spoke:

look

spoke:

intimidated. "I've

spoke:

come

spoke:

to

spoke:

take

spoke:

my

spoke:

brother

spoke:

home."

"Well,

spoke:

I

spoke:

can't

spoke:

just

spoke:

let

spoke:

you

spoke:

do

spoke:

that,

spoke:

now

spoke:

can

spoke:

I?

spoke:

He's

spoke:

mine

spoke:

now."

Eufraitis fought

spoke:

the

spoke:

temptation to

spoke:

look

spoke:

back,

spoke:

to

spoke:

see

spoke:

whether

spoke:

the

spoke:

god had

spoke:

cast

spoke:

again

spoke:

whatever

spoke:

spell

spoke:

had

spoke:

kept

spoke:

Tigris here. There

spoke:

had

spoke:

to

spoke:

be a

spoke:

way

spoke:

past

spoke:

him.

spoke:

She

spoke:

couldn't

spoke:

have

spoke:

come

spoke:

all

spoke:

this

spoke:

way,

spoke:

sold her

spoke:

most

spoke:

precious

spoke:

possessions,

spoke:

clawed

spoke:

her

spoke:

way

spoke:

up

spoke:

the

spoke:

glacier

spoke:

by

spoke:

Sky's

spoke:

secret

spoke:

paths,

spoke:

only

spoke:

to

spoke:

give

spoke:

up

spoke:

now.

The

spoke:

thought

spoke:

of

spoke:

Sky

spoke:

reminded

spoke:

her

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

weight

spoke:

of the

spoke:

silver

spoke:

bracelet

spoke:

on

spoke:

her

spoke:

arm.

spoke:

She

spoke:

slipped

spoke:

it

spoke:

off

spoke:

and

spoke:

held it

spoke:

before

spoke:

her. "Coreas!"

spoke:

she

spoke:

said,

spoke:

and

spoke:

the

spoke:

god

spoke:

looked

spoke:

down

spoke:

at

spoke:

her. "I

spoke:

bring

spoke:

you

spoke:

a

spoke:

gift

spoke:

from

spoke:

a

spoke:

man

spoke:

of

spoke:

the

spoke:

town

spoke:

beneath

spoke:

your

spoke:

halls.

spoke:

His name

spoke:

is Sky Blackwood, and

spoke:

he

spoke:

wishes

spoke:

to join

spoke:

you

spoke:

here

spoke:

in

spoke:

my

spoke:

brother's

spoke:

place."

"Then

spoke:

you're

spoke:

here

spoke:

on

spoke:

his

spoke:

behalf

spoke:

as

spoke:

well?

spoke:

Could

spoke:

he

spoke:

not

spoke:

have

spoke:

come

spoke:

to

spoke:

me,

spoke:

with

spoke:

or

spoke:

without

spoke:

you?"

"You'll

spoke:

have

spoke:

plenty

spoke:

of

spoke:

time

spoke:

to

spoke:

ask

spoke:

him

spoke:

that,"

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

said. "It

spoke:

seemed

spoke:

to

spoke:

me

spoke:

that

spoke:

he

spoke:

dreams

spoke:

of

spoke:

you

spoke:

bringing

spoke:

him

spoke:

here

spoke:

yourself."

The

spoke:

cold

spoke:

cut

spoke:

through

spoke:

her

spoke:

cloak

spoke:

as

spoke:

Coreas

spoke:

thought.

spoke:

She

spoke:

reminded herself

spoke:

to breathe.

At

spoke:

last,

spoke:

Coreas

spoke:

laughed

spoke:

to

spoke:

Himself,

spoke:

and

spoke:

the

spoke:

chill

spoke:

disappeared. "Very

spoke:

well."

spoke:

He

spoke:

took

spoke:

the bracelet from Eufraitis, and it grew to fit

spoke:

His

spoke:

arm

spoke:

as

spoke:

He

spoke:

put

spoke:

it

spoke:

on. "I

spoke:

accept

spoke:

your

spoke:

terms,

spoke:

as

spoke:

long

spoke:

as

spoke:

you

spoke:

both

spoke:

are

spoke:

gone

spoke:

before

spoke:

I

spoke:

return."

spoke:

He

spoke:

stepped

spoke:

out

spoke:

onto

spoke:

the

spoke:

stairs,

spoke:

and when

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

looked

spoke:

again,

spoke:

He

spoke:

was

spoke:

no

spoke:

longer

spoke:

there.

His

spoke:

voice

spoke:

echoed

spoke:

in

spoke:

her

spoke:

ears. "Do

spoke:

go

spoke:

through

spoke:

the

spoke:

great

spoke:

hall,

spoke:

won't

spoke:

you?

spoke:

It

spoke:

wouldn't

spoke:

do

spoke:

to

spoke:

lose

spoke:

yourselves

spoke:

on

spoke:

the

spoke:

way

spoke:

down."

Tigris

spoke:

took

spoke:

her

spoke:

hand, and Eufraitis led him down the spiral

spoke:

stairs to where

spoke:

they

spoke:

rejoined

spoke:

the

spoke:

grand

spoke:

staircase,

spoke:

and

spoke:

down

spoke:

again

spoke:

across

spoke:

the

spoke:

great

spoke:

hall

spoke:

and

spoke:

out

spoke:

through

spoke:

double

spoke:

doors

spoke:

three

spoke:

times

spoke:

her

spoke:

height

spoke:

onto

spoke:

a

spoke:

road

spoke:

that

spoke:

had

spoke:

not

spoke:

been

spoke:

there when Eufraitis left the town of

spoke:

Coreas,

spoke:

along

spoke:

a

spoke:

gentle

spoke:

incline

spoke:

that

spoke:

did

spoke:

not

spoke:

belong

spoke:

to

spoke:

the glacier

spoke:

as

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

remembered it.

spoke:

Indeed,

spoke:

when

spoke:

they

spoke:

reached

spoke:

the

spoke:

edge

spoke:

of

spoke:

town

spoke:

and

spoke:

turned

spoke:

back to

spoke:

look

spoke:

at

spoke:

the

spoke:

road,

spoke:

it had

spoke:

gone,

spoke:

and

spoke:

only

spoke:

the

spoke:

sheer cliff face Eufraitis had climbed remained.



The sun had returned to Mistelin's domain by the time Tigris

spoke:

and

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

reached

spoke:

the

spoke:

inn on

spoke:

the

spoke:

market

spoke:

square.

spoke:

It

spoke:

was

spoke:

exactly

spoke:

as

spoke:

Eufraitis

spoke:

had

spoke:

left

spoke:

it,

spoke:

though

spoke:

everyone

spoke:

there

spoke:

seemed

spoke:

older

spoke:

than

spoke:

they

spoke:

should,

spoke:

save

spoke:

the

spoke:

innkeeper,

spoke:

who

spoke:

was

spoke:

much

spoke:

younger.

spoke:

It

spoke:

didn't

spoke:

take

spoke:

her

spoke:

long

spoke:

to

spoke:

find

spoke:

out

why:

why:

the

why:

older

why:

folk

why:

cheered

why:

for her

why:

arrival as

why:

if

why:

she

why:

were

why:

a

why:

hero

why:

of

why:

legend,

why:

and

why:

the

why:

innkeeper

why:

explained

why:

that

why:

his

why:

parent

why:

had

why:

seen

why:

her

why:

off

why:

twenty

why:

years

why:

before,

why:

and

why:

Sky

why:

Blackwood

why:

had

why:

disappeared

why:

mere

why:

days

why:

after

why:

that. "The

why:

Lord

why:

of Winter

why:

works

why:

in

why:

his

why:

own

why:

way,"

why:

he

why:

said, "and

why:

the

why:

rest

why:

of

why:

us

why:

learn

why:

to

why:

live

why:

with

why:

it."

In

why:

the

why:

days

why:

that

why:

followed,

why:

neither

why:

Tigris nor

why:

Eufraitis

why:

found

why:

themselves

why:

ready

why:

to

why:

return

why:

to

why:

their

why:

old

why:

hunting

why:

grounds,

why:

nor

why:

to

why:

their

why:

mothers'

why:

home.

why:

Tigris

why:

found

why:

friends

why:

among

why:

those

why:

Coreas

why:

had

why:

left

why:

behind,

why:

and

why:

learned

why:

that

why:

he

why:

had

why:

much

why:

to

why:

tell

why:

the

why:

young

why:

men

why:

of

why:

the

why:

town

why:

about

why:

his

why:

dealings

why:

with

why:

the

why:

god.

why:

Soon

why:

he'd

why:

made

why:

up

why:

his

why:

mind

why:

to

why:

stay,

why:

to

why:

learn

why:

the

why:

ways

why:

the

why:

winter

why:

folk

why:

hunted,

why:

and

why:

provide

why:

for

why:

these

why:

people

why:

who

why:

had

why:

so

why:

quickly

why:

become

why:

his

why:

people.

Eufraitis

why:

was

why:

simply

why:

restless,

why:

and it

why:

took

why:

her

why:

some

why:

time

why:

to

why:

realize

why:

why.

why:

The

why:

sight

why:

of

why:

a

why:

ferret

why:

sleeping

why:

by

why:

the

why:

side

why:

of

why:

the

why:

south

why:

road

why:

reminded

why:

her

why:

of

why:

her

why:

vow

why:

to

why:

Amruoc,

why:

and

why:

it

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