01 Shadowmarch by Tad Williams

Author:Tad Williams
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy
Published: 2010-04-10T22:38:12+00:00

You saw this. . . this fairy army?

Vansen nodded. Yes, Highness. Not very well, as Ive

said. It was . . . He hesitated. It was strange there. By the gods! cried Rorick, who had just divined the reason for his own presence, they are coming down onto my land! They must be invading Dalers Troth even as we speak -someone must stop them!

Briony had not particularly wanted him present, but since it was near his fiefdom, and his bride-to -be had been kidnapped with the convoy, she could not think of a reason to keep him out of the council. Still, she found it telling that he had not mentioned the Settish princes daughter once. Yes, it sounds that way, Cousin Rorick, she said. You will, no doubt, want to ride out as soon as you can to muster and lead your people. She kept her tone equable, but to her surprise she saw a small reaction from Vansen, not a smile -the matters at hand were too serious -but a recognition by him that she didnt think Rorick was likely to follow this selfless course.

Ah, but Vansen is a dalesman, isnt he? And not as dull as I supposed him, either.

She turned her attention back to her cousin Rorick, who was not even trying to hide his fear. Ride there? he stammered. Into the gods alone know what kind of terrors?

Longarren is right about one thing -he can do nothing alone, said Tyne of Blueshore. We must strike them quickly, though, whatever we do. We must throw them back. If the Twilight People are truly come across the Shadowline, we must remind them of why they retreated there in the past -make them see they will pay with blood for every yard of trespass . . .

Still, these are your lands we are talking about, Rorick, Briony pointed out, and your people. They do not see much of you as it is. Will you not lead them?

But lead them to what, Highness? Surprisingly, it was Brone who spoke up: as a general rule, he did not think much of her cousin Rorick. We know nothing so far. We have sent out a small party and only a few of them have come back -I think it would be a mistake for Lord Longarren or anyone else to ride off to battle without due care. What if we make a stand against these invaders and the same thing happens -the madness, the confusion -but this time to an entire army? Fear will run riot and the Twilight People will be here in these halls before spring. That conquest will not be anything like the Syannese Empire either, I suspect. These creatures will want more than tribute. What did Vansen say that his little monstrosity told him? That she -whoever that might be -will burn all our houses down to black stones.

The enormity of it struck her now, her contemptuous

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prodding of Rorick suddenly seemed petty. Unless Vansen was completely mad, they were soon to be at war, and not with any human foe.

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