And in taking one  in tonig-up passion,  his sword arm free.

    Devin, laboring to keep up o  combat ion vying for mastery in .  s as most of tlaing as muc for  augry morning lessons t seemed unimaginably remote from ts happenings.

    raigo to put be of direct response all t allowed.

    Frantically, gritting eeths behind, when a yellow-bearded Barbadian loomed up beside him, enormous on his horse.

    Devin cried out in sinct and to t, veering for a space o , as loo t uprengt a searing pain in  fell. ty air  later Devin felt o flesh.

    t as  one o ure. toppling of a mountain tree, o the ground.

    Devin ig to meet Ducas and Arkins group pressing for.

    It  over, Devin realized. to do. iture of emotions t  even try to understand just tcimes and orco tinguiss after to t seemed to Devin —t of t down and slain.

    It

    of tracker and realized rampled in t lay ted and splayed unnaturally. Some ually t till embedded in t of one of them had been broken off.

    Devin turned ao it. to ride back to t , old racker come upon  all, as to e would have been.

    It  t hin himself once again, as he gradually became aware

    of ting calm t seemed to ill ble Alessan ly ridden to  tamped and snorted, made restless by t past and the smell of blood.

    quot;Devin, believe me, I am sorry,quot; Alessan murmured softly, so t no one else  is  t time, and I gave you no co prepare.”

    Devin s drained, almost numb. quot;You didnt  ter t;  a;A