Subject: tartan

From: "Tilda Weber" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2006 02:19:15 +0800

We go to the bridge, but not by this road.
They said they were safer where they were. A spearhad struck my helmet and well-nigh dropped me. We ask youonly this: waste neither words nor time on Tibur. The drums seemed to be within the place itself, invisible andbeaten by invisible drummers.
Let us bring them where they can talk with Evalie and with us two. My handslipped from his throat to his chest.
Her red braids were loose, her sword wasred, and she was nigh as battle-stained as I. That bladewent through the mail right into the lungs . Was that not what you expected when you dared to take me? Now I could see Tibur, his horse pacingtoward the bridge-end. A hammer hummed by my head, missing it by a hair. Oh, I know she said, and stared down at Tibur.
Now we shall wipe out your yellow dogs for once and all. The city nestled in a hollow between sheer, unscalable black walls. Bythe talking drums they would send our message to the stronghold of theLittle People.
Bare-headed,blood-flecked I rode, shouting, sword dripping red. That we ask the Rrrllya tosend us on the morrow an embassy empowered to arrange a lasting peace. And did this tale also tell how I was slain?
I wasdown from mine before his great sledge was half-raised to hurl.
I lifted my sword to slash at Tiburs throat. There would be little trouble incaring for them in that immense place. It would be better if you and the others slept here, Dara.
Before he could clench me again, my hand had swept down into thegirdle and clutched the dart. Ikissed him on the eyes, and put a sword in his dead hand. We go to the bridge, but not by this road. All of hate I had held seemedto have poured out upon Tibur.
They glanced at each other, oddly, saluted, and went on. The soldiers were plainly uneasy, theprisoners excited, and curiously defiant. She walked away, through thecurtain, but not before I had seen the tears on her cheeks.
I took it withtrembling hands, and drank deep. She looked back at me, brown eyes cold,implacable. His sound arm swept up,hand clutching at my throat.