Into The Dark Flame (Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

massive shoulder into the river gorge. Leth's sword pierced another's back. The remaining men fled, out of the cave and across the stone bridge, with the Bridgekeeper stomping along behind them, loudly castigating the ground with his cudgel.
       Leth freed Lakewander of her bonds. She stood before him, and to his surprise her bloodied lips were drawn back in anger, her eyes ablaze. She brought back her arm and struck him across the face with her open palm, so hard that he staggered. He reeled back, his cheek exploding with pain, tears starting involuntarily to his eyes. 
       'You yielded!' accused Lakewander, radiating her fury. 'Twice you yielded to them!'
       'To save you!'
       'Save me? Swordbearer, I am not important! You could have broken through and ridden away, while you were still on Swiftwind. Their crossbow-bolts would scarcely have dented your armour. Instead you stayed, and almost died.'
       'I reasoned that while we lived we had hope. I was not prepared to leave you to swing upon that rope.'
       'Are you sure that is your reason?'
       'What do you mean?'
       'Were you, rather, not hoping that they would kill you? That by such means you might fly free of our world and return to your own?'
       'That is absurd.'
       'Is it?'
       Leth stared at her. Her gaze faltered. He wondered, had she just revealed something that she would rather have not? 'Lakewander, is this how it is? Will death return me to my own land?'
       Lakewander ran her hands through her long fair hair. 'Would you go, without having found what you are seeking here?'
       She turned and walked back into the cavern. She picked up her sword and scabbard from the floor and buckled them about her waist again. Leth was angry and confused. He still gripped the Orbsword in one hand. He looked at it, disquieted. Though Lakewander had prompted him to call the blade, he had known instantly, somewhere deep within himself, that he could summon it. And when it flew to him it had been the most natural thing, comfortable, reassuring and familiar in his grasp.
       I have been here before!
       Lakewander was at his side again. 'It is coming back, isn't it, Lord?'
       He met her gaze, but would not answer.
       The Bridgekeeper's great shadow fell across them both. 'Well, that is a pity,' he said, a trifle breathless. 'Some of them got away.'
       He surveyed the bodies around him with a doleful gaze, then scratched his vast barrel of a belly, sniffed, and wiped his fleshy bulb of a nose with the back of one thick, hirsute wrist. He peered blinking into the cave, then turned and tramped to the lip of the gorge and peered down. 'Hmmm. I think I rather got carried away. I wasted one. Still, no matter. There are plenty here.'
       'What of Harg?' enquired Lakewander.
       Leth sheathed the Orbsword. 'He was the first to make himself scarce.'
       'Yes, I should have guessed.'
       'He is no run-of-the-mill brigand, this Harg. He speaks and bears himself like a man both educated and refined.'
       Lakewander gave a nod, testing the inside of her bruised lip with her tongue. 'Count Drurwan Harg was a notable of our community before Ascaria took the city. He was absent when the city fell - it is not known where. But when he returned he was a changed man, black-hearted and iniquitous. He took to a life of banditry and has sustained himself by such means ever since.'
       'He did not seem to know you.'
       'He does not, though both my parents were known to him.'
       From within the cave the Bridgekeeper's stentorian voice boomed contentedly, 'Oh yes, there's plenty here. They left two of their horses, too.'
       He re-emerged and stood over Lakewander and Leth, weighing them with a reproachful eye. 'Now, Lakewander, I think there is something to be settled here, is there not? What of you and your warrior friend? I think you crossed my bridge without paying the toll.'
       'Indeed we did, Bridgekeeper. But I hailed you loudly the