Marius hobbled back to his chair and sat...

Posted at 10:24 AM, Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Marius hobbled back to his chair and sat downAgain Devin was struck by the all-embracing nature of the glance he turned on themOnly for an instant did it flit over Devin himself, but he had the uncanny sense that Marius had, in that one second, sized him up quite comprehensively, that he would be recognized and remembered should they meet by chance even a decade hence He experienced a weird, fleeting moment of pity for the seven warriors who had had to battle this man, bringing merely swords or spears, and armor and two good legs to meet him in a night grove Those arms like tree-trunks and the message in those eyes told Devin all he needed to know about which way the balance would have tilted in those battles despite the ritual omega speedmaster white maiming, the severed ankle tendons, of the consort who was supposed to die in the grove, to the greater glory of the Mother Goddess and her High PriestessFor anyone's greater glorySeven times he had not diedAnd now, since that seventh time, there was a true King in Quileia again and the last High Priestess was deadIt had been Rovigo, Devin remembered suddenly, who had first given him that newsIn a rancid tavern called The Bird, either half a year or half a lifetime ago "You must have been slipping or lazy or already fat last summer in the Grove," Alessan was sayingHe gestured toward the scar on Marius's forehead"Tonalius should never have been able to get that close to you with a blade The smile on the face of the King of Quileia mahina bag by louis vuitton was not, in truth, a pleasant thing to see"He didn't," Marius said grimly"I used our kick-drop from the twenty-seven tree and he was dead before we both hit the groundThe scar is a farewell token from my late wife in our last encounterMay the sacred Mother of us all guard her ever-blessed spiritWill you take wine and a midday meal?" Alessan's grey eyes blinked"We would be pleased to," he saidHe gestured to his guards"In that case, while my men attend to laying things out for us you can tell me, Pigeon, and I hope you will tell me, why you hesitated just now before accepting that invitation It was Devin's turn to blink; he hadn't even registered the pause Alessan was smiling though"I wish," he said, with a wry twist of his yacht master rolex mouth, "that you would miss something once in a while Marius smiled thinly, but did not speak"I have a long ride ahead of meAt least three days, flat outSomeone I must get to, as soon as I can "More important than me, Pigeon? I am desolated Alessan shook his head"Not more important, or I wouldn't be here nowMore compelling perhapsThere was a message from Danoleon waiting for me at Borso last night Marius's expression changed swiftly"I am deeply sorry," he said"It could not have been easy for you to come here first, knowing that Alessan gave his small characteristic shrugHis eyes moved away from Marius, gazing past him up the pass toward the high peaks beyondThe soldiers had finished spreading a quite extravagant golden cloth over dior saddle the level ground in front of the chairNow they began laying out multi-colored cushions upon it and putting down baskets and dishes of food "We will break bread together," Marius said crisply, "and discuss what we are here to discuss, then you must goYou trust this message? Is there danger for you in returning?" Devin hadn't even thought about that "I suppose there is," Alessan said indifferently"But yes, I trust DanoleonHe took me to you in the first place "I am aware of that," Marius said mildlyI also know that unless things have greatly changed he is not the only priest in that Sanctuary of Eanna, and your clergy in the Palm have not been noted for their reliability Alessan gave his shrug again"What can I do? My mother is cartier pasha women's watch dying