He glanced around for Matti, and his heart lurched when he saw her destrier standing empty-saddled, but then he realized Huon Liu was holding it. She was on foot, and a man knelt before her. It was Conrad’s youngest son.

“. . . arise, Sir Ogier!” she finished.

He did, managing a tired smile. Rudi leaned, and Epona pivoted. Nobody was left on the rise the pikemen had held, nobody but the dead. Far above a glider turned, the near-noon sun flashing from its polished canopy, a brightness among the black wings of the carrion birds.

And eastward—

He gasped, and then shook his head as the others looked at him. His hand clasped the hilt of the Sword.

“He is coming,” he heard himself say. “The Prophet. Sethaz is coming.”

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ALSO BY S. M. STIRLING

ALSO BY S. M. STIRLING

NOVELS OF THE CHANGE
ISLAND IN THE SEA OF TIME
AGAINST THE TIDE OF YEARS
ON THE OCEANS OF ETERNITY
DIES THE FIRE
THE PROTECTOR’S WAR
A MEETING AT CORVALLIS
THE SUNRISE LANDS
THE SCOURGE OF GOD
THE SWORD OF THE LADY
THE HIGH KING OF MONTIVAL

NOVELS OF THE SHADOWSPAWN
A TAINT IN THE BLOOD
THE COUNCIL OF SHADOWS

OTHER NOVELS BY S. M. STIRLING
THE PESHAWAR LANCERS
CONQUISTADOR