Displayed on their wagon bed were two complete hands, feet, legs, arms, and a pelvic region, chest and skull. Beyond the gate spires of smoke rose against the yellow sky, caught the breeze and were carried down the pass. But it was making the trip alone. It was built of ropes as thick as tree trunks with wooden planks serving as the roadbed. Tears welled in her eyes; the corners of his mouth drew down hard. When it passed, they looked back at the bridge and relaxed. He withdrew a small totem doll carved from a black stone called Kaitang. She drew herself from under him, and rose on her elbows, whispered, “The Kitzakks send men to hunt you, bounty hunters who kill from shadows and great distances.”, “And you will tell them where to find me.”, “I can’t. At the sharp turn in the road ahead, the regiment of Spears had started moving back up the pass. Music to the Chupan’s ears. Real weird.”, “I like animals,” she said in a tone that explained everything. She wore full-length armor, a tunic of gold and silver plates that shimmered over her magnificent breasts and sinuous thighs. “This is a Kitzakk map, and this is a totem made by the hand of someone very skilled. The dark wet spot at his hips steamed. Her heat wafted across the moss and caressed his chest. She turned back to the fire, then spoke in an even, modulated tone: “I know that it angers you to have me, a mere woman, find and enter your hidden lair as easily as if you had put up signs showing the way and given me a key. When they had finished, he kissed her florid cheek, and returned to the main room. Gath of Baal’s head and part of his bare chest glowed in the firelight across the room. They came out of the sunblasted desert. So accustomed that at the slightest defeat they become confused and frightened, and lay all blame on their leader. She nodded stepping backward, feathery eyes welling with tears. The Kitzakks had split up into two groups and were plunging across the two closest bridges. Suddenly, realizing it was headed toward them, they grabbed their weapons and hurried into shadows watching the edge of the clearing. She kneeled beside him, covered him tenderly, then took his hand in her hands, pressed it against her. The ragtag horde surged forward cheering, like an army. “Of course,” she said lightly. He looked around, then across the gorge and into the rookie’s eyes. It slid away from the hole, and a shaft of glowing firelight melted down into the darkness. He searched through the chained women mindless of the fact that he was bleeding on their trembling faces. Behind the slits of the horned helmet, his eyes were weblike red trails. Two metal-clad commanders led the screaming, skull-faced raiders. When the forest again surrendered to the night, she prepared a vegetable stew. I’d say you’ll find five, perhaps even six Kitzakk scouts.”. But that is a story of another time, another age. Brown John says they strike from shadows. “Her little body has been overtaxed these last few days. A soldier stood abruptly, kicked her, and she resumed playing. Soong lay on his side, jackknifed over a rock. I truly believe that before nightfall our ranks will have doubled!”, The sons, making sure their father could see them, winked at each other playfully, mocking his childish exuberance. His helmet hit a rock, and clanged with mind-splitting vibrations. Being of a curious nature, the Wowells encouraged him to talk before they butchered and cooked him.” He turned to Gath. Plucking the torch from its embrasure she hurried to the horse. A spread of man-high sword ferns swayed behind the reptile, then parted, held by two hooded faceless spearmen crowded in the shadows. It’s very important.”. Skull soldiers were dragging the Death Dealer’s weighty, unconscious body across the stage to a whipping post. The sound of the bells was replaced by the distant snorting and stomping of the retreating Kitzakk soldiers and the faint unintelligible chatter of their voices. An opulent female figure emerged robed in emerald velvet. But Bone stared at the dirt pile. Here the trail turned north while the river cascaded down steep waterfalls flowing east. A dusty rubble dribbled through the slim fissure and fell into the bubbling lava below. Magic. After a moment, Robin said quietly, “I will be going soon, but there are some things I must tell you first.” He turned away again and she moved to his shoulder. Pulling the skittish horse and following the occasional padding sounds of the wolfs paws, Robin moved through a corridor of roots. “You’re too clever. With a languid pace she crossed the room and dissolved into the dark vapors. They crushed the center of the bridge, and it fell away, hit the lava and exploded. He could sense danger about him as if it were a palpable substance. Turning with a slow ominous movement, he strode to the back of the fireplace where his chain mail was hanging from a peg. Brown John removed the blanket and blurted, “I am quite prepared to allow you to inspect me in a reasonable manner, but…”He dropped face first on the bed and groaned with shame as Gath spread his legs. Staying in the shadows, Gath crossed to a ladder lying on the ground below an opening into the loft. When she tried the latch again, the door swung inward, and a faint glow of firelight emerged to illuminate the sculpted whiteness of her face.