as soon as you and your men stepped beyond my warding spell,” Frost said to Jaran.
“Why didn't the spell protect you?” Jaran asked.
“Once they were within its bounds, once they knew, it did no good.”
Jaran nodded. “You handle yourselves well,” he said to the two Subartans and Madia. She favored him with a very tight grin. “As do you, my lord.”
“How have your men fared?” Rosivok asked. Jaran turned and called them round, counting heads, looking them over. One of the men was bleeding from the arm, another from the face, though neither wound seemed serious. Four men and Purcell. Just the two dead.
“Well enough,” he said.
“I will build a new spell to warn us of another approach,” Frost said. “And yet another warding spell. One guard should be enough. These are some of Ferris' men. I doubt there would be more than one squad in the same area at the same time. The rest of the night should go more quietly.”
“But Ferris' men are not the only ones we have to worry about,” Purcell reminded.
“I know,” Frost replied. “I do what I can.”
Purcell turned and showed the other men to the bodies of their attackers, and they began hauling them into the trees. Rosivok and Sharryl remained with Frost.
“When will we reach the barrows?” Jaran asked.
“Perhaps tomorrow.”
“Then this may be only the beginning.”
“Beginnings,” Frost said, “are better than ends.”
“Perhaps, but I have just lost two good men. You and I may yet join them.”
“Unlikely,” Frost replied. “You and your men have a propensity for foolishness, while I do not. There is "
“Why didn't the spell protect you?” Jaran asked.
“Once they were within its bounds, once they knew, it did no good.”
Jaran nodded. “You handle yourselves well,” he said to the two Subartans and Madia. She favored him with a very tight grin. “As do you, my lord.”
“How have your men fared?” Rosivok asked. Jaran turned and called them round, counting heads, looking them over. One of the men was bleeding from the arm, another from the face, though neither wound seemed serious. Four men and Purcell. Just the two dead.
“Well enough,” he said.
“I will build a new spell to warn us of another approach,” Frost said. “And yet another warding spell. One guard should be enough. These are some of Ferris' men. I doubt there would be more than one squad in the same area at the same time. The rest of the night should go more quietly.”
“But Ferris' men are not the only ones we have to worry about,” Purcell reminded.
“I know,” Frost replied. “I do what I can.”
Purcell turned and showed the other men to the bodies of their attackers, and they began hauling them into the trees. Rosivok and Sharryl remained with Frost.
“When will we reach the barrows?” Jaran asked.
“Perhaps tomorrow.”
“Then this may be only the beginning.”
“Beginnings,” Frost said, “are better than ends.”
“Perhaps, but I have just lost two good men. You and I may yet join them.”
“Unlikely,” Frost replied. “You and your men have a propensity for foolishness, while I do not. There is "