Chapter 22‘Why are we listening to this, Hawklan?’ Tirilen said, looking reproachfully at Gulda. ‘It’s horrible. I don’t believe it. People don’t do things like that, nor ever did. It’s just an old tale like those on the Gate. A horrible tale.’
Hawklan made no reply, but held her close, until the woman in Tirilen could reassert herself over the young girl.
Gulda, woman to woman, was less gentle. ‘It was no old tale that cut down your friends from Fyorlund and has brought half the countryside down on us for help, young lady,’ she said harshly.
Hawklan winced at the tone, and Tirilen shivered then bridled. She pulled free from Hawklan and thrust her face forward angrily at Gulda. ‘No,’ she cried out, but her voice cracked with doubt. ‘No. I won’t believe it. I won’t believe in fairy-tale
