‘You must not touch the pearls,’ she called, as loudly as she dared, but still so softly that her words barely reached him. He wondered if a giant spider-hag was lurking somewhere to attack him if he were to touch the web. He strained forward to see as far as he could into the hall, but there was nothing there besides Vallida and the fine threads of shining white. ‘You can’t reach me,’ she said. ‘Please leave me. If you touch the pearls you will die. They are charged with kill-power.’
‘You are touching them...’
She shook her head sadly. ‘They’ll not let me die, although I long for death.’
‘I’ll take you out,’ he said, more boldly than he felt. ‘And this time I’ll not let you go.’
‘You have your bow with you. Put an arrow to my heart. That’s the only way you can help me. I will not be u
