“Well then,” said Obrett as he balanced a sphere of pure white light on his palm, “we are going to have to see what we can do about that, aren't we?
* * *
The village was sombre despite the victory. They had watched the mercenaries filter quietly into the village, great bundles of stakes carried between them. Then the trap had been sprung. The tribal men and women had fired a hail of arrows into the group, and then the villagers and the rest had waded in with swords, axes, and various farming implements. Victory had been certain even against better-trained foes, but the cost had been immeasurable. As Mavra had raised her sword in the air, a mercenary that had been missed had jumped up behind her and run her through, gurgling with insane laughter as he had done so. The man had been slaugh
