Chapter 80
The King told him nothing, its singing sank to silence. The blue flames died, the bulls’ hearts stopped beating, the goats’ heads went blind. Of the doves there was nothing left but beaks and clawed feet, a drifting of feathers. “Warlord,” said Nagarak, kneeling beside him. “Leo. Open your eyes.” Reluctantly, Leo obeyed him. Nagarak was smiling, his blotched face fierce. “The King has spoken. Your time is come. Mijak’s suffering is at an end.” Leo felt his eyes fill with tears. “If I were a novice you would beat me, Nagarak. I doubted on the battlefield, I railed at the King for its long harsh silence.” Nagarak struck him twice across the face, brutal blows. “You sinned, you are smitten. Look forward now, not back. Leo, we are tasked by the King to bring peace to Mijak. You the warlor
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