Chapter 26Loman and Jenna waited and watched, motionless, as the riders moved towards them, eerie in the moon’s pale wash.
Loman grimaced as a catalogue of injuries manifested itself. But worse than the injuries was the awful, dispirited silence in which the column travelled.
‘Athyr,’ he said, almost whispering.
The leader started, then halted and looked around. For a moment his face was blank then an uncertain recognition lit his face. ‘Loman? Jenna?’ he said, his voice full of doubt. His tone reflected his appearance and that of the column which had stopped when he did.
No uncontrolled frenzy here, Loman thought. This was the retreat of a shattered force, waiting with timeless patience in the moonlight; ghostly, like ancient warriors sentenced to an eternal penance for some long-forg
