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As Iome climbed the stone stairway to meet Gaborn； her Days close behind； feet whispering across the ancient stone； Chemoise descended； met her halfway。
〃He's been waiting for you；〃 Chemoise said； smiling stiffly。 Yet there was a certain excitement shining in the girl's eyes。 Perhaps Chemoise hoped that Iome would find love； was reminded too much of the lover she herself had lost a day past。 Chemoise had been Iome's playmate。 Iome knew the girl's every slightest gesture。 As Iome glanced up； Chemoise's features softened and her eyes shone。 She obviously approved of the prince。
Iome forced a smile。 Of all the times to see such excitement in the girl's eyes； today seemed most inappropriate。 Chemoise had walked in a fog for the past day。 Shocked by her lover's death； planning for her unborn child； forgetting to eat if Iome did not beg her to do so。
Right now it seemed as if Chemoise didn't recognize that a war brewed。 Part of her mind seemed to sleep。 Perhaps she really doesn't see； Iome realized。 Chemoise could be so innocent。 Once； Sergeant Dreys had teased her； saying； 〃Chemoise； believes sword fighting is much like carving a duck； the only difference being that you don't eat your foe after you slice him up。〃
Chemoise took Iome's hands； urged her up the steps； until they stood in the sunlight。 After the coolness of the shadowed keep； the warmth of the sunlight felt good。
When she reached the top； Chemoise waved toward the prince in introduction。 〃Princess Iome Sylvarresta； may I have the honor to present Prince Gaborn Val Orden。〃
Iome did not look at the Prince。 Instead she looked out over the battlements。 Chemoise scurried to the far side of the tower； some forty paces off； to give Iome and the Prince some privacy。
To Iome's surprise； the young soldiers who manned the catapults followed Chemoise； affording even more privacy。 Iome glanced down at the catapults； noted the metal shot in the weapons' baskets。 These catapults had never fired on invaders before。 The only time she'd seen them used was on feast days； when her father fired loaves of bread； sausages； and tangerines out over the castle walls to the peasants。
Iome's Days stayed only a dozen paces away。 She said； 〃Prince Sylvarresta； your Days is currently in your father's pany。 I will act as recorder in his stead； for this portion of your chronicles。〃
The Prince said nothing to the Days； though Iome heard his cloak rustle； as if he nodded。
Iome still did not look in the Prince's direction。 Instead she hurried to the far side of the tower； sat on a merlon； and gazed out over the autumn fields at her father's kingdom。
Iome found herself trembling slightly。 She did not want to face Gaborn； dared not face him。 He was； after all； a Runelord； the son of a very powerful Runelord； and would likely be handsome beyond telling。 She did not want appearances to spoil her perceptions of him。 So she looked away； beyond the castle walls。
Still； when Gaborn gave a sigh of appreciation for her beauty； it drew a tight smile from Iome's lips。 She felt certain he had seen finer women in the South。
A slight wind stirred； a breeze that carried the scent of cooking fires up from the Great Hall。 Iome shifted from her perch on the merlon； sending flakes of rock to plunge eighty feet below。 Cocks crowed in the evening light； and just within the outer fortress walls； cows bawled； calling their milkers。
Thatch…roofed stone houses dotted the brown fields outside the castle。 And from here she could see several villages north and east along the River Wye。 But the fields and villages were utterly empty。
The farmers； merchants； and servants had all gathered with the soldiers in their black…and…silver livery on the city walls。 Boys and old men alike stood poised with bows and spears。 A few local merchants； creeping along the wall…walks； hawked pastries and chicken as if this were the fair； and they were all watching the tournaments。
Down at the Outer Wall； carts； barrels； and crates lay piled against the city gates。 If Raj Ahten broke down the gate； the trash would trap his men there in the inner court； where her father's bowmen could do some damage。
It was nearing dusk。 Crows and pigeons circled over the oak and ash forests to the south。 Raj Ahten's armies disturbed the birds； kept them from roosting。
Lowering campfires burned out there under the woods； so that the hills below her seemed to seethe with smoke； the trees glowing with flame。 Iome could not guess how large Raj Ahten's army might be； hidden among the trees。
But signs of the invaders were everywhere： A spy balloon in the shape of a graak had launched from the forest； manned by two of Raj Ahten's men。 It had been tethered four hundred feet in the air for nearly two hours。 Along the wide banks of the River Wye； which wound through this realm in a broad ribbon； two thousand warhorses were tied in a dark line； kept by a hundred or so knights and squires who seemed unconcerned about the possibility of an attack。 Spearmen and shaggy Frowth giants stood watch。 Deeper in the forest； Iome could hear the sound of axes falling as Raj Ahten's men cut trees for scaling ladders and siege engines。 Indeed； every moment or two； a tree would shiver and topple； leaving a hole in the forest's canopy。
So many men； so huge an army ing from the south。 Iome still marveled that they'd heard no advance word。 The Duke of Longmont should have sent warning。 He should have known of the army's movements。 One could only hope that Raj Ahten had found a way to move without Longmot's notice。 If that were true； Longmont could send his knights to aid their king； once they discovered the siege。 But Iome smelled treachery in the air； and feared that Longmont would send no aid。
Prince Orden cleared his throat； politely begging Iome's attention。 〃This should have been a fairer meeting between us；〃 he said。 His voice was gentle。 〃I'd hoped to bring joyful news to your kingdom； not tales of invasion。〃
As if his proposal would have been joyful！ She suspected that her wiser vassals would have mourned the match； even though they'd see the necessity of tying Heredon to Mystarria； the richest kingdom in Rofehavan。
〃I thank you for your hasty ride；〃 Iome said。 〃It was good of you to risk it。〃
Prince Orden stepped to her side and looked out over the edge of the tower。 〃How long； do you think； before they mount an attack？〃 He sounded detached； too tired to think。 A curious boy fascinated by the prospect of battle。
〃By dawn；〃 she said。 〃They won't want anyone slipping from the castle； so they'll strike soon。〃 Considering the renowned strength of Raj Ahten's troopsthe giants and mages and his legendary swordsmentomorrow； her father's kingdom would likely fall。
Iome glanced at Gaborn's back profile from the corner of her eye； a young man who would have broad shoulders when he got his full growth。 He had long dark hair。 He wore a clean blue traveling cloak； a narrow saber。
She averted her gaze； not desiring to see more。 Broad…shouldered； like his father。 Of course he will be stunning。 After all； he draws glamour from his subjects。
Not like Iome。 While some Runelords drew glamour heavily from their subjects； appropriat