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.They all knew it.Regg patted him on the shoulder."You did all you could, Abelar.We have not given up."Abelar looked at Regg and brandished his shield, the shield adorned with Lathander's rose.Heat rose in him, gave his voice an edge."But Lathander did not do all he could.I dedicated my life to him, Regg.Did he do enough? Do you think he did?"Regg held Abelar's gaze for only a moment before he looked away.Anger rooted in Abelar's gut, rushed up his throat.He voiced an inarticulate roar of despair and anger.Hundreds of eyes rurned to look at him.He ignored them all, turned, and ran toward the lake.Regg, Endren, and Roen raced after him, calling his name.He charged into the water, sinking to his ankles in the muddy bottom, and flung his shield far out into the lake.It caught the light as it spun, hit the water, and sank into darkness.He jerked the holy symbol from around his neck, spat on it, and cast it into the water, too."I will never forgive you!" he shouted to his god."Never!"Endren, Regg, and Roen waded into the water and stood beside him in silence.The setting sun cast the lake in fire.It was beautiful and Abelar hated it.Having shed shield and symbol, he found it hard to stand.Only his anger kept him upright.Regg put an arm around him, steered him back toward shore.Men, women, and children had assembled there, and all of Abelar's company.Abelar could not look them in the face.Hands patted his shoulder as he passed.Jiiris brushed his hand with hers.He shook his head, bereft."I need to be alone," he said to Regg-Regg nodded, ordered one of the men to get Abelar a tent.While they waited, a shout captured their attention."Smoke!"Eyes turned north, where clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky."Saerb is burning!"Word spread through the camp.Women cried, children sobbed, men shook their fists and cursed Forrin and the overmistress.Abelar felt almost nothing.He walked to his tent and collapsed.He emerged later to find that Regg, Roen, and Jiiris had taken station outside."Stragglers have been arriving from Saerb throughout the day," Roen said."They got out before Forrin arrived," Regg said."Our routof his southern force made that possible, Abelar.Without us, they'd have been killed on the road as would everyone here with us now."Abelar nodded."Are you all right?" Jiiris asked, and her green eyes showed concern."No."His father was taking stock of the fighting men and women who had gathered for the muster, planning their next steps.Abelar did not disrupt him.He walked to the shore of the lake and sat down alone.He whispered farewell to his god as the sun set and darkness fell.As the night bloomed, he made up his mind.He would not surrender his son to Forrin and the overmistress.Not until he had done absolutely everything he could.He could not look to the light to rescue Elden, so he would look to the darkness.He stood, walked purposefully through the camp until he found Roen.The priest of Lathander sat with a dozen other men of Abelar's company around a fire.They had pulled a dozen sil-vergills from the lake.The fish cooked over the flames."Commander?" Roen asked, and stood."I need you to find Nayan."Roen looked confused."The shadowwalker who rescued my father."Roen's eyes flashed recognition."Why?""Because he can find Erevis Cale.And if Erevis Cale can pull my father out of the Hole, he can pull my son out of Forrin's camp.""Abelar.""Do it," Abelar said, and grabbed Roen roughly by the shoulders.He regretted the gesture immediately and released the priest."Please do it, Roen.Any way you can.I need them here.Now."Roen looked at the men around the fire, back at Abelar, nodded."Of course, Abelar."Corpses and rubble from the wall littered Selgaunt's streets.A floating Shadovar city cast its shadow over the battlefield.Shadovar and Selgauntan troops stood shoulder to shoulder amid the carnage.Coughs and the cries of the wounded sounded loud in the dusty air.Variance stood beside Tamlin, taking in the scene.Other priests and priestesses of the Lady of Loss stood among the victors.Tamlin found the entire scene surreal.He had been certain his city would fall.Shar and the Shadovar had saved it."It is quiet now," he said, and immediately thought the words stupid.Variance nodded.Rivalen and Brennus appeared over the walls, cloaked in shadows and power.The Shadovar troops hailed them with raised blades.The Selgauntans, too, raised their weapons and cheered.The two Princes of Shade descended to stand before Tamlin and Variance.Shadows curled lazily around the brothers.Rivalen's face, bruised around one eye and with a deep gash down one cheek, healed before Tamlin's eyes.The Prince seemed not to notice.Brennus's homunculi emerged from his cloak, gazed about tentatively, and grinned when they saw the battle had ended."You are both well?" Tamlin asked.Both nodded."And you?" Rivalen asked him, though he looked at Variance."Fine," Tamlin answered."The rest of the Saerloonian army?"Rivalen made a dismissive gesture
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