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he heard a soft footstep on the bridge and barely made out the figure of Llyon coming
his way.
Breathing shallowly, he squatted motionless in the dark while Llyon softly passed
him in the rain. Slipping around the end of the building so that it was between him and
the bridge, he crept to the corner until he could see the field clearly. The fine hairs along
his spine tightened as he watched the small group of men in astonishment. There on the
field he saw why the hair ornaments were called chinkas.
While all of the men stood in a semicircle watching intently, Llyon spun rapidly
toward a practice dummy, his braids whipping out around him from the centrifugal
force. When he came within reach of the dummy, the chinkas struck it with deadly force,
making a very distinctive sound. Chinka, chinka, chinka. Dancer shuddered as he
watched Llyon s lethal dance shred the dummy.
When Llyon came to a standstill, the men formed a line and one after the other each
performed the same savage maneuver. After several more passes, the men divided into
pairs and started practicing basic hand-to-hand fighting moves. Dancer assessed their
skills and decided that they were fairly basic. Depending on what Merlyn and Llyon
had to say after the practice, he might be able to assist them. He watched the entire
practice, patiently waiting until all of the men were gone except Merlyn and Llyon.
Having seen exactly what Llyon could do, both with the chinkas and with his mind,
Dancer took him down quickly and efficiently before disabling Merlyn. While he
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waited for them to come around, he tied Merlyn s hands together behind his back with
a couple of his braids and admired his work. Hair was notoriously difficult to unknot
and if Merlyn moved very much, he would rip his own hair out. Then he sat down in
the middle of Llyon s back and waited.
He knew the moment Llyon was conscious and cheerfully cautioned, I wouldn t
do anything too hasty, and felt him relax when he recognized his voice. Merlyn
groaned and then cursed fluently and creatively for quite a while. Dancer listened
raptly to his repertoire, admiring the fact that he didn t once repeat himself. When he
was silent, Dance inquired calmly, Have you called out the reinforcements?
Who the hell would we call? Llyon asked in exasperation. Mama? Everyone else
has gone with Dai!
This is true, Dance agreed, struck by the undeniable facts. Bish, Dai and Tyger
were all far away. Arturo was with Dai also. Arano was with Silence. Wolfe was at the
other end of the valley. If these were the defenders of the valley, they were woefully
undermanned.
What do you want? Merlyn demanded with resignation.
I watched your little practice session and I want to know why, Dance replied
quietly. What has you in such a panic that you ve set up a militia? Because that s what
it is, isn t it? This isn t the same as the standard warrior training. He waited patiently
while Merlyn and Ly had an intense silent discussion. When they seemed to come to an
impasse, he pointed out, I have the right to know. I have a bond mate and a child on
the way. Your grandchild, lest you forget.
Merlyn sighed. It s you and Trav, he admitted reluctantly. You re the reason we
got the men together.
More puzzled than ever, Dancer stood up, freeing Llyon. Cautiously, he unknotted
Merlyn s hair and released his bonds. Why? What have we done to you?
You found the valley, not accidentally but with purpose.
Are you both completely whacked? I know I didn t hit you that hard! I literally
stumbled into that cave.
Merlyn shook his head. No. But I think we should go back and wake Trav. I would
rather only explain one time.
When they reached the house and quietly slipped into Trav s room, his dark
velvety voice casually warned them, I sure hope you re not friendly. I do hate to kill
friends.
Laughing very quietly, Dancer said, Hold. Give us a light, Trav.
Trav reached out and twisted the light stone. In the dim light, he saw his damp
guests and deduced that something was afoot. Ly, find some bath sheets. You might as
well not drip all over my floor, he suggested placidly. If you re all going to hang
around a while, you ll need to bring some more chairs.
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Llyon brought bath sheets and they stripped off the wet shardas, briskly dried and
then wrapped up in the bath sheets. While Dancer related his tale of the evening s
events, Merlyn went to the kitchen, brewed some tea and came back with mugs of the
hot, sweet drink and Llyon brought in a couple of chairs. When they were settled, Trav
said, I think it s time you tell us the rest of the story.
Merlyn gulped his tea and burned his mouth. Wincing he replied, Until you came,
we didn t know about your mother. Has Dai explained about her? Trav nodded
slowly. Did she tell you anything about where she came from? Merlyn asked softly.
She didn t know. When she was about three, she was left in a church in
Philadelphia with a note pinned to her coat, Dancer reminded him impassively. The
note gave her name and age and said that her mother was dying and couldn t care for
her anymore. They never found her parents.
Merlyn nodded sadly. And when you came here you found out she was Dai s
daughter. You are Dai s grandsons, returned to the valley.
Dancer had already grasped the implications and ramifications. It means the
valley is in more danger than we thought. We thought that Free killed our family but
couldn t think of a reason, he said grimly. Remember that Mom was questioned and
we couldn t figure out why or what she would know. That bastard had her tortured! If I
had known I would have killed him myself!
You don t know the whole of it, Dancer. Your aunt Morgana and Uncle Nate came
to the valley even before Jade and me. Think about that.
Our family is screwed, Traveller said baldly. We should have killed Free before
we came.
Llyon touched his hand gently and said, You would have to stand in line, Trav. He
is responsible for many deaths.
Now you know why we prepare. Merlyn stared at them soberly. He knows
something. I don t know what, or how close he is to finding the valley but he knows.
He s been searching for this valley for a long time. And as long as he knows something
he ll keep trying.
That s why you sent Bish with Dai? You aren t sure where his loyalties lie? How
long has Dai known? Trav asked quietly.
Since the morning you agreed to bond with Wrenna, Merlyn answered with a
smile. He found a tiny electronic bug in your bedding. I suspect it might have fallen
out of your hair.
Dancer looked at Merlyn. You know, I feel better in one way. It s been really
bothering me that I bonded with Eppie so quickly.
Trav nodded. I also have been having trouble with that. You would never have
made such a quick decision on the outside. I m more comfortable with everything that s
happened, even if we re in more danger now. He looked at Dancer. What do you
have in mind?
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I think that Llyon and I will do some exploring close to the village. I didn t really
have much of a chance to see what kind of terrain we have to work with. I will work
with Ly and Merlyn a little to fine-tune their skills. Hopefully, we ll have time to get
you back on your feet before we need you.
Llyon and Merlyn nodded slowly. Tomorrow is another day. I suggest that we get
some rest now. I ll go bring Jade up to date, Merlyn announced with a smile. I m sure
she ll have all sorts of things to say to me about staying out all night!
And I will try to sneak back in without waking Eppie!
Llyon chuckled softly. Good luck!
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Chapter Fifteen
Bored to extinction. That s what I ll be if I have to spend one more hour in this bed, thought
Traveller. He ran his fingers over his naked body, noting the odd bump or bulge that
hadn t been there before the cave explosion. Would he ever be the same? No, he
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