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ed in surprise as the Sword of Truth shattered two of the flashing blades。
‘Du Chaillu！ Please！ I don’t want to kill any of you！’
The ones with the swords were faster than the ones with the spears。 Too fast。 Talking； and trying to disarm them without killing； was a dangerous distraction。 Richard felt a hot pain flash through the flesh over his ribs。 He hadn’t even seen the blade ing； but he had moved by instinct and received a shallow slash instead of a killing cut。
His own blood being drawn summoned the sword’s magic to his defense … the rage； the skill of those who had held it before him。 Their essence seared through him； and he couldn’t hold it back。 There was no choice anymore。 It overwhelmed his restraint。 He had given them every chance。 He was beyond retrieval； now。
Bringer of death。
The swordsmen rushed in a deadly wave。
He loosed the magic with a vengeance。 The sta ling was over。 The barriers down； he danced with death； now。
The night erupted in a warm mist of blood。 He heard himself screaming and he felt himself moving； he saw men and women falling； as disembodied heads tumbled across the ground。 The lust for it raged through him。
No blade touched him again。 He countered every strike as if he had seen it a thousand times before； as if he had always known what to do。 Every attack brought a sure and swift death to the attacker。 Bone fragments and blood exploded through the night air。 Gore sluiced across the ground。 The horror of it all melted together into one long killing image。
Bringer of death。
He only realized he had his knife in his left hand and his sword in his right when two came from opposite sides at once。 He hooked his arm around the neck of the one on the left and slit his throat while at the same time running the one on the right through with the sword。 Both collapsed to the ground as Richard stood panting。
Quiet echoed around him。 There was no movement； except for one on her knees； holding herself up with one hand。 Her other hand was missing。 She rose to her feet； pulling a knife from her belt。
Through his glower； Richard watched the determination in her eyes。 She ran for him with a scream。 Richard stood deathlike in a cold cocoon of magic。 The rage pounded as he watched her e。 She raised the knife。
Richard’s sword whipped up and impaled her through the heart。 The dead weight of her pulled the sword down as she slid off it to the ground； her last breath gurgling out as her fingers grasped the blade； sliding down its wet red length as she slipped into the hands of death。
Bringer of death。
Richard lifted his smoldering glare to the woman standing on the rock。 Du Chaillu stepped down； unwrapped her head； letting the long cloth hang down； and went to one knee in a bow。
Richard； his rage burning hotly； strode to her。 He lifted Du Chaillu’s chin with the sword’s point。
Her dark eyes stared up into his。 ‘The Caharin has e。’
‘Who is the Caharin？’
Du Chaillu looked unflinchingly into his eyes。 The one who dances with the spirits。’
‘Dances with the spirits；’ Richard repeated in a flat tone。 He understood。 He had danced with the spirits of those who held the sword before him。 He had called the dead forth； danced with their spirits。 He almost laughed。
‘I will never forgive you； Du Chaillu； for making me kill those people。 I saved your life because I abhor killing； and you have brought the blood of thirty to my hands。’
‘I am sorry； Caharin； that you must bear this burden。 But only through the blood of thirty Baka Ban Mana could the killing stop。 Only in this way can we serve the spirits。’
‘How is killing serving the spirits！’
‘When the magic men stole our land； they banished us to this place。 They placed upon us the duty of teaching the Caharin to dance with the spirits。 Only the Caharin can stop the Dark Spirit from taking the world of the living。 The Caharin is given to the world as a new born babe； who must be taught。 Part of this duty is placed upon us … to teach him to dance with the spirits。 You have learned something this night； have you not？’
Richard gave a grim nod。
‘I am the keeper of the laws of our people。 It was our calling to teach you this。 If we were to ignore what the old words tell us we must do； then the Caharin would not learn what is within himself； and he would be defenseless against the forces of death。 In the end； death would have everyone。
The Majendie sacrifice us； to remind us always of our duty to the spirits； and to remind us to practice with the blades。 The witch women to the other side aid the Majendie； so that we will be surrounded； with no way of escape； and nowhere to go； so that we will always be under threat； and unable to ever forget our duty。
‘It is proclaimed that the Caharin will announce his arrival by dancing with the spirits； and spilling the blood of thirty Baka Ban Mana； a feat none but the chosen one could acplish except with the aid of the spirits。 It is said that when this happens； then we are his to rule。 We are no longer a free people； but bound to his wishes。 To your wishes； Caharin。
The old words say that if every year the one who wears the prayer dress goes to our land； to give our prayers to the spirits； then one year； they will send the Caharin； and if we carry out our duty； then he will return our land to us。’
Richard stood； as if in a dream； glaring down at the woman。 ‘You have taken something precious from me this night； Du Chaillu。’
She came to her feet； straightening before him。 ‘Do not speak to me of sacrifice； Caharin。 My five husbands； whom I loved； whom my children loved； who have not seen me since I was captured； were among the thirty you have just killed。’
Richard sank to his knees。 He felt like he might be sick。 ‘Du Chaillu； forgive me for what I have done this night。’
She gently put a hand to his bowed head。 ‘It has been my honor to be the spirit woman of our people when the Caharin has e； to be the one to wear the prayer dress and bring him to his people。 You must do your duty； now； and return our land； as the old words tell us。’
Richard lifted his head。 ‘And do the old words say how I am to acplish this task？’
She slowly shook her head。 ‘Only that we are to help you； and that you will。 We are yours to mand。’
In the dark； Richard felt a tear run down his cheek。 Then I mand that the killing stop。 You will do as I have already ordered。 You will use the bird whistle to bring peace with the Majendie。 While you are doing that； you will do as you promised； and have someone guide us to the Palace of the Prophets。’
Without looking up； Du Chaillu snapped her fingers。 Richard realized； for the first time； that people in the shadows surrounded the bloody clearing。 All were on their knees； bowed toward him。 At the snap of her fingers； several sprang forward。
‘Guide them to the big stone house。’
Richard stood before her； looking into her dark eyes。 ‘Du Chaillu； I’m so sorry I killed your husbands。 I begged you to stop it； but I’m so sorry。’
Her eye